Our Aching Feet Part 2

In keeping with our plan to take the trains and tube, we caught the Heathrow connect to Paddington station and then walked to the hotel. We looked like a family of vagabonds with our backpacks slung on our backs! We left our bags at the hotel, as we were too early for check in, and headed out for Mme Tussaud's. In keeping with the theme of not being as organized as desired, we were 5 minutes into our walk, when we realized that we had left our booking confirmation back at the hotel. Uli sent us on down the road and he hurried back to the hotel to get the confirmation. Another 15 minutes into our journey down the road, we hadn't seen any signs for Mme Tussaud's. We were about to go into a hotel for directions when my cell rang and Uli confessed he had sent us the wrong way. Eventually we met up and made our way to the famous wax museum. I was wanting to find it totally cheesy and underwhelming, but I actually loved it--so did the girls and Uli. Britta got her picture taken with Morgan Freeman! For those of you who know Britta, she has long stated that she would like Morgan Freeman to play her in a movie about the story of her life! Signa and Astrid met Barack Obama. I got to cuddle in with Brad Pitt and Angelina did not even blink! I knew I had it going on! Uli got up close and personal with Nicole Kidman, but he said she was a snob and wouldn't even look at him. Her loss!! After a quick tour past 221B Baker Street we headed back to the hotel and checked in. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was quite good and we were impressed with their GF menu. After dinner the girls headed to the pool--chlorine withdrawal for 2 of them and Uli and I headed out for more of a walk. We took the tube and ended up down by Harrod's , walked past Albert Hall and through Hyde Park to the Wellington Arch and then the Marble Arch. Uli and I had to remind ourselves to look to the right before crossing the road. We gained great appreciation for drivers in Canada (and I've driven in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) who will actually let you finish crossing the road!! We came upon what looked like quite a terrible accident on the route home, with a van flipped over on its side and ambulances in attendance. We continued our walk up Edgeware Road and passed more Shisha bars than I could count. I pass one every day on the way to Talisman, but that's all I've ever seen in Calgary--one. Literally every second shop had a patio with people imbibing in Shisha a la Cheshire Cat. NEXT DAY: Today was a wonderfully full day. After a great breakfast, we headed off to Westminster Abbey. Walking over the graves of the likes of Charles Darwin seeing the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots was surreal. The girls were enthralled. Astrid (a closet Monarchist and Will and Kate lover) loved walking along the aisle they walked on during their wedding. They were all impressed with the majesty of the place. As you may know, I love churches and graveyards. This had two of my favourite things rolled into one. I don't get much happier than this. The highlight of my day was when we were in the National Gallery. We were looked at a painting by Claude Monet and Britta turned to me and said "Mom, this is the original". Quite honestly I had to fight back the tears. Britta is an amazing artist and to see her amazement and appreciation made this trip worth it right then! We were heading to the Tower of London and happened upon the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Once at the Tower of London, we joined a group tour and it was fabulous. Even the kids loved getting all the history surrounding the buildings. I grew up with my mom singing the Kingston Trio song The Ghost of Ann Boleyn to me. It scared the crap out of me but I would scream with glee when mom would sing "she walked the Bloody Tower! With her head tucked underneath her arm at the midnight hour!" I would cover my eyes and ask her to sing it again and again. Needless to say, I've been singing this ad nauseum in preparation for the trip. The girls would NOT allow me to sing it in the Bloody Tower, so I had to be satisfied with singing it on the cobblestones leading to it. Oh, how they loved me then! After a great dinner at an Italian restaurant--again with a great GF selection(and an amazing prosecco cocktail--prosecco, mint and lime) we headed to the British Museum . They were having a special exhibit on Pompeii and we were fortunate enough to have purchased tickets in advance. It was a very moving exhibit. Particularly the casts of the family--a mother, father and 2 small children. Our feet are killing us- Britta and I have blisters despite having broken in our shoes for 2 months. We're tired but happy and going to bed in anticipation of our magical day at Leavesden Studios tomorrow!