Some unofficial sites to see in London, from Ethan's Point of View

On a recent day trip into central London, my sons had such a wonderful time. I am sure the experiences they had are not in any tour guide, so I thought I would record them here for you, from their point of view.

After taking entirely too long getting ready--packing lunches, having a mega breakfast of scrambled eggs, rashers (which is sort of like my favorite food--bacon, but not at all and its really too bad because you can't get American style bacon here in England...if anyone would send me bacon, I can eat a lot of bacon) and oatmeal we are out the door and on to the train station. I love going on ahead on my scooter, and mom let me take my scooter today!

On the train, I want to sit with the seats where there are 3 in a row, but mom says no we have to stay where we are. I sit with Poppa, and Tim sits on Poppa's lap. In front of us is our friend, Rachel, who is visiting...Tim stands on Poppa's lap and surprises Rachel from above and then laughs hysterically. So I think that must be fun, and I do it too. So we both do that over and over and over, and it is fun. You should try it too.

When we get to the train station I love to put the ticket through and grab it when it comes out. the doors open and I walk through. I didn't get to do that when I was 4, but now that I am 5 I get to have a ticket each time we travel. Tim always wants to put a ticket in. Poppa gives him a "ticket" but its not a real ticket and he doesn't get to put it in. He cries about it sometimes. He is always thinking about the boy in the Polar Express who lost the ticket...or maybe its a girl.

We find our way out, and we keep having to stop and wait while my mom looks at the map.

We make it to Buckingham Palace and we see a bunch of people with big black furry hats and red jackets go by...they have real cool uniforms, that would be fun to have in my dress up box. I sit on my scooter and watch them go by, they are all marching at the same time, I can see them from down low looking through the bars on the fence.

There is something on today because a lot of people in fancy hats with feathers and veils and funny things sticking out go by, the men have top hats and canes. A lot of them are smoking cigarettes and I get the smoke in my face, because I am still sitting on my scooter. Poppa is holding Tim and Tim keeps saying "Funny Hats" I think he's doing this, because Momma told him he would see some funny hats, though she was really meaning the guards...and now here we are with an endless parade of people wearing truly funny hats.

We make our way over to this really cool fountain. Down on the lower part there is a statue of a guy and water is flowing out of his mouth. I like that because thats what I like to do in the bath, when mom is not in the room of course. I try to sit on the edge like Rachel is doing, Mom tells me I can't because my legs aren't long enough. She gives me a 2 pence coin to throw in, Tim throws in one too. Its just like Richard Scarry's "Pip Pip goes to London" We wander around the fountain and go up top and get to sit on the wall up top. We wave to Poppa. There are so many people and some big platforms with video cameras. Poppa asks why they are there, and I guess they were there because they can't figure out who is going to be the next prime minister, and they might figure it out any time, so those people have to sit there with their cameras all day.

Next we go through St. James' park, I ride my scooter down the hill 5-10 times. So much fun. You should try this too. Be careful though because after you do it a bunch of times and then you need to keep going with your mom and dad, you might be tired and they will say something like, "you had enough energy to go down the hill."

There are some really pretty flowers in St. James's Park. Here are some of them. My mom took this picture while I was doing the scooter thing on the hill. A great way to get your mom to let you ride on the hill is if she wants to take pictures of flowers or buildings or something.

There are these elephant statues in the park and all over London I guess, they are really fun to look at too.

We go over to the Admirality, where there are some guards. Before you get to the guards you should try and make a big pile with all the little rocks. I really could have stayed here all day, and you probably could too. Its so fun to play with rocks. We have some in our garden.

When you go through the arch way you can yell real loud and hear your voice come back to you. Try it.

Then you can get your picture taken next to a guard. he stands there very serious guarding and you can go up to him and he will not smile or move or anything. But his horse will look at you and thats what happened to this horse. It would have been a great picture to put here in the blog if my mom had had the lens open on the camera, but she didn't so thats that. We went back for the another picture but it just wasn't the same.

Next you can walk toward Big Ben, and just before you get to Downing Street where the Prime Minister lives, there is a barricade. I decide to ride my scooter on the other side of the barricade. I got in trouble for this though, so make sure your mom says its okay. There were security people and people with cameras there.

We have a picnic on the other side of Westminster Abbey, the building is all covered in ivy. Though we aren't sure you are normally allowed to do this, but nobody said anything to us. Poppa thinks someone was coughing about it, whatever that means.

This is Big Ben, well actually the bell is big ben, the building is St. Stephens Tower. I see it and say "Its Big Ben" Poppa says no the bell is Big Ben, but I still think I am clever for knowing its Big Ben.

And we try to pass by Parlimant, there are some tents set up on the lawn and someone is shouting and saying things and I tell Momma, "That's not very kind" She says its just grown up stuff and not to worry. There are so many people with cameras next to the houses of parliment its hard to get by, and there are all the tents and people shouting on the other side. Momma and Poppa have to push their way through. Right after we go through, a line of motorcycles and things go by. Later we find out that it was right about the time the new prime minister was announced.

Then we go for a ride on the tube from Westminster Station, There is a man playing violin in the passage way, I love listening to the music carry down the hall. There are signs all over the walls. One is a great big picute of someones face and arms. They have long hair and glasses, and there are these letters underneath.."OZZY". I tell my mom that "She has one ring to say where she lives and one ring to say that she's married." My mom thinks this is hysterical. Rachel says she wants to personally tell Ozzy Osbourne I said that.

We go to the National Gallery next, but Tim is asleep. At first I start to groan and moan about being here, but it turns out to be really great. I recommend using the toilet at the National Gallery because they have a really cool way to dry your hands. (So you have to wash your hands too) You put your hands in this thing and cold air blows them dry from both sides. I could still be in there! I did like to sit on the benches and look at the pictures...my mom would tell me whats happening in the pictures, kind of like a story. There is one really great room in the middle with soft benches--if you run and dive on to it, thats the best way to get up on it. You can lay there for a long time while your parents look at paintings.

We pass by Trafalgar square on the way back to the train station. Look here's a statue of Aslan, and that might be Jill Pole or Lucy or someone on top of it. I have to go home with my brother and my poppa because Momma and Rachel are going to the theater to see Les Mis. I don't like this idea, but I was good for Poppa so I got a surprise book.

That was my day in London, hope you got some good tips of things to do there!

I don't know what these are, but they are all over the place. Nobody ever uses them, there is funny thing in there with a cord. Any ideas?

This is a picture of my momma in front of the theater where she saw Les Mis. I don't know about that little girl in the picture, but my mom says one day when I am bigger I will absolutely love seeing this production. She couldn't stop talking about it and singing and humming. Things like, "Master of the "ouse." and "When the beating of your heart matches the beating of the drums." All day the next day she was in sort of a trance. She also thinks it would be great for me to have some drama lessons...