Day 8!

Where do I even begin! I started off early with breakfast at the hotel and then went to Oxford Street for some shopping. I bought a fabulus bathing suit which only mocked me as the day got cooler. Afterwards, we hopped on the Tube, bound for Buckingham Palace.

There were people EVERYWHERE. We were just in time for the changing of the guards. I was able to snag some good photos at the end. Then we had a photography session. Alas, the queen did not make it there to see us.

We then headed toward Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Parliament. We were able to catch a few photos before it began to rain. We then went underground and across the river via my favorite mode of transportation: the Tube. On the otherside, we found a small fish and chips place and watched it rain. As we left, it magically stopped raining. We then hoped on the Tube again and went to the Tower of London. We then walked across Tower Bridge and took the Tube back to Waterloo which happend to be right beside the London Eye.

And it was a view! The wheel does not stop so you have to hop on and hop off. Once you got going, you didn't even realize you were moving. We played with the interactive touch screens and learned about all the buildings we were seeing. At the top, we got some amazing pictures. It was well worth the price. I could see all the iconic buildings from one spot.

Then we sat a the National Theatre to meet some friends for supper. Unfortunately, it looked like an hour or more wait time to get in to a restaurant. Then we passed the food truck. Southbank seems to be a very trendy area with a lot of young restaurants and pubs. This mexican food truck was one of many on that walk. We grabbed a bite and sat on a curb watching people as they passed. It was easily my favorite thing I ate in London. I felt less like a tourist and more like someone actually experiencing London.

We then headed back to the Young Vic to watch Ah Wilderness! The play was very good, so it was easy to see why their very last performance had standing room only. I called it "artsy-fartsy" which produced a chuckle out of some and raised eyebrow out of the more theatre savy members. Regardless, I stand by my review and was very entertained and impressed with their vision.

Afterwards, we caught the Tube again. We took it so many times that day that it maxed out and became free. Yay! Back at our hotel, we changed and went out to celebrate our last night in London. We, of course, headed back to our pub to conclude the night.

*"Mind the Gap" is repeated over and over on the Tube regarding the gap between the train and the platform as people get on and disembark. It is of course said in a lovely British accent and has become one of my new favorite phrases!