London Day 2
Today was a full day of London exploration. We easily burned the calories from our 6:30 Breakfast of fruit, warm rolls, toast & marmalade, wheat cereal, coffee, tea and juice. Everyone was on time so we didn’t get to hear any sleepy renditions of “The Sound of Music”, the agreed upon penalty for tardiness. Our day began with a coach ride from Croydon to downtown London. Bicyclists and motorcyclist were all around the coach like mosquitoes. I’m surprised these ?brave? gentlemen, and yes ladies, made it to work. We picked up John, our excellent ‘Blue Badge’ Guide who regaled us with for the remainder of the day. He was knowledgeable, entertaining and a true host in every sense of the word. His focus was our Delegates and he impressed on them the stories behind the history they were witnessing by the minute. We all listened with interest as we attended summer school without even knowing it, we were having such a good time!
The Delegates were beginning to loosen up and not only enjoy their program, but each other.
We explored the old Roman gate and St. Peter’s Cathedral.
We walked downtown through the history of the British Empire continually enlightened by John. We crossed the Millennium Bridge, past largest collection of Modern Art to the fully replicated Globe Theater, down to the straw roof.
Here’s one for Jodie 
We learned the stories and influence of the Great Fire of 1666 and how ‘creative’ people all around the world can be to avoid having their pockets picked by the government. Avoiding the ‘Window Tax’ used as one of the ways to raise funds to fight those rebels in America.
Here is our Delegation at Buckingham Palace:
We of course had to see the daily changing of the Palace Guard at Buckingham Palace, too bad the Queen was elsewhere. Here are two of our great leaders and Rebecca unable to distract the guard from his duties protecting the Queen and her palace.
We watched as the old guard marched in and the new guard took over. The Dragoons (Horse Brigade) changed at the same time. They were down the street a bit so I didn’t get a good picture, but a few more of them up close and personal later.
On to a Medieval banquet with King Henry VII for lunch, who had some very complimentary words for our delegates and People to People Delegates in general. In a private ‘audience’ he confided to me that he won’t allow British teen groups in his establishment, but has received nothing but respect from our delegations. This speaks very highly of our delegates, their parents and the People to People Program and leadership
On to the tower of London to visit the Beefeaters, Ravens and The Crown Jewels (We were not allowed to photograph the Jewels) wouldn’t want to upset this guy,
or…
Our delegates learned the gruesome details of the English kings and their tower guest from our Blue Badge…
We went back to downtown London and experienced ‘The Sound of Music’ the London way at the Palladium Theater. Bravo!!! It was excellent, as good as any Broadway show I’ve seen.
I’m a day behind because time is premium here as the leaders perform the last bed check at about 11PM, then we meet and up again at 5:30 or 6 for breakfast and to organize the days activities.
We are heading to Warwick castle today, so it will be a few days before I will have an Internet connection to update…Until then, Cherrie O’ !
I put many of the pictures in this gallery. I took about 2-300 pictures a day, but mostly included pictures with people in them in the gallery. If anyone wants pictures of the art or the architecture , which was amazing, email me. I’ll eventually put the art and architecture pictures in a gallery connected with this one.