Day 9 London

I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
There they are all standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head

We landed in Paris last night, dropped all our baggage and bikes at Peng's Café, Merci Peng and Celine. By the time we had some food and settled in the hotel it was after midnight. We had an early start as we are off to London on the High Speed Train for the day.

Paul is ready with his newly acquired 'man bag'

We are staying at a hotel on Rue La Fayette, very central to all the arts and attractions that Paris has to offer. Also one of the worlds most exclusive shops...La Fayettes.
Above at the Metro which opened in 1900 and serves over 5 million passengers a day, phew!
After the Metro we disembark at Paris's Gard du Nord railway station which is among the top 10 busiest stations in the world, where we connect for the international trip to London under the Channel.
We are really looking forward to this. We leave at 8.15am local time and arrive in St Pancras at  9.30am local time. Good seats, impressive train. Cost is 50 euro to London and the return trip is 75 euro. 

Gard du Nord

Ross checking his phone at St Pancras, only 2 hrs and 15 mins to London, I think we were in a 'Time Machine' hitting 320 klm whilst having a coffee at the bar, amazing.

Making enquiries with the local british rail customer service, Paul the Station Master was so helpful, advising us the best most cost effective options for a days travel. If you have a Pay Wave credit card you can hope on and off as many times as you like for GBP 6.50 for a day, no tickets required. Sure enough when I returned to Australia my credit card was debited with $11.15. Great Value.

Fantastic sunny day in London, 31 deg today in the middle of a heat wave, it is hot and humid. don't you love the British, deck chairs for hire in St James Park @ GBP 1.60 hr or an annual fee for GBP 110. When would you get to use it!

Hello Hello Hello my son, what's your game then Gov! We decided to watch the Changing of the Guard, which occurs daily in London in the summer months

 Changing of the Guard time Table. Garry,  don't mention the War.
Looking down the Mall to Lizzie's House.

 Admiralty Arch commissioned by Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, connects the Mall to Trafalgar Square

 Two icons of London, Trafalgar Square and Double Decker bus. A great way to see London's highlights without paying for a Hop On Hop Off bus ride.

 One of the horse guards outside Horse Guards Building, which fronts Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade, built in the 1750's and later became an important military headquarters.

Downing Street which is also on Whitehall and below Westminster Abbey

 "I say old boy, you wouldn't happen to have the Tyme? Awfully grateful old chap.

"Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner that I love London Town.."

 We are covering a bit of ground today boys, making full use of that 6 pounds, sorry Garry yours was twelve because you didn't have a Pay Wave feature.

Above Tower of London where we had some fish and chips, London style. The Haddock did not grab me as much as the old Flake back home.

 Where's Paul?
Garry always says my body is my Temple. Well they named a tube station after you Garry.

 It was hot in the underground, particularly as the trains are not air-conditioned.


Ross in Regent and Oxford Street. What shall I buy Michelle, hmmm, a Monopoly Game? You will have to do better than that Rosario.

Headed off to Camden Market for a shop and a few ales with the locals.
A fascinating and extremely busy city. The worlds largest financial centre and a world cultural capital.
 A population close to 10 million, founded by the Romans, with many wonderful sites of interest and the oldest underground in the world, and dates from 1863.

What a great day in Old London Town, better make our way back to St Pancras back for Paris.

Whilst on Westminster Bridge a visiting group of Chinese tourists asked Garry if he could oblige and take a photo. He was more than happy to do so. Then said let me take another just to be sure. When they would have come to view the photos they would be humoured to find he also took a selfie as a keepsake for them.