london in february: day 3.

day 3 was dedicated to the main attractions of london. we didn't enter them because of long waiting lines or because we simply wanted to run around to see everything. it was a little bit chaotic and there were times were i almost wanted to throw my arms into the air and scream of frustration like when we entered piccadilly circus ( because of masses of people demonstrating ), or when we wanted to get on the london eye or into the sea aquarium. it was a day of walking and our feet hurt quite a lot at the end of the night. the best thing to do on such a day is having a time out in st. paul's cathedral at 5 o'clock past noon because evensong takes place and you don't need money for entering the church then. it was such a relief to sit down and to listen to the choir and hearing the priest's readings. and having a look onto the enourmous beauty that is st. paul's cathedral. we walked back home after evensong in a better mood, bought some not so great salads on the way and discovered barbican by night. 

next time i'm going to visit london these things will definitely be on my activity list:

hyde park, covent garden, eating chinese food in china town ( we just huddled through - the smells there were heavenly ), entering westminster abbey, having a closer look at buckingham palace, london sea aquarium, london eye, visiting museums ( ! ) especially modern and old tate, albert  victoria museum, and i will definitely eat more! there were so many delicious offerings and we always declined to eat because of time loss. starbuck's was our best friend, but there are so many other options! ah~ i want to return asap.

embankment houses.

creeping up on the big ben.

in all its glory.

st. margaret's church. there was a triptych exhibition there. they were all out of soft wood and touching them was most magnificient. i love wood too much.

gables of westminster abbey. didn't enter because we wanted to be at the guard's change at buckingham palace by 11 am. turned out we would never make it on time there, haha.

such delicate stoneworks.

new scotland yard. ugly building, really. but well, i guess it's functional.

walking in the back alleys near st. james's park station.

the feathers.

checking out st. james's park.

beautiful heron.

i loved all the different birds living together in the park.

duck island cottage.

royal buildings in the far back.

horse guard's parade & houshold cavalry museum.

arriving at buckingham palace & the victoria memorial.

bright coloured bushes by the palace.

golden gates.

pointing to the sky.

closed for the public.

glorious golden lions and unicorns everywhere!

the mother's side. i love how this turned out.

memorial sculptures.

greeting the cabs.

you can't overlook the big b.

bird adornment.

queen victoria's side.

gates to green park.

king george VI & queen elizabeth the queen mother.

royal collage of pathologists.

lanterns in china town.

one of the many entry gates of china town.

oh, the delicacies i've seen! and these panda cakes were the cutest!

smoked animals.

octopus lantern : )

the london eye. and a view onto the southbank.

the general lying-in hospital.

gabriel's wharf.

building high by the mad hatter hotel.

hoptons gardens. such an old fashioned idyll in the middle of huge skyscapers.

iron rat. this detail was part of the shakespeare globe gates.

i could've photographed everything on these gates. iron works are equally loved by my as wood works.

shakespeare's globe theatre from the side.

view onto white lion hill & upper thames street with the dome of st. paul's.

view onto vintner's hall, southwark bridge & london bridge.

bridges ahead! southwark bridge, london bridge, tower bridge.

walking on the millenium bridge towards st. paul's cathedral.

st. paul's cathedral.