Globe-Trotting Husk: A Ride Around London

St. James Park Subway Station – Opened in 1860, it is the oldest underground station in the world still in continuous use

Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square facing the Houses of Parliament

King’s/Queen’s Life Guard at the beginning of duty – Does not react or speak to people on the street. The temperatures were in the upper 90s and that uniform is wool

Love the sign – some did get a bit close and the horse did nip at them and try to drink from water bottles!

Our tour guide for the day, Anthony, was telling us that this training ground for the King’s/Queen’s Life Guards was used in the 2012 Olympics for the Beach Volleyball games!

Statues of the Queen’s parents – King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth. They are greatly loved by the people of London because of their support and guidance during World War II. They did not leave their London residence despite the bombings that ravaged the city.

The Queen’s Life Guards marching from their training building up the street to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard. We did not approach the palace at this time due to large crowds and that the changing takes place behind the gates, so only the first row of people get to see them.

Buckingham Palace and gardens

Statue of Queen Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace. She made this the official residence of the monarch in 1837.

Gift Horse – The latest installment on the fourth pedestal in Trafalgar Square. It is part of a program that has a rotation of art with varying lengths of presentation. It is a bronze horse skeleton with an electronic ribbon which displays a live ticker of the London Stock Exchange. Other pieces included live performances in which artists could access the pedestal for periods of time for live art that included recitation of poetry, singing, live painting, and even people sleeping.