London - Day 2

Normal morning - got up at 08:00, ate my two chocolate pastries and some fruits, and left at around 09:30. This turned out to be a reconnaissance day to the south of Hyde Park.

Entrance to the Buckingham Palace.

I arrived at the Buckingham Palace, but it was closed. I think it's only open to visitors on some occasion, or sometimes rarely... Took some pictures, starting to feel a bit depressed by such an unnecessary flagrant show of wealth, and left towards the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where the Wicked musical (wiki link) is playing. I wanted to buy a ticket for the next day (monday), thinking there would be less people. Going there, I stopped at the Sainsbury's Local to buy lunch. The theatre was closed, probably only opening during the evenings. Having no real access to the internet (the hotel wi-fi sucks), I'll try to buy my ticket tomorrow evening, just before the show.

Continued on Victoria Street, found Westminster Abbey, but it was closed on sundays. Found out that the Big Ben is right behind it! I had thought that the Big Ben was just a tower with a clock, but it's actually the tower on the UK Parliament. Took some pictures that I think will turn out nice, because there was no cloud all day.

Westminster Abbey.
Help the poor, they say.

I could see the London Eye some small distance away, on the other side of the Thames River, so I went, but it was closed for whatever reason until January 21st. I took the opportunity to eat my lunch, looking at the river and some gulls that were disappointed that I didn't give them any part of my wrap and fruit salad. I went back to Picardilly, stopping at the Comedy Store to buy a ticket for this evening, but, like the theatre, it was closed.

I found the National Portrait Gallery by chance. I didn't plan to go, but since I had only walked today and didn't do anything, I went. It was okay, but they are only paintings, and too many of them about religion. I left, slightly irked.

I took Picardilly all the way around Hyde Park to see if there was anything interesting, but not really... I stopped at an expensive Whole Foods Market (but still a lot less expensive than a restaurant), and bought my dinner and breakfast for tomorrow. I went back to the hotel, tried to go on internet (couldn't), ate dinner, and prepared myself for a second round of walking.

UK Parliament, with it's Big Ben.

I left at 17:45, and arrived at 18:30 at the Comedy Store. There were still some tickets left, for which I was grateful, because the improvisation show was sold-out quickly later. I also bought a ticket for tuesday's show. I had to wait almost an hour inside for the show to start, but I had a pretty good place on the side. The six guys (cast a bit different from the original cast on the site) who were part of the improvisation were terrific! I had an awesome evening. I wonder if anything I do until friday will be better.

The London Eye.

When I went back to the hotel, I stopped at a small bar called City of Quebec. I stayed two minutes because it wasn't good - it seemed more like the kind of bar that old alcoholics go to to forget their day and their families... Maybe I'll try again during the week, to see if it's better. I got back to the hotel at around 22:40, prepared my stuff for an early start tomorrow, and read a bit.

In front of the National Portrait Gallery.