Channel Adventure Day 3

Day 03 - Tuesday, April 10, 2018 – Thames River Cruise; London Eye; Fish & Chips Lunch; Explore Area of Westminster Abbey

After an included breakfast at our hotel we set out to walk the historic South Bank of the Thames River. In our travels we have found that booking a hotel with breakfast included is a good deal. Not only do you have a wonderful buffet, but you also save time not having to find a café open for an early meal.

Our morning walk along the river was refreshing. The temperature was 48 degrees, but it was not raining! The sites on both banks of the river were incredible, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Palace, The London Aquarium, and green belts and parks that lined the river that were practically empty. Only a few joggers were up and about at 10:00.

We made reservations for the London Eye River Cruise Package in advance. We had plenty of time before our 10:45 cruise departure so Gennie bought a few post cards and stamps at the London Eye Shoppe.

We were the first ones in line for the initial departure of the day. We chatted with two couples from Italy. We have discovered that London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Even in our small hotel, there were people from all over the world and the sounds of many languages could be heard as we ate in the breakfast room.

Our sightseeing cruise departed from the London Eye Pier with Gabby as our guide on the River Thames. She was very vibrant and her running commentary was very entertaining.

Some of the highlights that we saw again were the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben Tower, City Hall, St. Thomas Hospital (and home of the Florence Nightingale Museum), and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Gabby’s stories brought the history of the city to life.

Our cruise was a little over forty minutes taking us from Westminster Bridge to The Tower Bridge and then we turned around. The Thames is a tidal river, so we saw that last night’s low water level was gone and today the river was filling its banks.

After our cruise on the river, we rode the London Eye above the river. Many might say, it is just a Ferris Wheel; but the Eye has been an iconic part of the London skyline since it was built for the Millennium Celebration.

The wheel was officially dedicated and opened on New Year’s Eve, 1999. Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was built only for the 1898 World’s Fair, the wheel was temporary, built for just five years.

However, because of the popularity and the millions of people who visit the attraction for the joy of seeing a 360-degree view of London, the Eye is here to stay. We had passed by the site many times in the past and always said that we wished we had time to ride to the top. Today was the day.

The 30-minute ride was breathtaking, with lovely views of the city and the River Thames below. The 32 passenger capsules are sealed and air-conditioned and hold 25 people each. There was plenty of room to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the spectacular vistas.

Our capsule only had 14 people, as the lines were not long today. The wheel stops only to allow wheel chairs to board and the rest of the time it moves ever so slowly over the landscape. Today there were high clouds, but we could see London below us perfectly.

At noon we stopped at the Great British Fish & Chips along with hundreds of others for a taste of local freshly fried breaded flaky cod and fried potatoes. We shared an order – more than enough for both of us, but they were delicious served with malted vinegar.

We continued our afternoon with a stroll over Westminster Bridge and then on to Parliament Square. There were many tourists and the big red double decker busses were busy taking both locals and tourists around the city.

As we walked by Westminster Abbey, we actually saw the sun peek though the clouds and several patches of blue sky. This was our lucky day! With Vic’s great directional skills, we found ourselves back to Victoria Tower Gardens and Lambeth Bridge, only a block from our hotel.

After going back to our room to drop of some of our rain gear, we walked to Lambeth North Underground Station and found a small Tesco Express grocery store to buy a few snacks for dinner.

We finished the journal, mailed the post cards, and packed our bags for our Eurostar Chunnel trip to France tomorrow. We have had charming trips to London in the past, but being on our own and free to take our time and explore has been delightful!

The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.

G.K. Chesterton

Accommodations: Novotel Waterloo Hotel - - - Meal: B