When we planned our flying to London we checked cheap flights to London. We arrived in London in the morning. Our bus took us to the hotel. The first impression of London was of a whole region of small houses made of red brick, all of them having chimneys on the roof. Our guide told us that it was an old region and now mostly immigrants live here. Our hotel “Imperial Hotel” was in the centre of the city, Russel Square. The hotel was not new, but placed comfortably and gave us good breakfasts. What I noticed, the personnel was rather strict and even didn’t permit to change places they gave us for breakfast. This feature was characteristic for English clerks further on. In the evening we visited Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Sqare with Nelson column (really very high), Green Park and looked at Buckingham Palace from outside. At that time the old queen, queen Elizabeth’s mother, still lived there.
Westminster Abbey was a very long hall, containing graves of heroes and noble persons, well-known writers and scientists. There is a grave of an unknown soldier in the centre. All the coronations are being performed here.
There are 33 regions in London. There is no municipality, the regions have their own administrations. In Whitehall there are ministries and buildings for Queen’s guards. Queen’s guards are very picturesq in their red clothes and big fur caps. Parliament House and Big Ben known all over the world are placed on the Themse river. They were built in the X1X century. Tower bridge near the famous Tower is decorated with small towers and chains. In the Tower we watched the quieen’s jewelry and crown with lots of jewels. In the Tower yard there was earlier execution place, where noble persons and some king’s wives were executed. There live ravens in the Tower yard and it is said that while they live there, England will live, so they are taken much care of.
We visited the old Hampton Court palace, where in the kitchens we saw big old kettles, the rooms look rather modest. Windsor Palace not far from London looked better, the rooms decorated nicely, but the throne looked like a simple arm-chair. It gave a good impression, the oldest monarchy did not need luxury.
Saint Paul Cathedral is the second big cathedral in Europe after Italian Saint Peter. Madam Tussaud’s museum is the most remarkable place. Lots of historical figures made quite naturally from wax, numerous rooms, I was especially impressed by the figures of Maria Antoinette and her family. You couldn’t escape riding on the “taxy”, where London spirit is expressed uniqally.
