Taken over guards and not seeing what I wanted to

On this morning I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do.  I was thinking of going to the Tower of London, but I may wait on a day that I can actually not worry whether the Tube will make it there.  On weekends they close fully or partially some of the lines.  I didn't feel like finding out where the circle and district line tubes were partially closed.  Instead, I got up this morning, again in time for breakfast, then came back to my room to write my blog for the day before.  Finally I decided I should change and figure out where I'm going to go.  The weather didn't look too bad so I thought I would take the chance and go outside.  In the midst of uploading pictures to my blog I slowly got ready.  Of course, I don't understand why, firefox tends to not like me at times when writing my blog, which reminds me I should save just this section just in case.  Hah, it read my mind, weird.  Firefox must have gotten too busy so it decided to tell me it wasn't working properly.  I was getting to a good section in my blog as well.  I can only hope that it was saved.  I close firefox and restart it, long behold some of the new written part is saved, but not the part that I had "just" written (grrrrrr).  I start typing some, then get tired of it so I save and close my laptop and head out for the day.  Of course it is about midday by this point.  I didn't eat lunch.  Oh well.  I head out in search of St. James Palace, and Burlington Arcade.  The Palace is on the other side of St. James Park and was built by Henry VIII, it isn't open to the public but I at least thought I could see the outside of it.  Burlington Arcade I found out was a walk way full of shops, I wanted to get some more souvenirs.  I head through the park and look on a map just to make sure I know where it is.  I keep walking and head down a side street.  It is supposed to be on this street.  I still don't know if I found it, but I got a couple pictures.

 

Statue in front of what may be St. James Palace

 

That may be St. James Palace

I wish I knew

 

This is St. James Chapel (I believe)

Inigo Jones designed this as well

I then walked down a different street, I believe it was called Pall Mall Street, it takes you towards Trafalgar Square.  While on that street I was trying to find Burlington Arcade, I did find some statues on the way though.

 

I didn't get close enough to see what it was for.

After that picture I head towards Trafalgar Square, trying to figure out where this place is I want to go.  I don't find it, so I cross the street and turn around.  I head up another street, the road that actually has Her Majesty's Royal Theatre, it is playing Phantom of the Opera right now, and right across the street is a play that Ian McKellen is acting ing.  I kind of want to see it too.  I don't know what it is about, though (oh well).  I then run into a store called Cool Britannia, a souvenir shop filled with, well, a ton of souvenirs.  I stopped in for a little bit, wondering what I should get the people I haven't bought anything for yet, and then head out.  I'll maybe take Rachel there, but I am sure there are cheaper places around, especially since I saw a Central of London store around, another big souvenir shop.  I decide to head back towards St. James Park, to do some more wandering. 

 

London Eye

 

Statue by park and building, I want to know what it is

 

I don't know who is at the top

As I continue to walk around the park, I head towards the same place we had walked before, the Guards House (something or other).  On the way I see a statue dedicated to soldiers.

 

Memorial of some sort

 

I have a picture of this already, but this will help you understand the next couple photos

 

An archway through the middle

 

Forbidden

Once you go through the archway you see a mass of tourists, for this is one of the places people come to get pictures with the guards.  Seeing the guards unable to do anything while tourists gawk at them makes me feel bad for them.  I finally made my way through the throng of people and headed down the street.  Of course, headed towards Downing Street.  Maybe Gordon Brown will be there, or possibly the Prime Minister from Little Britain and his gay secretary, we'll see.  I also took some pictures along the way.

 

Women of the War sculpture and Big Ben

 

  

10 Downing Street, anyone, anyone

 

Another memorial

After walking down that street a while, I made my way back towards St. James Park.  I went by the Imperial War Museum (?) and headed in just to check it out, I made it to the entrance to see the prices and I left.  It's 12 pounds, I'll wait a while.  Maybe if dad comes and visits ;)  I head back towards Downing Street, I don't know what is with that place that I keep going back, but I kind of really wanted a picture of the PM house. 

 

A statue and 10 Downing Street in the back

The Black house

After trying to be "sneaky" I cross the street to St. James Park.  I see a few people huddled around four pelicans that decided to hang out by the fence.  I try to find a way over there but I don't want to get in trouble by walking on the mud/grass so instead I head around the patch of mud and back to the pelicans.  Some of them were shivering, I don't exactly know why, it wasn't as cold as it had been so I don't know if they were cold or something else.

 

Pelicans

After taking a few pictures of them I thought that an hour outside was good enough for me.  I headed back to VH, going through Queen Anne's Gate, a street we walked through one of the times we did a London walk.  And took some more pictures a long the way.  I decided to be a tourist for a little while.

 

Interesting structure by the Tube station

 

A building close to where I live

I finally got back and went straight under my covers so I could warm up.  Again no homework for me :s  Sunday, though!
  I spent most of the afternoon just online (seriously repetitive).  Later, mid evening, I decided to head to Sainsburys for some food.  I did take my new bag along, it can fit a lot.  I had a head a little before, during and after my grocery shopping so I decided not cook any supper.  I grabbed my last sprite and took some tylenol.  Finally I went and grabbed some bread, put some butter on it, and had some grapes.  Pretty delicious, even though it wasn't a lot.  The rest of the evening was spent hanging around my room doing non-productive things.  And, of course, I finally headed to bed.  It was a good day, and I'm glad I made it outside for longer than an hour by myself.  Hopefully it warms up soon so I can go on more walks and explore some of the other parks besides St. James Park.  I think I'm a little scared, but hey, it's London!  You're supposed to get lost!  Cheers