Europe Trip (London #3)

15th April 2011
On our last day in London, we went to visit Kensington Palace. The palace is another royal residence. All the important princes live here like Prince George and Prince Harry. Princess Diana used to live here too before she passed away. The palace is open for visitation. To find out more, click here [link]. It is a very relaxing place to be in. We had to walk a stretch of road so we did some shopping along the way.

Whole Food's Market. Kinda different from the markets in Malaysia.

Kensington Palace

Round Pond near the palace.

After that, we visited one of the filming locations of Harry Potter. Diagon Alley in the story is filmed in this place called Cecil Court. Felt so excited to visit! Its like visiting a magical world and reliving the story in real life. I could just imagine myself walking as a witch, searching for the best broom or an owl!

Cecil Court

The National Gallery was our next and final destination! It is situated at the Trafalgar Square. The Gallery is an art gallery, currently housing thousands of paintings dating from mid-13th century to 1900. It has free admission. To find out more about the gallery, you may click here [link].

British red telephone box!

National Gallery

Near Covent Garden.

We went back to our hotel to take our luggage and headed to the airport for our flight back to Malaysia. Overall, this Europe trip gave me one of my best experiences and exposure to the world on the other side. Anything that I have read in books or watched on TV had came into reality in this trip. Indeed, I truly feel blessed to be able to visit these countries and I hope that in the future, I would have the chance to go back again. :)

Europe Trip (London #2)

14th April 2011
After breakfast, we started off towards Buckingham Palace. It is the official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch. When we reached, the Changing the Guard ceremony took place for about 45 minutes. To get more details on when you can watch, click here [link]. We did not enter the palace though. However, guided tours are available to some certain parts of the palace. To find out more, click here [link].

London Bus

Changing the Guard ceremony in front of the palace with Victoria Memorial in view.

At Buckingham Palace, inside the gates.

With music

Red flowers around the palace. The national flower of London is rose though.

The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk.

The garden near the palace.

We dropped by at the Supreme Court of UK. It was quite cool inside. Not many visitors so we had the court rooms to ourselves! There was no need of entrance fee when we went. However, there might be some changes. To check out more, click here [link].

Abraham Lincoln Statue we saw on the way

The Supreme Court of UK

Queen Elizabeth

One of the courts for visitation

Stairs. Feels like I am in Hogwarts already.

Look at the signature and the handwriting. Loves!

We walked across the street and reached Westminster Abbey. It is a mainly Gothic church with magnificent architecture. We walked in the vicinity of the church. The official website of the church is here [link].



North façade, built in Gothic style.



The west front end

Opposite of the church is the Palace of Westminster. At the north end of the palace is the Big Ben. It is the famous clock tower in London.



Palace of Westminster

Big Ben Tower

We had to fit in many destinations in one day, so we did not walk to see the London Eye. We proceeded towards the Tower Bridge. I had always thought that the Tower Bridge is the London Bridge we had always sung about. The Tower Bridge crosses the River Thames.

Sundial I saw nearby the railway train station.

Riverside view towards Tower Bridge.

First time listen to poetry reading.

A model of the area.

Tower Bridge!

On the bridge

Thames River - night view of London

Where the bridge splits.

Nearby the Tower Bridge is the Tower of London. The Tower Bridge got its name from this Tower of London. It is actually a castle, a grand palace early in the history, which served as a royal residence. For more details, click [here].

Walls surrounding Tower of London

One of the entrance

We went back to Chinatown for dinner. It was not as cold as last night. It was also our last night of the trip!

Chinatown. So happening.

Said to be the famous roasted duck around here! It was not bad.

The Queen's Theatre - Les Mis Broadway!

Next Post: Europe Trip (London #3)

Europe Trip (London)

13th April 2011
We boarded the Ryanair plane [link] at Ciampino Airport to London the next day. In about 2 hours, we reached London Stanted Airport. We took the Terravision Airport Bus [link] again to our hotel which is Classic Hotel situated in the heart of London's Sussex Gardens.

English Newspaper on an English gate. Lol.

After checking in, we took the Metro to Chinatown after that. It was very cold and it rained an hour later. I did not want to take out my camera because my fingers were freezing! So not many photos were taken on that day.

Chinatown

As it was raining and freezing, we retreated early back to our hotel to rest for the next day.

Next Post: Europe Trip (London #2)

Europe Trip (Vatican City & Rome, Italy)

12th April 2011
In the morning, we took a metro bus to Vatican City. Vatican City is actually a country within Rome. It is the smallest country in the world. Rather unique. You do not need to show your passport though to enter the place. The bus that we took from Rome costs €1 (RM4.50) for every 75 minutes. Vatican City is not that far away from the place we stay.

The story of the crucifixion of Jesus depicted in sculptures
along the way from the bus station to St. Peter's Square

We walked straight until we reached St. Peter's Square. It is the square where St. Peter's Basilica is situated. The church is a Late Renaissance church and is one of the largest churches in the world. It has been said to "hold a unique position in the Christian world". According to the Roman Catholic tradition, Saint Peter's body, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is buried in the church.

In St. Peter's Square and behind me is the St. Peter's Basilica.

Tall pillars surrounding the Square.

There was no entrance fee. We had to line up to enter the Basilica. Inside, we visited the tombs, most of them are of popes. We also visited the St. Peter's burial site. No camera is allowed inside though.

A statue in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

One of the high entrance.

People filling up bottles with holy water.

We proceeded to the Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel). It was first used as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his family. But later the popes used this place as a castle and fortress too. It used to be the tallest building in Rome. Now it serves as a museum. There was free entrance on that day due to the Cultural Week. However, if you would like to find out more about the price of the ticket and the opening hours, click here [link].

Entrance to the fortress

Up the castle!

Look at the small ancient door and window!

Looks like a temporary prison to me, or a guards' resting room.

Catapult! Weapon of mass destruction. :P

Upper part of the castle

Tiber River - view from the castle

Climbing stairs towards the roof of the castle.

Bronze Statue of Archangel Michael, on the rooftop!

View of Rome <3

Other parts of the castle

Weapon Room

Coming out from the castle, we crossed the Tiber River using Pont Sant'Angelo. It is a Roman bridge that is lined with statues of angel.

Pont Sant'Angelo

We walked towards Piazza Navona. It is known as the competition arena as back in the days, ancient Romans went there to watch games. In the square, there are the Fountain of Neptune, Fontana del Moro (Moor Fountain) and also the Fountain of the Four Rivers with Egyptian obelisk.

Piazza Navona

Fountain of Neptune

Fountain of the Four Rivers with the Egyptian obelisk

Living statues so real!

Beautiful paintings!

Next destination is another place which I have been anticipating and read about in school. It is the Pantheon! A Roman temple, the name literally means a temple consecrated to all gods. It is very well-reserved. The Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Cool yea? The square in front of Pantheon is Piazza della Rotonda.

Pantheon!

Translation? This is at the entrance.

The altar

Interior!

The dome!

Reached Trevi Fountain next. The largest Baroque fountain in the city. People throw into the fountain. The place was crowded with people sitting around the stairs nearby.

Trevi Fountain with awkward pose of people lifting up their arms.

We explored the rest of the city as much as we could. Everywhere was so beautiful, not only these tourist attraction sites. Even the simple building at the side of the road of nowhere looked amazing. Rome, another wonderful city that is worth the second visit!

Pillars! Tall pillars of a building.

Sat on a bench beside the road to enjoy the surrounding.

 Next Post: Europe Trip (London)