London 2013

One of the fun highlights of our visit home to Scotland was actually when Ryan and I escaped away (by ourselves) to London for a few days.

I was looking forward to seeing my cousins and experiencing London again with Ryan.  It was a packed few days and we did more walking than our poor feet could really handle, but it was brill.

We stayed with my cousin, Madeline, in this lovely neighbourhood.  She has a gorge place and was the kindest host to us!

We spent the morning of Day 1 at the Tower of London.  It was pretty great inside and seeing the Crown Jewels was fab too.  Sadly, pics weren't allowed.

Our brilliant Beefeater tour guide (seen below) was really into terrifying as many folks on the tour as possible. He was so entertaining.

A prisoners carving on the wall.

After a good 4 1/2 hours at the Tower of London we met up with my cousins at the Borough Market for lunch.  It was colourful, smelled amazing, was filled with loads of interesting characters and had incredible food to buy.

Nevada went off to work and we went with Mads to the Tate Modern Art Gallery.  We got to use Mads' membership pass to get into all the exhibits and saw some breathtaking views from the lounge at the top of the museum.

The fab bubble man outside the Tate.

Walking through the 'Southsides'.

Art in the streets

Saw some amazing artworks at the portrait gallery, 

 

sat in Trafalgar Square, 

wandered through Covent Garden Market, and then

I made Ryan get in a pic with me at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross Station.  He hasn't read the books, but finally agreed to do it (he made sure to have a Slytherin scarf on though :) ) 

They also had a wee HP Shop close by too where Mads and I had some fun with the wands.

Our 2nd full Day was packed as well.  

In the morning we headed to Westminster Abbey.  Again I was not allowed to take pics inside, but it was absolutely beautiful.

Big Ben and Parliament are right there too.

We met Nevada for lunch at Jamie Oliver's Union Jacks Restaurant in Covent Garden.  I was secretly hoping Jamie would just stop on by to check in on the restaurant...but no such luck.  I got the fish and chips with mushy peas....it was delish.

We had toyed with the idea of trying our luck at getting into Wimbledon right from the first night we arrived.  But honestly, I didn't think it would actually happen.  We talked to Madeline's roommate briefly, who had queued a few times and made it in.  She told us the best time to go was around 3pm to begin queuing for the evening matches.  After lunch with bard with headed straight to the tube in attempt to try our luck...we're both big tennis fans.  I've been watching Wimbledon since I can remember and always wanted to go.

We saw loads of crazy and interesting characters on the tube ride in and then just when we were almost to the Wimbledon stop a wee lady came on the intercom to announce that if you didn't have a ticket and were trying to get into the matches there was no point because it was at it's full capacity.

We were both pretty gutted, but we decided that since we'd come that far we may as well go and at least try for a pic or two in front of something of consequence.

At the main entrance (to the field) we were greeted by a wee teenager who told us we were more than welcome to stand and queue for the evening matches, but we shouldn't expect to get in as it was especially mobbed because Andy Murray and Federer were playing today.

Here's the massive queue of campers that were all set up for the night.  They would have gotten in bright and early for the following morning's matches.

Our ticket number was like 10500 odd...mental!  We waited for 3 1/2 hours with thousands of people coming in behind us.

After all that time we had managed to make it to the 'official entrance' and if you can believe it we were told we probably wouldn't make it in again.  I about died inside.  I was feeling like we had just wasted our last day in London by choosing to be there...it was heartbreaking.

We saw a few people give up at that point and leave the queue.  But we thought we'd just go ahead and hang on.

Suddenly we saw a sign for a security check and hopes lifted!  Before we knew it we were in full on sprint mode as the queues disappeared and everyone started running for the pay stations.

I was sooooo happy!  I couldn't believe we were getting in.  Instead of having to pay 44 pounds each, we were able to get in for 14 because it was after 6pm.  Score!

We watched some doubles tennis for a bit and then I suggested heading up to 'Murray Mound' to watch Federer play on the big screen.

He wasn't playing too well at this point (we were delighted! Ha. I knew Andy had a greater chance if he was out!). 

I raced into a spot that freed on the grass and started snapping pics like a crazy lady.

I had just taken this pic when a tap on my shoulder came and two young 'Made in Chelsea' like lads, sitting a nice sharp suits asked me...."Do you guys like tennis?"

I was like, "Uh, I don't just like, we LOVE tennis."

He then proceeded to tell me that he was spoiled and couldn't be bothered going, but had tickets for center court.  However they'd lost one of their tickets. 

We thanked them, packed our stuff immediately and dashed down to center court....I couldn't believe it was happening. but then started doubting that it could actually be legit! 

Ryan was like, "who cares, we'll chance it anyway!" INDEED! 

The first level of security was ok with our story that we'd lost a ticket and let us in fairly quickly.  The guard on the second level seemed a little harsh when Ryan said he didn't have his, but then he turns to me and says, "Oh yea, no worries, I totally remember you from earlier." 

HAHAHA!  It was amazing.

Our seats were incredible and we loved every minute of it.