Bus Tour of London

On Friday, the UGA group had it's orientation with AIFS and then the students had a brief orientation for their interviews. After sitting through these orientations, we got to go on a bus tour of some of London. For the most part we stayed on the bus, but we were able to get some pictures at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey.

Here are some of the highlights (please note that many of these pictures are through the bus window, so they aren't the best):

A building sporting the flag.

Part of the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum (I can't remember which).

Victoria and Albert Museum. Notice the banner on the right...they have a Quilt exhibition right now. I will have to check it out!

Of course the iconic phone booths still exist. I have to get my picture in front of them at some point...

Blue gates at Hyde Park. This leads a long walkway through the park to Buckingham Palace.

As our tour guide said, he must have gotten out. This is a retired military man out walking in his uniform.

We got to get out and take some pictures at Buckingham Palace. These are my flatmates.

Here is most of the group in front of Buckingham Palace (only missing a few students). Unfortunately the Queen was not in today, she was in Canada. I guess she didn't know I was coming, otherwise she would have been there to have tea with me.

The Clock Tower, Big Ben.

Parliament

Westminster Abbey

Walking through to the Dean's Courtyard on the way to the group entrance at the Abbey.

The group entrance. Look at all of that ivy growing.

No gum is allowed in the Abbey, so there is a special trash can at the entrance.

The last picture on our way into the Abbey. Pictures are not allowed inside, so this is the best I could do.