Sights of the City

Yesterday was the father's last day with his Penelope and me until we join him in Marburg next week. So we went with the Grandparents to take in some sights in central London. Luckily, it happened to be one of the sunniest and warmest (by London standards anyways) days this summer.

Here we (Grandpa, Penelope and I) are at the Richmond train station ready to depart. Be prepared to see lots of pictures with me pushing this blue stroller and using public transportation. No more cars for awhile.

Unfortunately this is the only photographic evidence of the father's trip to the city. But that's what happens when you refuse to trust anyone else with your camera.

St. Paul's Cathedral. On our first trip to London we hiked all the way up to the top, but that was pre-baby when everything was a great deal easier.

Yes, Penelope is there too, but she won't remember this trip or any of the future tramps we will take this year. She will only have this photographic record and our stories. Poor child.

The south bank of the Thames was crawling with tourists. A few times I had to threaten to use the stroller as a weapon in order to break through the crowds. And very wisely positioned throughout the pedestrian path were various street preformers. There were artists painting murals on the ground, a man doing card tricks, people painted head-to-toe in silver or gold and standing like statues, and even a Michael Jackson impersonater. The one that drew the biggest crowd, and the most talented in my opinion, was the person below. He balanced this glass ball and made it roll on his body to the beat of techno music. I know, it sounds silly, but it was actually pretty cool to watch.

And then there was the gorilla...

All this guy did was throw on a gorilla costume and sit on this bench facing the river. Not much to it if you ask me. And to make it worse, he kept taking his gorilla hat off, scratching his face, and putting it back on. Who knew all you had to do to make some money was to sit on a bench in a costume?

Penelope and I tried to make some money by twirling around and smiling big, but all we got was a candy wrapper and a half-eaten hot dog.