After complaining to Claudia - our tireless guide from Pinto Lopes Viagens - she promised to call the agency to see what could be done.
After breakfast we were handed out our packed lunches and off we went to the Tower of London - our first visit, scheduled for 10 a.m. But... damn it!!!... I forgot my bag (can you imagine an unattended bag in the London Underground????) and had to come back.... Teachers Clara Luís and José Fernando (as well as one of the kids) came with me while the rest of the group headed for the site.
Already at the Tower, the views were wonderful, the weather was gorgeous and after the delight of the Jewels of the Crown, we had our lunches and went straight to St. Paul's Cathedral, one of London's most famous sights. We spent some time there and went UP - yes on foot - only (!) 528 steps. All took many pictures from the top where it became obvious that London is "dressing up" to welcome the Olympic Games in 2012 with so many construction sites and refurbishments under way.
Around 4 p.m we had an Espresso in Covent Garden and by 6 p.m. we were already inside the British Museum; what certainly most attracted kids were the mummies; as for the adults, I guess there's a lot more to be appreciated from antiquities, manuscripts,...to prints, stones and all stopped to see the "Rosetta Stone". I will certainly visit the British Museum (FREE ADMITTANCE) again and advise (?) all to spend some time there even in the magnificent glass-roofed Great Court :). It's really worthwhile!
Back to our Youth Hostel, it was clear that our complaints had been taken into account - some of us had a different room and even the meals improved. YES!!!
To end our (already) long day, we went to HARD ROCK CAFE LONDON where Claudia had arranged a guided visit to its world famous vault - what a privilege, folks!!! So, to recover after so much excitement and some shopping (EhEhEh), some had a drink.
Now, are you tired after reading my / our travel diary for the second day??? If yes, guess how we were when we got back to Bayswater Youth Hostel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With "a kind of magic" from the previous day / evening, enjoy (a bit of) what we enjoyed:
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
