From Walpole to London: Sightseeing in London

Another great day here in London! Monday was spent visiting some of the most famous sites the city has to offer with my friends Emma and Kate.

After meeting up, we ventured to Buckingham Palace, where the changing of the guard was underway. Seeing the procession of horses and guardsmen in their traditional red suits was pretty neat. Next we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, which featured many pieces of fine art, including some by Raphael.

Stopping for lunch at the biggest Whole Foods in London - Kate's favorite place on earth - I tried a traditional dish of curry. Despite its looks, it tasted very good.

To cap off the day we saw Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. The architecture of all was amazing, especially Parliament and Westminster Abbey, with its elegant carvings and sculptures covering the outside walls.

Tuesday I continued sightseeing with my friend Alex, who also goes to Ithaca College. Since he hadn't seen the sites I saw on Monday, we made stops at many of the places mentioned above, as well as at Trafalgar Square. While in Trafalgar Square, we went to the National Gallery, which featured paintings by Van Gough, Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Cezanne, Picasso, and Gaugin.

My final sightseeing destination of the day was Tower Bridge. Having run by the bridge on my first night here, it was cool to see the structure in daylight, with the famous Olympic rings draped in the middle of its pillars. One thing I noticed from the bridge was just how rough and fast the River Thames is. I didn't expect its current to be crashing up against the walls aligning the river.

Already, workers have begun to take some of the Olympic facilities down. In St. James's Park, where the marathon and beach volleyball were located, scaffolding is being removed and the beach volleyball facility is being disassembled. But, the clock at Trafalgar Square still counts down to the Paralympic Games! The buzz of the Olympic Games may be  decreasing (no more people with their faces painted or wearing their nation's flags), but you can still sense that the city enjoyed hosting the world.

Not being removed are the large posters and advertisements highlighting some of Great Britain's biggest and best athletes, including Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis. Here I am with the gold medalist Ennis, outside of the world famous Harrods store.

One other thing of note: taking the Tube to all the different tourist spots, one immediately notices just how deep the underground subway system is. To get to some lines, you need to descend two escalators. During World War II, these underground stations were used as shelters from bombings the city encountered.

On Wednesday, I will be heading to Teddington, the hub of European distance running. There, many elite managers and athletes are based. I look forward to running in Bushy Park, which I hear is quite nice!

Till next time, cheers!

P.S. Emma and Kate have got me hooked on Jaffa Cakes, an orange and chocolate treat that comes in a Pringles-like can. Orange fluff cake topped with a layer of chocolate, the snack is delicious!

Chris' blog is used with permission from Ithaca College Sports Media and Management.