David and Jo's Adventures: A trip down The Thames

Sunday 19^th Jan

Got the train from Harpenden to London (Elephant & Castle) with Mike, Liz and Hannah. We were blessed with another sunny day. Walked to Borough High Street where Emma’s University accommodation is (she is training to be a paediatric nurse. We all had lunch around the corner at Joes Kitchen, this set us up for the day, walked to South Bank to the London Eye then over Westminster Bridge and saw The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. We the got on The Millennium Diamond River boat for a 75mins ride down The Thames to Greenwich. What a great way to see London and only £8 each one way. Great time of year to see it too as not too crowded. Went past many historic sites and a couple of lovely old pubs that we may have to visit later! We could really do with at least a month in London to see more of it. Arrived in Greenwich and saw The Cutty Sark on the way to The Royal Observatory - what a lovely walk to it it was. Fantastic views all over London. We stood on The Greenwich Meridian Line so was in two hemispheres at the same time. Walked back down into Greenwich through the markets to the river to see The H.M.S Argyle go past (they had to open Tower Bridge so it could get under). We had a drink in The Spanish Galleon pub then a lovely meal in a Chinese Noodle Bar. Returned to London on the new Docklands Light Railway system (DLR). Really weird as the trains have no drivers so you can sit right at the front so it’s as if you are driving. The new system was built especially for the Olympics and all the old run down areas that existed when we were last here have now all been redeveloped into commercial buildings and flash apartments. Arrived back in Harpenden after another great day in London.