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A Guide to Exploring New York City Part 1

Chris Boothman
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4
A Guide to Exploring New York City Part 1

My first experience in the United States of America was visiting the amazing city that is New York City. The stereotypical 24 hour city of the world certainly lives up to it’s reputation and I was delighted whenever we arranged to go back here so that Heather could experience this vibrant city for the first time.

Times Square

Where to stay in New York City?

I had previously experienced the YMCA’s in downtown Manhattan so it was step up in residence when we decided to stay at the Four Points not far from Times Square and Broadway. Arriving at La Guardia airport on Thursday evening, we spent the night at an airport hotel nearby and then ventured into Manhattan early Friday morning by taking the local bus route from the airport to just north of Manhattan.

Navigating the public transportation system in NYC is part of the whole experience and you will certainly need to have your wits about yourself to ensure that you are always travelling in the intended direction otherwise you could quickly find yourself miles away from your destination. We boarded the subway and headed to the Times Square station where we disembarked and walked towards our hotel.

It is a good point here to state that Expedia and other travel sites are a little misleading when they suggest the Four Points is located on Times Square as in reality it is probably a 10-15 minute walk from the hub of activity on Times Square. Either way, the location is still great and the hotel is modern and provides the perfect location to explore surrounding areas.

Time Square 2

We checked in early around 10:00am and left our bags before heading out on to Times Square. Heather’s reaction said it all as she was more in awe and astonishment at the expansive lights and vibrancy on show even during the day. We walked down Broadway taking in several stores along the way and then headed back to the subway after deciding to head further downtown to visit one of our ‘pre-paid’ attraction, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

We used the Go Select Smart Destinations pass to select several attractions prior to heading to NYC and this proved to be only slightly beneficial given that we still had to line up with all regular tourists who still had to purchase tickets.

Statue of Liberty

After taking the subway to Battery Park we walked around taking in the gorgeous scenery which was enhanced by the perfect spring/summer’s day with not a cloud in the sky. When we saw the line for the ferry to Liberty Island our initial thought was to come back the next day but we soon realized that the line was at least moving in the right direction and the projected wait of 1 1/2 hours may not be too bad.

We were entertained throughout the wait by a Caribbean street performer who was certainly encouraging the crowds to join in with his performances.

Statue of Liberty

We finally moved through security and boarded the ferry to Liberty Island around 3:00PM after initially waiting inline around 1:15PM.  Not too bad a wait after all but I would probably recommend trying to go early morning to see if the queues are a little shorter to maximize your visit to the Statue and Ellis Island.

We took some amazing pictures not only with close-ups of the Statue of Liberty but also of the infamous NYC skyline as our ferry moved further away from downtown. We were able to spend some time on Liberty Island but unfortunately did not have enough time to go ‘up close’ to the statue as we still had to visit Ellis Island and the immigration museum before the final ferry headed back to Battery Park at 5:00PM.

Wall Street

The experience on Ellis Island in the museum is worthwhile and interesting though towards the end it can get a little boring (maybe this was just my personal opinion as my first trip to NYC required me to do a case study on immigration groups in NY).

We caught the last ferry back to downtown and then started walking towards Wall Street. Seeing the “Charging Bull” was interesting especially given the location and the police escort that was moving tourists from the pavement to the center of the street for photograph opportunities.

The Charging Bull

Walking down Wall Street was another eye opener as it gave us an opportunity to see how people employed in NYC’s financial district get from one place to another. Nearby to Wall Street is the 9/11 Memorial site which although we didn’t pay to go and visit, just being in the area where the Twin Towers fell was a worthwhile experience, just feeling the initial somber mood but at the same time noticing how the area has re-developed and moved forward since the disaster.

For anyone interested in finding some real bargains, you have to visit the Century 21 store located near Wall Street.

Positives

  • Statue of Liberty is a must see despite the long wait to take the ferry. The photo opportunities are amazing especially of the NYC skyline and up-close pics of the statue.
  • Times Square is a 24 hour strip with so many things to do – probably spend a whole day there and still not see everything!
  • Wall Street is decked with history and the infrastructure is particularly worthwhile seeing.
  • Public transportation is great once you establish how it works – buy a subway/metro pass and load your card to save money.

Negatives

  • Don’t really agree that we should have to pay for the 9/11 Memorial.
  • Volume of people, especially tourists, makes it difficult to plan to do all the attractions especially if you buy a pre-paid booklet (BEWARE – just purchase those that you definitely want to see because you won’t have as much time as you think to do everything)

Part 2 of this trip will see us visit the Empire State Building and the Museum of Natural History

Stratford Upon Avon – Home of Shakespeare

Chris Boothman
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1
Stratford Upon Avon – Home of Shakespeare

Stratford Upon Avon, located in the heart of England’s beautiful countryside would normally just be like any other small town aside from one person who changed the way this town is perceived – William Shakespeare. Probably the most infamous writer, playwright and poet, Shakespeare was born in England in the middle of the 16th Century. The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of Shakespeare but there are still plenty of other attractions full of culture and history.

Our experience in this charming town was short but worthwhile as we were able to experience the church bells ringing as we drove around the heart of Henley Street and along the river front which houses plenty of historic buildings overlooking the river and beyond into the Cotswolds countryside.

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Aside from this being the home of Shakespeare, Stratford is also famous of being home to Anne Hathaway who was Shakespeare’s future bride during his time in Stratford. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a thatched farmhouse with stunning grounds and gardens, which overflow with beautiful blooms, and traditional shrubs.

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The cottage is in Shottery, a hamlet within the parish of Stratford Upon Avon standing at just over one mile from the town centre but can be accessed via a pleasant, well sign-posted footpath. Our visit was just from the outside but this provides plentiful views of the idyllic house, however there are guided tours available including options to purchase tickets to all of Shakespeare’s associated residences.

Much of the beauty in Stratford is made up of the architecture surrounding the buildings that make up the town. Many of these houses and commercial transformations date back to the 16th and 17th Centuries, emphasizing that the locals and town council want to maintain the heritage that is clearly present here. Hopefully Stratford will never lose this aspect because this will always continue to flourish as a perfect relaxation hotspot for those tourists looking to learn more about the history and background of probably the greatest playwright of all time.

Positives

  • You have to visit Stratford even if you are not interested in Shakespeare’s work. The way the town has developed but yet maintained the history and heritage is particularly eye-catching.
  • There are pleasant, scenic walks available throughout the town and even outside into the countryside as you head to more infamous attractions such as Hathaway’s cottage in the nearby hamlet of Shottery.

Negatives

  • Stratford is a little out of the way especially if you are heading north via the M6 motorway. However, it is worth the trip going out of your way to take in the heritage present here.
  • Parking is potentially difficult especially in high peak season.

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Vacationing in Tampa Bay Florida

Chris Boothman
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2
Vacationing in Tampa Bay Florida

Prior to our trip to the Tampa Bay Area of Florida in 2011, Destin was the only Florida location that either of us had traveled to and we both knew there had to be much more to Florida than what we had already seen. Venturing further south we decided to spend a long weekend in the Tampa area. We flew from Memphis into Tampa and then hired a car to drive to our hotel located on St. Pete Beach which was approximately 15-20 miles from the Tampa airport.

Our initial opinion of the area surrounding the airport was excellent, the palm trees lining the highways in particular indicating we were truly in the heart of the Florida, Sunshine coastline. Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory on the opening night certainly did not disappoint and the International Plaza Mall where this was located (directly next to the Tampa airport terminal) was certainly very ritzy and high class in nature! More of that later!!

tampa road

Driving out of the Tampa city limits towards St. Pete Beach saw us venture through several toll plazas which immediately was one of our negative aspects given that if you are in the Tampa area, more often that not you will be paying for a toll even if you are traveling a few miles!

Grand Plaza Hotel

The scenery was picturesque but as we approach downtown St. Pete Beach, I think both of us were left just a little disappointed. I am not sure what either of us really expected, from a personal opinion I think I was just anticipating a little more than the dated structures that were clearly similar to those on offer in Blackpool (for all those Brits reading these posts). Either way, we arrived at our hotel for the weekend, The Grand Plaza Hotel, which again is a little more attractive on the website than in person. The interior of the hotel is certainly better than the exterior and our room was particularly inviting with plenty of light and a gorgeous balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

The beach outside the Grand Plaza Hotel was filled with pure white sands and several palm trees scattered the entrance to the hotel, a perfect venue for anyone wanting to have the perfect beach wedding. This would have been a perfect location for us if we had pursued our initial thoughts of the beach wedding, but being able to watch a live beach wedding take place was sufficient to make us realize the pros and cons of such an event.

Exploring St. Pete Beach

We spent the first day driving around trying to gather our bearings and figure out exactly where the ‘hot spots’ in the Tampa area were for tourists. We both sampled gelato ice cream for the first time at Larry’s Olde Fashioned Ice Cream parlor in St. Pete Beach and this is certainly a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. There are plenty of tour boats available to go out into the bay and onwards into the Gulf of Mexico but we either didn’t organize our time well enough or just did not have the motivation to follow through with this idea.

We visited the Ellenton Premium Outlet mall which was not one of the better outlet malls we had been too but it did enable us to traverse the Sunshine Skyway bridge which is a great experience and much less time consuming than traveling around the Tampa city limits (again the negative being the $1 toll each way but it’s either convenience or money that you can choose from!)

Tampa Bay Rays

Prior to heading to Tampa, we purchased tickets to Tropicana Field to watch the MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. This was my first ever MLB game and unfortunately I probably couldn’t have picked a worse game to go to. Our seats were great, the atmosphere was good but the game was in one word – boring!

tampa bay rays

Probably the most enjoying aspect of that night was walking around the Tampa MLB Hall of Fame museum which gave anyone a brief history lesson on how baseball has evolved from the old-time greats such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to the modern day era of baseball heroes. For anyone interested or who can remember July 2011, the game finished 1-0 to the Red Sox after 16 innings with the last pitch being thrown at almost 2:00AM the next day.

Needless to say, we left during the 10th inning with the game scoreless and almost being put off at the thought of ever going back to a baseball encounter – surely they are not all that dull!! And they say that cricket is boring, in my mind baseball is your stereotypical game like “watching paint dry!”

Clearwater

We ventured into Clearwater on our penultimate day with hope that we would find something exciting but again we were left just a little disheartened at the apparent lack of ‘attractions’ worth seeing. We drove back into St. Pete during the afternoon and actually went downtown to the harbor and around the few shops that were still open!

It appears from our experience that St. Petersburg was hit by the recession a little more than other Florida locations, especially those local businesses that were fighting for survival.

tampa night

Our last day saw us drive back to Tampa and visit the International Plaza Mall which as mentioned earlier was a little over expensive for us, but the architecture both inside and out was worth seeing. Just going from one location to the next and seeing how the economy can prosper in one spot but be hit so hard in the next makes all this worthwhile to visit.

Summary

Overall, this trip was not one of our best but it gave us the opportunity to sample some of the western coastline of Florida. Maybe it was the long, boring Rays game that brought our opinions down or maybe it was just because the wow factor was just not there unfortunately!

Explore the Picturesque Town of St. Ives, Cornwall

Chris Boothman
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0
Explore the Picturesque Town of St. Ives, Cornwall

If you are visiting England for the first time, you could be forgiven for thinking that you have to start by exploring London. However, we challenge you to think outside the box and consider heading outside of the capital and visiting an area such as Cornwall in southwest England. During Heather’s first visit to the UK, we headed to Cornwall for a week to explore this gorgeous region and we stumbled across the picturesque town of St. Ives along with various other hidden gems along the southwest coastline.

St.Ives

Where is St Ives?

For those of you unfamiliar with the Cornish region, St. Ives is a seaside town and working harbor. Situated in near proximity to the Celtic Sea, St Ives was for many years predominantly a fishing town, just like many of the other villages throughout Cornwall. However, in recent years the influx of commercialism has led St.Ives to drift away from relying purely on the fishing income and now offers a nice blend for tourists to enjoy.

st ives cornwall

Visitors to Cornwall will likely want to experience many of the other iconic towns but for now, we want to focus on why St Ives should be on your radar.

Where to Stay in St. Ives

The beauty of visiting St Ives is that you won’t be short of places to stay. Whether you are looking to stay in a local bed and breakfast or perhaps something a little more luxurious, you can be sure the Cornish locals will make you feel welcome in the myriad of accommodation options.

Check out some of the best deals here:



Booking.com

Perhaps you prefer the thought of camping in Cornwall and either way, we can attest that you will have an amazing experience in this part of the country.

Things to Do in St. Ives

We parked on the north side of St. Ives above the quaint fishing village and immediately saw some spectacular views over the bay and down to the commercialized area below us. Walking down to the town center gave us a mixture of both historical heritage and the apparent influence of modern society as the fishing industry continue to flourish but tourists are visible throughout the town enjoying the small gift shops and afternoon tea options.

Things to do in St.Ives

St Ives is renowned for its beaches that are popular among surfers and also the local art scene. Head over to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden where sculptures by one of the country’s leading 20th-century artists are exhibited in tranquil gardens. This is the ultimate relaxation spot in the heart of summer where you can enjoy gorgeous surroundings while admiring these intricate works.

But regardless of your desire to experience either of these, this Cornish town is a place where you can just wander around and explore before sampling one of the best reasons to visit Cornwall – the Cornish Cream Tea!

Cornish Cream Tea

I have to admit, I love a good old Cornish Cream Tea! It’s a delicacy in Cornwall that in my opinion is irresistible. For anyone unaware of the components of this, it involves a fresh scone, jam, a cup of tea and the most important ingredient, the Cornish clotted cream. Clotted cream can be purchased pretty much anywhere in England and I have even found this in stores throughout the United States, but nothing compares to the homegrown delight of Cornwall’s finest.

Cornish Cream Tea

After enjoying such a magnificent snack, we ventured along the “front” which gave us the chance to see the local fishermen in action as they were either preparing to head out to sea or they were cleaning up their tackle and bait after a long day. It really gives you an appreciation of how some people are truly making their money the hard way!

Local Shopping Scene

Many of the shops are tourist friendly, in fact, the majority are now catering purely to the tourist population as many of the locals have chosen to move further afield with their daily shopping due to the influx of global supermarkets such as ASDA, Tesco etc.

St.Ives Cornwall

We both enjoyed walking around these antiquated shops, many of them offering what we would classify as “junk” but at the same time offering tourists the opportunity to take something memorable back from their trip to St.Ives. Culture is also very apparent throughout this historic town. The parishes, museums, and infrastructures are particularly eye-catching and popular among tourists visiting the region.

Summary

St.Ives offers a pleasant coastline walk whilst also providing tourists with plenty of quaint gift shops. An afternoon Cornish Cream Tea is a is must whilst visiting Cornwall and this is a perfect location to sample such delights. Enjoy a stroll along the harbor front and admire the gorgeous scenery.

Have you visited the Cornish town of St. Ives?

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Mevagissey – Enjoy a Day in a Historic Cornish Fishing Village

Chris Boothman
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21
Mevagissey – Enjoy a Day in a Historic Cornish Fishing Village

Whether you are heading to Cornwall for the first time or are a frequent visitor to the southwest coast, the quintessential fishing village of Mevagissey is a spot you cannot afford to miss. I recall frequently visiting this village as a child on annual holiday trips to Cornwall, so having the opportunity to take Heather there on her first visit to the UK was always going to be a memorable experience. This quirky yet historic fishing village oozes charm and that’s before you arrive at the harbor front to hear all of the local fishermen share their daily stories after heading out into the bay for their daily catch.

Mevagissey Village

For anyone unaware of Mevagissey, this really is a treat for anyone visiting the county of Cornwall in England. Hopefully, after reading this post, you will be raring to experience this historic village and perhaps Cornwall, in general, will be at the top of your radar. While we experienced an awesome camping trip in various places across Cornwall, it’s fair to say that villages like Mevagissey are the perfect place to stay for a night or two, particularly if you are looking to experience life as a local in this proud fishing spot.

Mevagissey is a beautiful and historic town…Our history of boat building dates back to 1745, and the beautiful harbor is filled with classic Cornish charm. (Mevagissey Bay Hotel)

Where is Mevagissey?

Located approximately five miles south of the larger town of St. Austell, Mevagissey is a great spot to visit either to spend an afternoon or as mentioned above, for a couple of days if you really want to enjoy a stereotypical Cornish experience in a fishing village.

mevagissey cornwall

The village of Mevagissey nestles in a small valley and faces east to Mevagissey Bay on the east coast of Cornwall. The inner and outer harbors are busy with a mixture of pleasure vessels and working fishing boats, the remains of a once major industry. However, tourism has now become the pinnacle of this town in recent years and fishing is now predominantly done by locals trying to make their living.

Where to Stay in Mevagissey?

Mevagissey is home to a number of bed and breakfasts just like many other Cornish towns and villages. If you prefer to stay in nearby St. Austell, there are plenty other options available but we strongly recommend considering the gorgeous Mevagissey Bay Hotel, particularly if you want to enjoy the breathtaking views across the Bay and only have a 3-minute walk into the heart of the harbor.

Click here for latest prices and room availability at Mevagissey Bay Hotel.

Things to Do in Mevagissey

The beauty of Mevagissey is not only because of the architecture and old-fashioned houses/shops that fill the village center but also because of the beautiful scenery surrounding the steep slopes of the valley where this village lies.

Boating in Mevagissey

If you enjoy hiking, Mevagissey and the surrounding area are home to breathtaking scenic coastal routes. Why not take advantage of the amazing South West Coastal Footpath and have the opportunity to appreciate some of the best views in southwest England.

For those of you that prefer to experience the local culture, head into the center of Mevagissey through a myriad of narrow streets that intertwine, providing tourists and locals with various dining options spots to enjoy a spot of afternoon tea. Art galleries and other shops are available and the wonderful Cornish Fudge Shop is a must for all visitors.

Cornish Fudge Shop

Fishing charters are available from the harbor front while for those that prefer to stay on dry land, the Mevagissey Aquarium offers a number of exhibits for visitors to enjoy. If you visit in the heart of summer, perhaps you will enjoy a great British summer and have the opportunity to experience one of the many beaches along this stretch of coastline.

All the local shop owners can provide wonderful local stories of the history throughout this fishing village and you just get that sense of relaxation as you wander around all those quirky gift shops. Of course, a trip to Mevagissey would not be complete without sampling the local Cornish Fish and Chip shops!

Boats

Summary

Mevagissey really is in a great location on an attractive stretch of coastline. Visitors here can also visit surrounding towns all within short driving distance and move further inland to explore the larger towns of Truro, St. Austell and St. Ives.

Whether you are enjoying an amazing camping experience in Cornwall or simply looking to visit a typical Cornish village, Mevagissey is surely a place that needs to be everyone’s radar. It’s a place I fell in love with as a child and I’m delighted to say it’s even better as an adult!

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Best Things to Do in London – How to Enjoy a 3 Day Guide?

Chris Boothman
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12
Best Things to Do in London – How to Enjoy a 3 Day Guide?

When considering the best things to do in London, the reality is that you are spoiled for choice. There is literally something for everyone in the English capital, so regardless of your personal taste, you can be sure that you will stumble across plenty of things to keep you occupied. In fact, the challenging aspect is figuring out exactly what to do and what to leave off your schedule and save for a return trip.

One of the best ways to experience London for the first time is to purchase the London Pass, which enables visitors the opportunity to visit several attractions plus skip the long lines. The beauty of the London Pass is that you are able to experience a plethora of attractions while at the same time save a huge amount, especially if you visit many of those on the list.

Of course, the difficult aspect is allocating enough time given that most landmarks close around 5:00PM each day, but with an organized schedule you can really maximize this great deal! The variety of London Pass attractions ensures that your schedule will be action-packed all day long.

Let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to visit London. Here is our hectic yet very enjoyable 3 day guide in England’s capital city. Be sure to check out our guide to spending 48 hours in London if you have a shorter amount of time.

Best Things to do in London

Whether you are an avid football fan, architecture aficionado, cuisine lover or simply enjoy having a good time, London is one of the best cities in the world to experience all of this and more. Our focus during this trip was to sample many of the “sporting” experiences in London including football, rugby and of course, tennis given that we were visiting during the week Wimbledon was being played at the infamous SW19.

Realistically, visiting a variety of sport stadia will take a substantial amount of time, not only to navigate your way around the capital from one to another but also because each guided tour is a complete experience. Of course, a visit to London wouldn’t be the same without visiting some iconic spots along the way so we were sure to scatter in those stereotypical English attractions during our journey around the city.

Stamford Bridge Stadium Tour

The first thing on the to do list was visit Chelsea Football Club. We drove into London, so we had to find parking which was very limited though fortunately we found an alley that wasn’t too far away. I would not recommend doing this but we parked and walked over to begin the guided tour of the stadium.

things to do in london

The guide was very knowledgeable and throughout the tour we were able to see a variety of different perspectives, including a view from the press box, a pitch-side view and also inside the home/away changing rooms (the difference between these is very noticeable!!!). Overall the tour lasted about 90 minutes and was great value!

stamford bridge london

Jason’s Canal Boat

Heading back into the heart of London, we went to Jason’s Canal Boat Ride which offers a scenic and historic canal tour through London’s boroughs, passing the London Zoo, Lord’s Cricket Ground and into Camden Lock marketplace. If you want a detailed route, click here.

things to do in london

After spending the afternoon on the canal tour, we ventured to our hotel based in East Croydon which although the GPS informed us was only 15 miles away, took well over an hour to travel this distance given the crowded congestion throughout London.

This is certainly a time to recommend anyone traveling in London to use public transportation at all costs as driving is NOT the best way to get around! The Holiday Inn in East Croydon was basic but sufficient for our needs and provided easy access to the train station that would lead us back into London city center via the tube.

Tower of London

An early start began with us taking the train and tube back into London. Our day was planned to visit a number of historic landmarks including the Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Getting familiar with the color coding of the various tube lines is a necessity but once you understand how they all feed together, it is pretty simple and convenient to navigate around London. Our first stop was the Tower of London which was included on the London Pass.

things to do in london tower

The history here is breathtaking and offers great opportunities to learn about the history surrounding London’s development. The exit of Tower of London is located below Tower Bridge so it is ideal to take in both of these landmarks at the same time. The tour of Tower Bridge is self-guided which allows you to learn at your own pace at how the bridge was constructed.

Photographs are available for purchase at a reasonable price ($20 for 2 pictures) with the tower in the background, both daytime and evening, providing a memory worth purchasing for anyone visiting this landmark.

HMS Belfast

Lunch at a local bakery was followed by a trip to HMS Belfast which was yet another prepaid landmark via the London Pass. All of these are within easy walking distance of each other without needing to get back on the underground system.

hms belfast things to do in london

The afternoon was spent taking in a haunted house experience at the London Bridge Experience. Not as scary as they made out but worthy of using the London Pass tickets.

A ferry down the River Thames gave us the opportunity to view Big Ben, Parliament and the London Eye. After leaving this short tour, we decided to hop on the tube to Wimbledon and see if we could get tickets.

Wimbledon

After walking at least 1/2 mile past the entrance, we had to turn around and follow the ‘poor’ signs on how to get into the grounds. Fortunately we were in luck and were able to purchase evening grounds tickets at a discounted rate and experience the atmosphere inside Wimbledon.

things to do in london wimbledon

Sitting on Henman Hill or the newly named, Murray Mound, eating stereotypical Strawberries and Cream was a perfect way to end an amazing day! Heading back to the tube station we ate Fish and Chips with the locals.

Twickenham Stadium Tour

Another early start saw us venture outside of London to Twickenham Rugby Club for another London Pass tour. This really was one of our surprisingly worthwhile tours because you really get to experience everything on offer at the stadium. The stadium is a magnificent structure, seating over 80,000 and visiting the suites and seeing how they are maintained is an eye-catching experience.

things to do in london twickenham

The sporting day continued with us taking the train and tube from Twickenham to Lord’s Cricket Ground, aptly named the Home of Cricket. Taking in the history throughout this ground was amazing and also listening to the guide show us the honors boards where some of the great cricketing legends have their names is memorable.

London’s Famous Landmarks

Our late afternoon and early evening involved a trip to the famous Harrods department store  sandwiched between a stroll through Hyde Park and visiting Buckingham Palace. One of the great things about London is that once you are in the CBD, you really are within walking distance of a myriad of tourist attractions (or at worst a short tube ride). Harrods is very overcrowded and expensive but offers a variety of merchandise to remember your trip there.

Hyde Park is a relatively calming experience despite it’s central location a midst the hustle and bustle of the city center. Buckingham Palace really speaks for itself with it’s iron gates protecting Her Majesty from the thousands of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

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