I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BIEBER!

Yesterday kicked off day 1 back in "Blighty".  Neither of us slept on our Air Canada overnight  flight from Vancouver but that was our own fault. The Boing 777 might be the smoothest and most comfortable plane I have ever had the pleasure of travelling economy on.  I bucked up a couple of hundred at the last minute for bulkhead seats and I am glad I did.We arrived at Heathrow an hour early which gave us time to organize a London Pass and  reload my British SIM card. We soon after departed by Tube on the Piccadilly line to Baron's Court Station. "Side bar rant here to get going".  I hate my carry on wheelie bag. It is branded by Swiss Army but I can guarantee that this forsaken spawn of the devil was not conceived, designed nor manufactured anywhere near Switzerland.  It is junk. You can't pull it or push it because you have 18" max before it goes into hyper speed wobble.  I will soon say goodbye to this abomination and give it to my worst enemy.So we soon checked into the opulent Holiday Inn Express in Earls Court.  We were whisked through the check-in and soon after into our room and quickly into the prone position soon followed by unrelenting snoring.Early to rise and down stairs for the full English breakfast HIE style. Cold beans and yesterday's left over sausage accompanied great bacon and scrambled eggs.  We pushed off soon after because today was going to be epic.  Off we went to West Brompton Tube station and then on to the District Line Tube to Victoria.  Several rush hour stops later we were there.  Don't travel at rush hour, it takes dog years off your life.  Crushed in, standing room only and yes there are a myriad of reasons the driver will come on the P.A. to extol you with today's reasons why we aren't moving and why most everyone other than us we're going to be late for work.Sounds like I am whining but I'm not.  I love it here,  the city is electric.  We got off one stop early, so up the stairs at St. James to Petty France Road and a quick march past the Guards barracks. Soon we were around the corner to the right and Buckingham Palace was flying the Royal Ensign and members of staff were cleaning and preparing the place for the changing of the guards in just a couple of hours.This officially kicked off our sightseeing tour for real.  We posed for pictures at the Palace and Queen Victoria's monument.  With being so early we had the place to ourselves which was nice.  From there we shuffled down Birdcage Walk taking time out to watch the band of the Grenadier Guards being inspected before parade.  This inspection was incredibly detailed.  There was a team of Officers on hand and spent several minutes at each bandsman outlining  why they each had not spent enough time and attention to detail on their uniforms and general appearance.  They looked very well turned out to me but as long as the officers felt better about themselves then I guess thats all that matters. 

Following a must stop at the Hung, Drawn and Quartered Pub nearby we walked back to the Thames and boarded our river cruise back towards Westminster and an eventual offload at the London Eye.  On the way our ferryman described all of the significant buildings along the river.  As we passed the Royal Festival Hall he told us about some of the most famous acts to play the stage.  In the most accurate Michael Caine voice, Harry listed the acts.  Michael Jackson, now unfortunately dead. Edith Piaf, now unfortunately dead.  Frank Sinatra, now unfortunately dead.  I can't wait for Justin Bieber to play there Harry said.At this point everyone on board except the family from Dallas who were sitting behind us broke into laughter.  Our Texan friends took great exception to Harry's commentary and were clearly upset.  I suppose if you are from Texas everyone is American if they are covered in tattoos and regularly on the front page of the tabloids (even if they are from Canada). The Canadians aboard were in hysterics.  I suppose I was expecting this reaction from our Texan friends.  Just minutes earlier I overheard Mama tell Junior about the "international spy agency known as Scotland Yard" we were passing on the right.  I didn't have the heart to pop Junior's bubble.  God Bless Merica!