I found two very interesting museums here in London (at least to me, because I love this stuff!) and had two nice visits! Since they are sort of related, I went ahead and combined the post. First one I went to was the London Transport museum that basically showed the history of trains and buses in London. The displays were very interesting!

One of the first taxis- a chair carried by two men to wherever you
were going. Note their pained expressions!

Early subway train. We ladies had our own section!

A display of a train in the 70s. The outfits on the mannequins
are hilarious.

Another early train car. The man looking at us on the right
is apparently based on the curator of the museum.

There was a really cool display of the tube map using old
tickets for each stop! This is the part of the Northern line
that I am using this summer. :)

Early buses and trams

A bus from the 60s. Notice the Beatle look-alike on the left. Funny.

Hanging out in the bus!

Driving the tube train in a basic simulator. THAT was fun!

A few days later, I went to the Museum of the Docklands over in Canary Wharf. It traced the evolution of using the Thames from Roman times until today. Again, very interesting! I also found a lot of connections to the transport museum which made me feel super smart. :P

View of Canary Wharf

Docks with the museum in the background

The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) heading into the station. Very modern and efficient.

The wooden lid from a Roman (yes, ROMAN!) barrel.

An interesting early map of the US. Notice that Georgia is
short and flat and extends farther west.

This is called a Gibbet. It was used mainly to punish pirates they caught in the docks area. The offender was confined inside the gibbet standing up and hung outside at the dock to be killed by elements and birds and such. It was meant to serve as a warning to others who thought they could get away with piracy!

Model of a ship

The Beatles in a famous photo at the docks from
the Mad Day Out photo shoot!

Another shot of the boys. :)

I went to the Tower of London on this day. It was luckily very nice weather! The tower was started shortly after William the Conqueror of Normandy arrived in 1066. The White Tower still survives from that time. There are several parts to the Tower along with the fortified walls that you can walk along. Very, very cool visit!

Standing in front of iconic Tower Bridge

Close up of our Beefeater guide. He was very good!
They actually are required to live inside the Tower
walls (with their families, of course).

Tudor section above the main entrance

A better view of the Beefeater uniform. ER II on his coat
stands for Elizabeth Regina the second.

Section of the inner court

Graffiti on one of the tower walls from 1585! It reads
"As virtue maketh life, so sin cawseth death."

Another view of the grounds and castle.

Outside the entrance to where the Crown Jewels are held.
Yep, the real ones.. no photos allowed in there so this is all
you get to see!

Section of the Roman wall

Tower Bridge

Chapel where Anne Boleyn is buried! No photos in there either. :(

Required photo of me with a Beefeater. He was not very
happy about being asked to pose for the photo unfortunately.

Nearby is the office building known as the Gherkin (pickle). I call
it the Asparagus, because frankly, that's what it looks like- the tip
of an asparagus!

Small church in front of the Gherkin/Asparagus. Odd juxtaposition.

The following day, I went up to Abbey Road to meet up with my friend Mary Ruth from SC. We haven't seen each other in like 13 years, so how appropriate that with both of us being huge Beatles fans we get to meet up in London?!


St John's Wood is the tube stop for Abbey Road!

Mary Ruth and I in front of Paul's nearby house in St. John's Wood!

Then, the gates slowly opened and the gardener left on his
motorbike! I fortunately was able to capture a couple of shots
of Paul's house!!!!!!!!!!!

And another...

Notting Hill (like the movie)

We visited the famous street market at Portobello Road. I got some earrings!

Mary Ruth and 3 of her daughters in Notting Hill!

As a Beatles fan, I've obviously been wanting to go to Liverpool for a long time! It was a bit surreal actually being there finally! It was different than I was imagining.. but good different! I can't wait to go back and spend some more time exploring the Beatles' sites.

View of the city from Albert docks

Main shopping street- Whitechapel

Albert docks! It's been done up all posh-like.
Loads of nice restaurants and shops.

Window display of the you-know-whos.

We went to The Beatles Story museum on Saturday morning. There is nothing really new for Beatles fans, but the items and displays are great. You get an audio guide included, too, which had all different Beatle-related people giving stories, etc. It was very well done. This is George's first guitar! Incredible....

Hanging out with John....

Recreation of the Cavern Club (in the museum)

Albert Docks

After the museum, we took a Magical Mystery coach tour.
We got to ride around Liverpool in a giant yellow-colored bus!
The guide was fantastic, though. Here's (one of) Ringo's childhood
homes (down the lane on the left). The pub there was on the cover
of his solo album Sentimental Journey.

Self explanatory!

One of George's childhood homes!

Gates to Strawberry Field

John Lennon's home he lived in with Aunt Mimi. Sadly, we
couldn't get off the coach for a proper photo. There are tours that let you
come inside (along with Paul's house) but we didn't do that one (read: ££££).

Can you hear them? The choirs of angels singing? This is
"AHHHH!" Sir Paulie's last house in Liverpool! I still can't
believe I was standing right there on his sidewalk in front of the gate!
I mean.. Paul's stood there! Surreal is an understatement!

The boys at the Cavern

Lead singer of a band performing inside the Cavern *Pub*
(different from the *Club*). They were alright. They did a cool
version of Yer Blues, though!

Display of Beatles' stuff behind the stage

It's Paulie's guitars!!

The Hofner is signed with "Cool Cavern- cheers! Paul
McCartney Dec 14 '99."

Empire Theatre- site of many early Beatles' concerts as well as
the Liverpool premiere of at least one of their movies (forget which!)

Odd, out-of-nowhere, Chinese gate opening onto
China Town apparently!

Liverpool Cathedral (one of them at least- there's also a
modern Catholic cathedral down the road).

Interior of the cathedral

Ferry 'cross the Mersey!!! It was breezy, but fun! :) Yes,
I sang the song!

The classic, iconic view of the city with the town hall and Liver birds.

Traffic coming home was a nightmare! I will say that the trip was
a blast! I can't wait to have the chance to go back to Liverpool. I
would like to go during better, warmer weather and just walk around
more. Maybe I'll spot Paulie!