After the visit to the Cabinet War Rooms and an overpriced lunch (at least it was a buffet), I wandered through St. James Park before heading over to Westminster Abbey and the Halls of Parliament.
Now if you know me, you know I hate queueing. Or waiting for that matter. However, the Parliament was in Session and there was a queue to watch from the “Strangers’ Gallery”.
So I waited with a bunch of other Americans (they stuck out, especially the lawyer couple who went to Hah-vahd) and other people for a hour to get inside.
The building is magnificient. It looks like a really fancy gothic church. It’s still considered a Royal Palace, but to find out why, you’ll have to google that on your own. Got to see both the Houses of Commons and Lords debate. Aside from some verbal jabs at each side, it seemed very similar to what happens in the Assembly or in the Congress. In other words, same BS, different building. I was inside for about an hour and a half and got outta there.
While we were waiting, someone collasped inside and required Paramedic services. Now this was really cool, the service delivery that is.
Traffic is really awful here so (this is what I figured out from what I saw) they have an ambulance and a rider on a BMW K1100RS bike that rides ahead. He goes in and stabilizes the patient. Then the ambulance finally shows up and assists and transports if necessary. The bike looks cool too (in the Int’l Travel/London section of the gallery). That seems soooo more efficient than what we have in San Fran, an ambulance AND an engine company. Yeah, like they can cut through traffic faster than a skillfully ridden motorcycle…
Musings of a Food and Travel Addict