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Gypsy's Travels


Friday, August 8, 2008

Travels with Em - "Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace"

"They're changing the Guard at Buckinghan Palace.
Christopher Robin went down with Alice."
A.A. Milne
We arrived for this tourist event 1 1/2 hours before it was scheduled to occur. The prime location, between the front gates, was full so we staked out a place on the, almost vacant, side, where we could see the entire courtyard. I know this is a tourist event because the Queen leaves town for a couple of months during this busy season. Now I can see why.
Em could see by perching on the low wall that supported the enclosure.Posted by Picasa

The Bobbies made sure that didn't happen.

When it was time for the guard to arrive for the change, there were thousands of people waiting. I heard very little English. I did hear someone in the crowd back of us say "I can't see a thing." Neither could we and we were right on the front row. Everyone had elbowed in and Em and I were now trying to share a spot. Two tall women had squeezed Em out and were holding their cameras through the fence posts in front of our faces to take photos by aiming in the general direction of the ceremony. I don't know what they saw, but all we could see were arms and cameras, and occasionally a sniley[sic] face that turmed and looked at us. I snapped a couple of preliminary pictures before Em begged to leave. I was ready.

"Alice is marrying one of the Guard.

'A Soldier's life is terrible hard,' said Alice." A.A. Milne

1 comment:

  1. In most countries it is customary and almost required, to be impolite, crowd and do anything to get where you want to be.

    ReplyDelete

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