Riding the tour bus

Selim and I hopped on a tour bus today at the Baker Street stop, just minutes from our flat.  This activity had been on Selim's mind since he got here.  He really wanted to ride in the open air on the top of the bus.  So off we went.

We drove on Regen Street, through Piccadilly Circus and saw the Eros Statue.  Then it was on to Trafalgar Square.  We hopped off the bus so that Selim could climb on a lion and I could take pictures, and of course, visit a gift shop.

Back on the bus we passed by Big Ben and Parliament and the London Eye.  That section was Selim's favorite. 

We crossed back over the river to St. Paul's Cathedral.

Then we criss-crossed the area to see the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, HMS Belfast in the river, the Gherkin, the OXO Tower, and the Aquarium.

We got off the bus at Buckingham Palace in time to see the end of the Changing of the Guard.

I had an interest in getting back off at Hyde Park but by that time Selim was tired and hungry.  So we rode the bus back to Baker St.

Later in the afternoon we went back to a souvenir stand and bought a pack of cards.  This trip hasn't been easy for Selim.  He misses so much of home and we didn't pack enough of his things to make him feel comfy.  That is a big lesson for future trips -- bring more reminders of home and less clothes.  We passed the late afternoon playing go fish and concentration.  I hope that in the years to come he will be able to appreciate how much of the city he has seen and how unusual it is for a little boy to have been so many places.  I think this has value, but in the moment, it is hard.