Norwegian Wood: Lady Madonna

Now we're on to Christmas Eve! Our first stop on Friday was Harrods department store. I can't even begin to describe the sensory overload we experienced. We didn't stay long because there was just too much to see amidst too many people.

Harrods has more than one million square feet of selling space.

Then we headed to Westminster Abbey to attend the Crib Service at noon. It was tailored to children and was pretty brief, but it allowed us inside the abbey without paying to tour. We also wanted to attend a church service on Christmas Eve. It was a win-win situation. Photography wasn't allowed during the service, so I just have outside pics to show.

Westminster Abbey has been the site of 38 coronations, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

William and Kate will be married in Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

After service, we walked around the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.

A double decker bus, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

The Houses of Parliament (also known as the Palace of Westminster) has more than 1,100 rooms.

The Palace is one of the centers of political life in the United Kingdom.

The London Eye, River Thames, and Big Ben.

We stopped in at Starbucks (!!!) before heading to the 4pm Christmas Carol service at St. Paul's Cathedral. Trav and I arrived about an hour before the service and joined the line that wrapped nearly the entire way around the church. Someone working security told us we would most likely get in, but when we got into the doors of the cathedral and were held back, we started to worry. They cut the line off about fifteen people behind us, and we thought we would be turned away. By some miracle or another, we were escorted to the third row to the left of the altar! Holy moly! It was a great service, and the cathedral was just as wonderful. We were lucky enough to be able to snap some photos before leaving.

I have no idea what I was thinking when this man offered to take our picture from outside! I wasn't too worried, though, because his family was ordering drinks inside.