After that I wanted to watch the changing of the guard. I got there very early and decided I had time to walk to the Wellington statue and memorials to the Australians and New Zealanders who fought with Britain in her wars. When I made my way back to the palace, people were already lining the gates. I found a place right up by the gate but on the side. And I waited for an hour. Finally, they came. I think that ultimately, the changing of the guard is overrated, the kind of thing you should do once to check it off your list, but that you’ll probably have no desire to do a second time. Kind of like dating a musician.
I had gone online to the Tate’s site and saw that they have five Alma-Tademas in their collection. Imagine my chagrin when I arrived there only to discover that none of them were on display. Not only that, several other sections were closed for renovations, including the William Blake and pre-Raphaelite galleries. When I double checked with the woman at the information desk that the Alma-Tademas were indeed all shuttered away somewhere, and that the galleries on the top floor were closed, my disappointment must have evoked in her deep pity because she gave me a free ticket to a special exhibit they were doing that juxtaposed art next to photographs that inspired it or was thematically related.
When I left, it was pouring, but I hadn’t brought my umbrella so it was a mad dash to the metro. I was pretty wet but at least the rain had lightened a little when I got off for the walk from Earl’s Court to the apartment. Once I changed into some dry clothes, Kelly and I joined one of her colleagues and her family and went to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter tour. I’m not a person who is easily awed, but this awed me because it demonstrated just how much work (and how many people's skills) went into making these films. We saw tons of props, costumes, and set pieces, including Diagon Alley, Hagrid’s hut, and Privet Drive. I tried butterbeer, which is basically butterscotch flavored cream soda. There was an impressive model of Hogwarts that was used for exterior shots and diagrams/blueprints of set pieces and props. Everything in the souvenir shop was overpriced, but Kelly and I had asked for the passport that they give kids (hey, we’re kids at heart) and stamped it at each of the stations and that, along with all the photos I got, is good enough for me.