Recently, I found out it’s not hard to visit the Houses of Parliament if the House is in session.
The Houses of Parliament across the River Thames in London
(Photo credit Jill Browne / Flickr CC Attribution license)
Lots of times, I’ve looked at this magnificent building, the Palace of Westminster, inside of which the Parliament of the United Kingdom carries on its business. I thought I would need a special pass to go in, but apparently that’s not so.
This picture is from June 2012. A pleasant young lady at the entrance told me that when the House is sitting, visitors may watch. She also said it was something you could do later in the day, because they carry on into the evening.
I think I’ll have to put that on the list of Adventures Yet to Come.
Today’s actual real-life, real-time adventure was a lunch here in Calgary with two writers I’ve been working with, Eden and Dakota.
While we didn’t spend our whole lunch time talking politics, it did come up.
The Americans’ Founding Fathers wanted to break away from England, then ruled by King George III. It took a war to achieve the independence they were looking for. Up here in Canada, we simply waited another 200 years and eventually Queen Elizabeth II handed us our constitution without bloodshed. In gratitude, we continue to lick the back of Her Majesty’s head every time we mail a letter. That seems like suitable obeisance.
Today’s adventure was talking about politics while enjoying the sunshine, the food and the company, and hatching a plan to see British politicians in action in person the next time I get a chance in London. I’m thinking mainly of seeing the House of Commons, but if the House of Lords is sitting, that would be interesting too. Might make it a double-header.
Houses of Parliament: Not just a label on a bottle of sauce.
Disclosure
This is my standard form of disclosure that I am retroactively adding to all blog posts done before April 1, 2018, and will add to all new posts.
1. Is this experience open to the public?
Yes.
2. Who paid the cost of me doing this?
I did.
3. Did I get any compensation or special consideration for writing this blog post?
No.
4. Would I be as positive about this place if I had gone as a regular visitor?
Yes. I write about things that I find interesting.
2 Comments
Susan Wright
September 8, 2012 at 8:42 amHaving just returned from Europe with a 3 hour lay over in Heathrow it was interesting to see the reaction of the British press to Prime Minister Cameron’s recent cabinet re-shuffle. Looks like the PM is moving further right–an MP who doesn’t believe in climate change got the environment portfolio. Having said that I wonder whether the British are really following this…Prince Harry’s antics in LA were getting even more exposure (if you’ll pardon the pun).
PS I’ll never be able to look at a stamp in the same way again!
jill
September 8, 2012 at 7:13 pmI’ve caught snippets on BBC and it does sound like there are some odd appointments.