Continuing from my UK Day 1 recap, here’s a look at what we did the second day of our UK trip. We did a lot of walking as we went from the Victoria region to Buckingham Palace, through Green and Hyde parks, into the Science and Natural History museums, and back to Victoria.
![english breakfast buffet with hash browns, baked beans, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and waffles](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/english-breakfast-buffet-1024x768.jpg)
The day started off with breakfast at the hotel, where we encountered some traditional English items like baked beans and cooked mushrooms. Panda loved it!
![roll mops au vinagre platter at hotel breakfast buffet](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/roll-mops-au-vinagre-768x1024.jpg)
I also discovered some things I couldn’t quite figure out, like these “roll mops.”
![tourist taking picture of buckingham palace guard](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tourist-taking-picture-of-buckingham-guard-768x1024.jpg)
We then walked to Buckingham Palace, stopping along the way at a gift shop where Panda found tea towels for our moms.
![view of gates to green park and tourists walking around outside buckingham palace](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/gates-of-green-park-1024x768.jpg)
From Buckingham, we went over to Green Park, which was new to me.
![red street running along buckingham palace lined with trees photo bombed by pedestrian walking by](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/red-street-by-buckingham-photo-bombed-1024x768.jpg)
As we crossed the street I wanted to get a shot of the thick trees lining the road and it totally got photo bombed.
![stoplight with red person riding horse crossing light](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/horse-crossing-stoplight-768x1024.jpg)
Apparently there are a fair share of equestrians around here since they have their own crossing lights!
![large tree in park with branches growing down creating cave space underneath](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/large-tree-growing-down-1024x768.jpg)
This is the second time I’ve seen a tree like this (the first time was at Hershey Gardens). I want one in my yard!
![looking out from underneath tree branches nearly touching ground](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/underneath-tree-branches-768x1024.jpg)
I couldn’t resist going into the little tree cave for a moment. I mean, it already had an opening!
![squirrel standing on hind legs looking far away](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/squirrel-on-hind-legs-1024x768.jpg)
This adorable squirrel looked so forlorn when the squirrel it was chasing went through the fence. Why it didn’t just follow I don’t know.
![bunch of pigeons and one squirrel eating on grass](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/pigeons-and-squirrel-1024x768.jpg)
Seems like the pigeons and squirrels get along quite well here.
![crowd of pigeons eating in park by people's feet](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/crowd-of-pigeons-eating-1024x768.jpg)
Pigeons are always pecking, which makes me wonder if they’re ever not hungry…
![two baby coons at edge of pond near nest in reeds](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/baby-coons-1024x768.jpg)
I found some cute baby coons nesting in the reeds. Aww!
![ruffled pigeon standing at edge of pond with feathers everywhere](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ruffled-pigeon-in-pond-768x1024.jpg)
Haha! This ruffled up pigeon was cooling its feet in the pond.
![black bird with neon greenish yellow feet walking into pond](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bird-with-neon-feet-768x1024.jpg)
Click on this pic and zoom in to see the freakin’ NEON feet of this bird.
![brown and white duck with black accents swimming in pond](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/duck-swimming-in-pond-1024x768.jpg)
Now there’s an unusual duck with pretty black trim.
![swan drinking water at edge of pond with kids standing nearby](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/swan-at-edge-of-pond-1024x768.jpg)
There were a ton of swans around and it doesn’t look like I’m that close, but it felt like I could touch it!
![kids chasing geese in park](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kids-chasing-geese-1024x768.jpg)
Some of the kids enjoyed chasing the ducks, geese, and swans into the pond.
![wooden and cloth lounge seats by willow tree in park](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/lounge-seats-in-park-768x1024.jpg)
The park provided tons of chairs for anyone who wanted to relax. So nice.
![pasta bake and salad with san pellegrino orange soda drink and black pepper and sea salt chips](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/pasta-bake-and-salad-768x1024.jpg)
After the park we went to the Science Museum, where I got a delicious pasta bake lunch.
![zoomed in look at purple sapphire engagement ring under microscope](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom-of-ring-1024x768.jpg)
Next up was the Natural History Museum where we came across a microscope and decided to take a look at my ring up close.
![red and white street sign with sticker grafitti](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/sign-with-sticker-768x1024.jpg)
On our walk from the museums back towards the hotel, we came across signs that had been tagged with fun stickers.
![ton of train tickets laid out on table as they are printed out](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ton-of-train-tickets-1024x768.jpg)
Before going to the room, we stopped at Victoria Station to pick up our train tickets for the duration of our trip. It printed out so many!!
![bowl of wagamama ramen dish with pork, shrimp, wakame seaweed, fish cakes, and tea egg](https://maryqin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/wagamama-ramen-768x1024.jpg)
For dinner it was Wagamama and I unknowingly went to the exact one I’d eaten at years ago.