London

We woke up bright and early the next morning and after a hearty breakfast headed off on the tour bus to see London. Touring with a group can be fun but it also tends to be a little rushed. We did get to get off the bus and see things. The most amazing thing to me were the tiny cars speeding on the wrong side of the street. (I mean SPEEDING). Now I grew up in a big city so I know what traffic is like. This was wild! However because London seems to run in circles they have instructions painted on the street to indicate which way to look for oncoming traffic. I thought that was pretty impressive.
We stopped at Westminster Cathedral which is magnificent. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament rose in the background. All I kept thinking was "I'm really here!" I'd wanted to visit London since I was about 11 or 12 so this really was a dream come true. It was freezing cold and we stopped for a hot chocolate from a street vendor.
We had a big lunch at a pub called The Bag O Nails. It was real English food. Josh had traditional Fish and chips and Neil and I had some kind of steak pie. Talk about stick to your ribs food! We shared Winter Punch and Josh was still amazed that he could have alcohol there.
Then it was off to the Tower of London. The Tower is actually many towers. The Crown Jewels are there. There are guard houses and towers. Characters in costume wander about, King Edward and his entourage passed us on the road. Of course we had to see Torture Tower being the freaks we are. Sir Walter Raleigh was kept in a room there for about 12 years. Now his room was quite comfy looking although I imagine it got pretty cold in those days. We saw the site of the gallows which is also where Anne Boleyn was beheaded. (I have always had a soft spot for this second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I)
After viewing Tower Bridge we hopped back on the Tube and headed back to our hotel. I honestly can't remember where or if we had dinner. We hit some more shops and I am positive Neil and Josh ate something but I had finally begun to come down.
The next morning we would begin our adventure through England up into Scotland and Wales. Would we survive?
Stay tuned!