Soggy But Fun

(John) It was a full and soggy day. The Original Bus Tour Company showed us around the cities of London and Westminster. The two of us usually sat on the open top of the double decker bus. Thus, by the end of the day I was damp - and yet slightly sunburned too! We also took a short cruise on the Thames.

Both tours were narrated by tour guides for which the traditional dry British wit came quite easily. I also did a short tour of the Tate Modern Art Museum, where works by Mondrian, Monet, Pollack, Warhol, Rondin, and Picasso were just a few of the highlights.

On the bus, we drove by many famous sites, most of which we plan on exploring in detail over the next couple of days. One interesting thing we learned is that while the PM works at 10 Downing, his residence is at number 11.

The highlight of the day for me was our visit to Shakespeare's reconstructed Globe Theatre. This landmark was 25 years in the making by, of all people, an American! - actor Sam Wannamaker. The building is a faithful reproduction of the original Elizabethan version (1599). In keeping with the era, no nails were used in the construction. Even the plaster walls were fashioned using animal hair, and the roof was properly thatched too. All timbers were cut by hand.

We toured the Globe with a wonderfully theatrical guide. Afterward, Gene and I both enjoyed an espresso across the street at (hold your breath) Starbucks while gazing at the Thames and St. Paul's Cathedral in the distance. I was thoroughly enthralled.

At the end of the day, the hotel had changed our room to the more exclusive Bower House wing. I was grateful because the main wing of the hotel was now filled to overflowing with a very rude group of French teenagers!

(Gene) It has been a great day. We started it off with a wonderful full English breakfast. I have never had such fresh eggs before. John said, the eggs are so fresh that he thinks there is a chicken laying eggs in the kitchen. The meal also included a very tasty sausage made by Musk's, the sausage of the royal household. It was very flavorful, yet not greasy.

As John mentioned, we had a full day on the bus tour. One interesting tale, as told by our tour narrator, explained the gentlemen's club, IOD. The Institute of Directors is a club for men that are Directors of successful businesses, etc. Well, it seems that they also have a club by-law that every Prime Minister is automatically a member. Well, this men only club had a big problem when the UK had it's first and only woman PM. To get around this rule they made PM Margaret Thatcher an honorary male.

Some other highlights of the day included: walking over the Thames River on the Millenium Bridge. Seeing the London Eye (the gigantic bicycle wheel).The lines seemed too long for us. Therefore, we decided to come back another day. We ended the day with supper at the Juggered Hare. This was a pub that John had read about. It was great and close by in our neighborhood. I had the Fisherman's pie. It was terrific. It included prawns, cod and haddock covered in a cheddar mashed potato crown. Yummy!