January 19 Londontown

Slept soundly for 9 hours in a prone position. My legs were so thrilled! Joan got up, as is her way, bustling around the room in preparation for the day. I settled a shawl around my shoulders and began working a Sudoku. I thought it was very British of me to appear so in my cozy bed. Only guilt at holding her back got me to the ground and, eventually, out the door to a full English breakfast downstairs. While charming, all that fatty meat was a little much (apologies to my vegetarian friends.) The best part? Coffee! We walked a few blocks to Victoria Station where we boarded the hop-on hop-off bus for our day's tour of the city. Hampered by an inordinate amount of traffic on streets often undergoing repair, we made our laboreous way around London. BTW, the clerk at our hotel reported London's population at 2.5 million which swells each weekday to 7.5 million with the influx of worker bees. No one seemed to be absent from work today. Today's route included drive-bys of Hyde park, Kensington Gardens, Nottinghill and the Marble Arch, and then on to Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street, Piccadilly Circus (from the Latin for "circle"and indicating the famous round-abouts), and Trafalger Square. When we finally hopped off, I insisted on a walk back to the heavily gated and guarded 10 Downing Street for a photo and then we crossed to Westminster Abbey for a thorough tour. It was spectacular. When Ron and I come back, I'd love to attend a service here. Best things: Poet's Corner and the crypt of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots, one buried atop the other. You're not surprised to learn that there is no likeness of Mary and that she lies on the bottom. There was a poignant tribute to the Unknown Warrior from WW I and I also took the opportunity to light a candle for those people known and unknown who are in need of prayer. The Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastary. No photos inside, please, but you'll all be able to see it for yourselves when you tune in to the pending nuptials of Prince William and his fiance. I admit that I cannot remember her name. London is happily anticipating the event and, no doubt, the revenues it will produce. Tonight we saw "Billy Elliot", the musical, at a near-by theater which was walking distance from our hotel. In the interest of full disclosure I report that our routes to and from were somewhat circuitous. Okay - we got lost. Solution ? Ask anyone, including bus drivers, for directions. They all seem happy to assist. Good lot these Brits. The show was very entertaining and we were glad we'd decided to forego dressing up in favor of dressing warmly. It was too bloody cold to worry about fashion and we did notice that most of the other theater goers seem to share our sensibilities. We set the alarm (Joan's phone barks - sigh) to be able to get done what needs doing so that we can complete our touring and get to the airport tomorrow evening. Good night to you then.