Number 45. Well, that brings up an issue. We are still on our grand tour tomorrow. 46. Then we all get in different planes and head home the day after tomorrow. 47. And I have a layover in Reykjavik of 18 hours. 48. Then hit Boston for an overnight. 49. So all along I have been wrong in using the 45 days in the title. So I can either change the title moving forward or, perhaps, ignore this very unimportant issue. Not sure what I am going to do.
Today I was up at 715. I had laid in bed over an hour trying to sleep and finally just got up. The room is bright and very noisy, from traffic, with the window open. You say, close the window, I say sauna. Window stays open. No AC.
Once all were up and ready for breakfast we went to the bottom floor of the hostel for food. £2 each for breakfast. Bargain. We got there and someone said hey we can go to McDonald’s. And that was it. Off to Mickey Ds. It is very close by. Always an experience to go to McDonalds in another state or country. Things can be very different. First, the hot cakes are NOT like those at home. They were only passable. All the coffees were better here and they had some sandwich selections which were, I thought, better. It was an experience.
After breakfast we walked to the British Museum. We went there mostly because it’s about a quarter mile from where we were.
We spent a good 4 hours in the museum. It’s big and lots of exhibits. And, most important, good bathrooms. Both Michael and I have been having gut issues since last nights indian food. So we need to have bathrooms at the ready today. Having said that, we toured all floors, all exhibits and all bathrooms. A good time was had by all.
Early in the after noon we left the museum and went to a nearby Nando’s, a roast chicken joint recommended by a taxi driver. It was good but service was bad. Hard to recommend.
After lunch we Ubered to the Tower of London. Though it was getting late, we still had prepaid tickets to use. The tower closes at 430. We got there at 1115. You know what that means? Speed culture.
We moved through the exhibits fast. Everyone but me went to see the Crown Jewels. I saw them in ‘74 and felt no need to see them again. So I went to see other exhibits while they were in the longest line on the tower. Well I saw a couple things, talked to a yeoman or two, and the others were out. Turns out the jewel exhibit has been sped up tremendously sometime in the last 40 years. They were in and out in well under 30 minutes.
We went to White Tower/castle next. That has arms and armory and is one of my favorite parts of he Tower. Sadly, it has been changed quite a bit since I was here last. Not as many weapons on display and you can’t touch them anymore. A shame.
The kids got out before us and Marika went to shop. Michael waited with her. We went to the medieval palace, at 503 which is after close, which shows what it was like inside the Tower back in the day. These rooms led to the battlements which led to other towers and other rooms and more towers. And it was way after closing and we were alone. Then we got to meet a yeoman up close. Cuz he was done for the day and wanted us gone. But he took the time to chat about things. Former Army, retired now lives with his family on the grounds of the Tower inside the walls. Which is cool. As an honorary bodyguard to the ruling monarch, he uses all his weapons – humor, sarcasm, and a loud voice – to protect the queen. Funny guy. Then we got the bums rush. I offered to spend the night in the tower but he declined.
After our Tower tour, both kids wanted to do some shopping. So went over to the theatre district and walked around all the shops. I went off in search of an ATM. Which I did not find.
On my way back I stopped at a Costa coffee shop. It’s a chain from Italy. Think Starbucks only with good coffee I did not go in search of coffee. I needed the bathroom. So I headed over and found three people in line for two bathrooms, one out of order. Looks like a wait. So I had waited a good ten minutes. The person directly in front of me had left. Several had come and seen the line and left. Long line. Anyway, finally, out pops from the bathroom a fifty year old or so woman. Wearing a visor , head low, kinda snuck out. But at least line moving? No. The guy at the front did not go in. So the Japanese tourist lady next in line tried to go in. Man in front of line says, no, three is someone else in there. Japanese lady left. Well, we waited another couple minutes and guy up front knocks on the bathroom door. Muffled response. He knocked again. Out pops another fifty year old lady apologizing and wiping her mouth. She left. Man up front knocks again and opens the door and I say to him “ that wasn’t strange”. He went in. I got my turn and left. I didn’t buy any coffee.
I went to meet up with the others. They were in a pub. Emily told me where she had found an ATM. I went and got cash and went back to the pub. Had an Aperol Spritz.
After a while we decided to get dinner. There was a fish and ship place a couple doors down. We went there. Our first day in London the five of us spent 140$ on a fish and chips lunch. Yikes. Tonite was $36 plus drinks.
Nothing left of the evening we went to the hostel. Kids went to hostel bar. We two cleaned up and to bed. The better deal.