Day Twelve - Jun 23, 2014

London, ENG

High Point: The verger tour of Westminster Abbey

Low Point: None that come to mind

Miles By Foot: 4

Miles By Train: 10

Today's Antiquities: The Coronation Chair

Today's Weather: Overcast, in the mid to high 70's

Tonight's Lodging: Jerome & Lili's

Touristic Events: Big Ben, the London Eye, South Bank, Trafalgar Square, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey

Travel Tip: The best walking tour can only be provided by a local. :)

Daily Didactic

Today was "Big Ben" day. This designation is mostly a reflection of Brian's nearly complete lack of awareness with regard to London's cultural richness. After a suitably late breakfast and coffee, we were lucky enough to have Lili join us for our excursion into the heart of the city. True to Brian's myopic understanding of London, we were first presented with a huge and imposing Big Ben as we stepped out of the tube onto the sidewalk. Under Lili's guidance, we walked across the Thames, under the London Eye and along the South Bank to some really great street art, which is the legacy of a now defunct skate park. We carried on to the north side of the Thames, walked up to Tralfagar Square, and onto St. James Mall and Park. After a quick picnic break in St. James Park, we ran into Buckingham Palace (sans Queen and Beefeaters). Finally, completing our loop, we ran into Westminster Abbey back in the shadow of Big Ben. Lili needed to get home to fetch Jack from school and we had a tour scheduled for the abbey. Our tour was an entertaining hour and a half from Verger Benjamin. Quick take...the abbey is grand, beautiful, and chock a block full of dead dignitaries. After a day of what felt like highly effective touristing, we made our way back to Kew Gardens just ahead of the rush hour crush, celebrated with dinner at the local pub, and had another lovely evening of conversation and laughs with our gracious hosts.