England

Thursday, June 12

It's always exciting to emerge from the Tube. The stuffy darkness is suddenly replaced by an amazing vista. It occurred on my first day in front of the Royal Exchange and it's been happening ever since. Of all the stations, my favorite is Westminster. When you climb the final flight of stairs, this is what's waiting.   

Big Ben is the gigantic bell that resides in Elizabeth Tower. It's been chiming since 1859 and has witnessed royal weddings, coronations, wars, and more of London's history. 

Most tourists stop in the middle of the sidewalk, snap a picture then move on. Photos from the outside are nice, but wouldn't it be awesome if I could go inside? The surprising answer is yes! Small groups allowed a few times per month. The first hurdle was 334 steps straight up.

We were lead to the belfry, then stood next to Big Ben as the hammer struck 11 times. It's a good thing they distributed ear plugs.

We were able to visit all four clock faces.

We returned to the ground floor and our guide asked if any of us wanted to see the House of Lords in session. Yes, please! After a security check, I found myself in the Strangers' Gallery listening to a discussion about David Beckham's recent knighthood.

I left Parliament, then crossed the street to Westminster Pier. A high-speed Uber Boat was waiting to take me eastward.

My destination was Greenwich, a little town located a few miles from London.

There's a lot to see including the Old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, and the clipper ship, Cutty Sark. Most tourists want their picture taken at the Royal Observatory.

It may look odd, but they are straddling the Prime meridian, a navigation tool used to divide the world from west to east. This is also where each day begins, where our clocks are set to 0: Greenwich Mean Time or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Here's the view from the top of the hill.

It was time to head back to the boat for the return to London. I was sure to stop at the market before I boarded.

I had a few hours to rest in my room, so I built up enough energy for one more adventure. The photo below is another breathtaking view as I exited the Tube station.

I found Londoners enjoying their evening at Potters Fields Park. 

A production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream was nearby. I stopped in to see what immersive theater was all about.

As night fell, people were still enjoying the beautiful evening.

I decided to forgo the Tube and instead take in the scenery during my walk back to the apartment. Goodnight London!

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