We started off with hopping on the HOP-ON, HOP-OFF (HoHo) bus for a tour around London.   The cost is 30 pounds, but if I had searched around for some discounts, I am sure I would have found some.   It was a terrific whirlwind tour of London.   The highlights were:

• Buckingham Palace where we saw (part of) the changing of the guard
• 10 Downing Street
• Wonderful views of Parliament and Big Ben
• Shakespeare's old haunts of the Globe Theater
• Trafalgar Square
• St. Paul's
• Tower of London
• Past the homes of the rich and famous of London

I've never done a HoHo bus tour before in London, but I thought it was a good experience to get an overview of this sprawling city.  It gives great perspective to this historic city.

We had time to get into Westminster Abbey.   Perhaps there is no more historic cathedral in all of Europe.   It is the place where kings and queens are crowned and buried.   It is the place of royal weddings and funerals.   The highlight was viewing the coronation chair used back in 1066.   No other country in the world still uses a relic from medieval times as the Brits do to still crown their royalty.

At ngiht, we took a "Ghosts of the Old City" walk with our friends from London Walks (www.walks.com).   I am going to post a blog on this tour when I get back, but I can tell you it delivered everything it promised.   About 25 of us, led by a terrific guide, Adam, walked deserted London through dark alleyways, burial grounds, ruins of old prisons to search out and find the ghosts of old London.  It was great fun!