Day two and are my feet sore!

After a nice breakfast at our hotel, we ventured out to get a cell phone so we could call the U.S. cheaply. It was very inexpensive and easy! Next, we relaxed in Green Park until it was time to join the London Walk to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Our guide was able to position our group in such a way that we had a good view of the changing of the guards. First off, we saw the guards going off duty:

Followed closely by the guards coming on duty:

After that, we hurried to Westminster Abbey for the tour of the cathedral. We weren't permitted to take photos or videos inside the Abbey, so there isn't much photographic evidence for this section. We enjoyed seeing the tombs of Queen Elizabeth I and Isaac Newton. Ben was most excited to stand on the grave of Charles Darwin, since he said he'd written enough papers about Darwin!

I thought the walk would only last 2 hours, but it was nearer to 3 before it was finished. There was no time to eat lunch, because we had to hurry to the next London Walk, the tour of St. Paul's Cathedral. Once again, no photos. We were able to learn about the many churches that have stood on that site, plus how Sir Christopher Wren was given the duty of rebuilding the cathedral after the previous one was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666.

The tour was sadly in late afternoon, so it was nearly closing time as our tour ended. Ben and I climbed up to the "Whispering Gallery" to test the acoustics. I walked to one side and whispered, and Ben claimed he heard me, but I didn't hear him. I was probably unable to hear him over my heavy breathing from climbing all those steps!

Finally, we went on a ride on the London Eye. We had been looking forward to it, because it is a very interesting part of the London skyline. I had wisely purchased "Fast Track" tickets, so it was a treat for once to go past the long, long line waiting to get on and go right in. If only I had a "Fast Track" for the other parts of my life!

The views from the top of the wheel were really spectacular. We were handed a "view360" guide before we boarded, which pointed out all the noteworthy sites from each direction. Even more helpfully, the sides of the capsule were labeled "east, north" and so on.

Finally, on the way back to the hotel we had some yummy food at a Mexican restaurant. Ben enjoyed the tacos, even though he had to assemble them himself!

Tomorrow we'll investigate the markets and hope that Rowan Atkinson is back on duty as Fagin in the musical Oliver.