The final stop on our tour is London, full of art, history, museums, and excellent restaurants.
The monumental sculpture of Boudica, the Warrior Queen, graces the banks of the Thames, near Westminster Bridge.
Westminster Abbey is a living manifestation of the past, bringing history into the present. So densely packed with objects of interest, it is quite impossible to comprehend on a brief visit.
St James’s Park provides an agreeable stroll through a landscape exhibiting another art form, that of the gardener.
The ornate gates at Buckingham Palace block further passage.
An entertaining boat ride on the Thames conveys the group to the famed Tower of London.
True Confessions time: despite an early arrival, we are unable to deal with the crowds at the Tower, which prevent any meaningful connection with the place. We decide on a strategic retreat, using our recently acquired familiarity with the Tube. (Thanks Mark, for the informative tutorial)
After sharing an exceptional farewell dinner with the group, it was time to focus on our plans for the next 26 days.
As we packed the next morning, we made a horrifying discovery. Our passports were nowhere to be found! It was likely the documents had been mailed home with the extraneous luggage we had posted. Approaching panic mode, we called the Rick Steves help line. Reassuring and competent assistance was immediately forthcoming. An appointment was made for a visit to the US embassy prior to our flight home. That calm, steady voice on the phone was a true lifeline. The passports surfaced when we unpacked in Oxford.
Endings are also beginnings, and we find ourselves thankful that our time in England is not yet over.
