Continued from London Day 3 Part 2.

First, a photo from last night. It’s freezing and raining in Austin, we heard rumors that schools may have a delayed start for our kids staying with grandparents in Austin. I tried to access our local news station’s website to get a school closure update, and apparently my local news station isn’t allowed here in Europe. I’ve tried another different local Austin station website and same thing. Unexpected effects of the law I’m sure. The school district websites still work, so we ended up going that route to get information instead.

After that long walking day yesterday, we are having a lazy start today. RL’s happy place, coffee, sweets, and watching gardening videos on her phone.

During our leisure morning, I checked my email and got a notification from British Airways to get all of my covid checks in order for our return trip to US in a few days….Oh wait…I never looked into what US was requiring for passengers arriving since before the trip start I was mostly concerned with how to get into UK. Well, it turns out I need to get a covid testing the day before I fly into US. Shit. Now I need to scramble a little(not really since I still have 4 days until flying out, but I felt stressed) and find a local covid testing place that will qualify for travel. I looked online on British Airway’s website and I looked on Heathrow’s website and most were not super helpful, or I needed a car for drive thru. Finally, went downstairs to our hotel lobby and asked the first desk. There’s a covid testing place about 3min walk from our hotel that’s fit for flying. Relief.

Now that I’m all worked up by the prospect of having to get a covid test, it’s time to head out and get the day started. Another sunny day here in London. So lucky we missed all the strong wind and rain that happened here in London last week.

Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross.

Into the tube station we go again.

Baker Street, RL was happy to see that

This line has the more modern larger trains with the pass through between all the train cars.

I wanna see The Kooks.

Soon, we were above ground and seeing The Shard in the distance.

Tower of London. The bright sun is going to make taking photos outside difficult at times today.

The Gherkin just peeking out. It honestly just looks like a giant suppository.

Ticket line. We have noticed that the lines and crowds are a little bigger today. That could be due to the attractions that we are seeing, or maybe it’s later on in the work week and more people are going out. We’ve also noticed that the night life around our hotel has ramped up in noise as we are heading towards the end of the week. I will say, kind of nice that most pubs shut down at like around 11pm, there isn’t too much ruckus into the really late hours.

In we go to the belly of the castle walls.

I hope it’s not all this crowded. Turns out to be a tour about to start.

Everywhere you look, something is getting restored all over the world.

The White Tower…because it’s more white than the other buildings.

There’s a line to see the crown jewels.

In to see the crown jewels. No photos allowed inside, but I’m sure you could find some online. Basically crowns and sceptres with giant diamonds and other gems.

Now, into the White Tower to see armors and whatnot.

Star of the show, obviously. I remember this from 10 years ago, and it’s still amusing today. All the kids also find it amusing as well, they all come up to the glass and point at it.

I thought this armor had some giant hips, then I read the description underneath.

So many stairs. UK is not as ADA friendly as America.

Got out of the White Tower and saw a Chinook flying by. Cool.

Moss!! I love moss.

They look like little forests up close.

This is the palace for one of the English kings that lived here. Palace is a strong term, and it’s also on top of the outer castle wall, which I found oddly dangerous to invasions.

Are those some of the more original flooring underneath?

This is the fanciest room in the “palace”.

The Thames. Now done with The Tower of London, and walking to Borough Market for lunch.

We’ll need to cross Tower Bridge to get to Borough Market.

Here we are. Let’s see what this is all about.

Open air market with lots of stalls, cool.

I saw this.

Then looked up next to it and saw this. This shall be our appetizer.

Contactless terminals everywhere in the UK now. I got some cash at the ATM in the airport and haven’t had to use it once. At some point, I’ll need to make a purpose to spend the cash so I won’t need to exchange it back to USD and get dinged again on the exchange rate.

Absolutely giant oysters. They were like size of baseballs. Even makes Gulf oysters seem a little small.

While RL waited at a stand up table at the oyster spot, I went around the corner in search of a drink and found this.

Let’s do this! For sure a different taste than oysters in America. I still taste the metallic taste, but the large oysters were more mild and buttery. I think I still prefer East Coast oysters the best.

Turkish stall. I haven’t seen EFES beers since I was in Istanbul years and years ago. In fact, just now I couldn’t think of the name Istanbul and kept on only coming up with Constantinople.

Excited about getting some Turkish Delights.

I miss our daughter, mei mei, at home.

Divide and conquer. I’m getting a fish and prawn wrap here while RL went to a different stall to get a falafel wrap.

Yum, let’s eat. It’s also at this moment that I got a text on my phone notifying that Russia has just invaded Ukraine. Ugh, fucking hell. Knew it was probably going to happen, but still shocking when it finally does.

While Russia is invading another country, everyone here, us included, is just sitting around enjoying our lunch like nothing. The world keeps going around I guess…as long as you are not the current one getting bombed.

Dessert. Yum.

To be continued at London Day 4 Part 2.