January 19th- London

Today was full of a lot of walking. We've learned that Londoners are very good at manuevering around their prideful city just walking. We left our friend, Fiona's, flat after catching up on some sleep after the 10 1/2 hour flight, at 11am from Vauxhall, which is southeast of of the River Thames. We walked along the river past the numerous art galleries (Saatchi & the Tate Modern), past The Globe, a reanacted building of the stage Shakespeare's plays took place, up to the Tower Bridge (London Bridge) and across to the London Tower. We then walked through Trafalgar Square adorned with fountains and statues and up to the National Gallery, which houses some of the most priceless pieces of art in the world! The joke is that English galleries house some of the most precious pieces of historical art, sculpture and monumental discoveries ever (of things not found actually IN England), and where those precious pieces were found in the other parts of the world, there are signs saying " was discovered here in 1972. This is a replica. The actual is located at England's National Gallery in London." We then headed to Buckingham Palace and on home- about a 6 mile jaunt! We are a bit tired and heading to bed early, but not before dinner at Fiona's favorite Turkish restaurant, Tas.