Up and off to get the bus and train into London on another lovely morning.
I convinced Linda to do a little day drinking on the train
First trip on the tube (underground) as well. Linda had booked us free tickets to go up the sky garden also known as the cheese grater due to its shape and we were able to look over all of London which stretched Beyond what you could see.
While we were there Linda found out the Tower Bridge was to do a maintenance opening at noon. Neither of them had ever seen it open before either
After there we walked past the monument to the London Fire and through the Borough Market which was amazing!
Very sad to see so many variations of barricades
Regular town pigeons
Made our way to The Globe Theatre where we took a lunch in and watched The Merry Wives of Windsor set in the 1930s. Some of it was hard to understand but what a production and it was a thrill to be in Shakespeare’s own theatre.
I once again bought books! How could I resist?
Next we walked along the Thames to cross on the Millennium Footbridge and head to a special tour just for the three of us.
Nigel’s past workmate is now a government worker in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was able to give us a very special tour including overlooking a special event and through a gate across the street of 10 Downing where reporters were waiting. There was much amazing but the deal was no pictures. He kindly took one of us In The Rule Britannia area but it is for our personal enjoyment only. This I will respect as it was such an honour to be inside. My senses were a bit rattled as I felt not all things that happen(ed) there were for the good of all humanity but that is the stuff of politics and history. We stood in places where much history has been made. Thank you Shashi.
Shashi walked us all the way to past the horse guard, St James Park, and Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station. He was a lovely tour guide and it was nice to seem him and Nigel catch up.
these lovely ladies gaves us free flowers when we stopped at Waitrose for food to take home for dinner. It had been a long day and I am ever so grateful Claire came to pick us up at the station so we could avoid one more bus. 
Mmmm crab
I have more to say but must sleep, for tomorrow we train to Paris!!
triumphgal 