Today we started off by visiting the Brit Rail office. We had purchased a Brit Rail pass before we left the US, but unfortunately it hadn't arrived by the time we left. Good thing we paid up for priority post. So, once we sorted everything out, we headed over to Buckingham Palace (to visit our friend Liz). The gates are very ornate and we couldn't see very much else. The flag over top showed that her majesty was in residence, but we didn't get invited in for tea. After watching the Grenadier Guards and the Hussars march past we walked through Green park to the tube to King's Cross station.
From King's Cross we caught the train to Cambridge. The trip took about an hour. I had forgotten how much I enjoy traveling by train. We arrived in Cambridge to discover that it was raining there as well - surprise, surprise. We walked into the centre of town and had lunch at a pub [#5]. Shannon had fish and chips and enjoyed it because there was more fish than batter and she hadn't had it like that for years.
After wandering by a few colleges (all closed for exams) we ascended the steeple at St Mary's church. The view from the top was excellent. You could see the entire town. To get up (or down) you use a very old, very steep and very narrow staircase (125 steps). I found going up harder, but Shannon had a more difficult time descending. We tried King's College, but it was only partially open (due to exams) and still charging the full price of admission. So we talked our way into half price admission to Clare College and walked through to the back of the colleges. There were a number of students punting on the Cam and boats were available for hire, but we declined. As we walked past the backs of the colleges, we saw the Mathematics Bridge, which was build with carriage bolts and has had to be rebuilt several times (each time with carriage bolts). Once we got back into town it really started raining, so we headed back to the train station and back to London.
At King's Cross we boarded a red double decker bus (after Shannon pointed out that the bus stop I had chosen would take us in the wrong direction) and actually got the front seat at the top. Our cheap bus tour of London had begun. We disembarked for a walk around the Marble Arch and then got back on and went to Harrods. Harrods is extravagant. It has to be seen to be believed. They have an Egyptian room bracketed by luxury rooms. Shannon bought some tea from one of the food halls and I paid £15 for a £5 umbrella. We re-boarded the bus, again sitting in the front row at the top, for the trip home to Putney.
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