Even though we weren't supposed to be there...

it was great!!  Just brilliant, as I heard a lot of Londoners say.
We visited Churchill's War Room complex under Whitehall, and were reminded of how close a call it all was during World War II.  It was not a sure thing for years.

I was also impressed by the utter secrecy of the operation; the interviews with people involved included statements like, "We knew the importance of what we were doing, and there was not a single thought of breaking our word of confidentiality."  This was all deadly serious, and their dedication was inspiring.
On a lighter note, we next headed to Borough Market, stopping on the way to buy, what else, a new dress for Paula.  FOR PAULA!!  Get your minds out of the gutter!!  And anyway, I don't need any more dresses.
The market goes waaayyyy back, and had been a real-live one for centuries, for the sale of various food stuffs, including fish.  So, where do you get lunch?  Of course!

At a place called Fish!  And what did we eat?  Do I have to say it?!

On to the Tower!  The Tower of London!  But first a battleship on the way.

Oh, and one of the many architectural wonders of the City, this one nicknamed 'The Shards' for its sharp pinnacles.

Right then, on to the Tower!

What a place!  Luckily, the nice young lady at the entrance (making it 100% of Londoners who were nice and helpful) said, "If I were you, I'd head to the Crown Jewels right now!"  We did.

Holy guacamole!  They were the real thing!  And it was all in an area entered and exited through bank-vault doors!  And there were serious-looking guys with real guns!

And the diamonds were real!  And real big!!

And boy did we luck out listening to the nice young lady!  Within thirty minutes the line went back to Heathrow airport.  Like, pick up your bags from carousel #3 and get in line and bring a lunch.

The rest of the Tower complex was full of gloomy rooms where famous people and doomed wives of certain kings awaited their unfortunate fates.  I'm not sure, but I think that for about a millennium, an invitation to the Tower of London was one that you'd RSVP with "Thanks, but I've got to wash my hair that day," and then you'd leave town quickly.

London Bridge was NOT falling down, putting the lie to that nursery song.  I had to bribe Paula with food to let me walk across it.

We also visited Kensington Palace that day, 

and learned all about Queen Victoria, who was born and grew up there, and all of the intrigues and complications that led to her ascension to the throne at age eighteen.  Paula thought it was cool seeing the staircase upon which Victoria first laid eyes on Albert, and to read her journal entry about it.  

Anyway, enough of that mushy stuff.  They also had really cool cannons!  And various royals still live there but apparently had no interest in meeting us.  At least that day.

So, if you are a mega-gardening nerd type, what is the center of your gardening universe?  Correct.  Kew Gardens, or rather the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.  

We enjoyed hanging around all day, especially Paula.  The gardens were magnificent, and the greenhouses ('conservatories' to you gardening snobs) were especially cool.

Paula chatted with several of the staff, who seemed delighted to talk.  She compared waders with one of them working on the water lilies, who thought it was great that her romantic-type husband had given her a pair for Christmas for cleaning out her pond.

The summer flowers were being changed out for the cool-weather ones.  Paula just stood there and muttered "Wow!" admitting to severe dirt envy.

All good things end, and we finally have to return to reality, such as it is.  We have had a great time and have come to several conclusions:

1.  England, at least London, is a civilized place.  Pedestrians are not targets.  (see "South America, hazards of walking")

2.  English people are friendly, helpful and kind.  Except for that one that chased us out of somewhere we didn't belong at St. Paul's Cathedral.  I guess those barrier rope thingies are there for a reason.

3.  English food is actually good.  We had great Italian, Afro-Portuguese, Indian and Vietnamese meals.  Hold it.  Never mind.  That wasn't English food.  

4.  English police are polite and low key.  Even that one that shouted, "Get OFF the bike, sir," and knocked a guy off his bicycle who was mistakenly crossing in to the no-go zone at the opening of Parliament.  

We hope that you get over there some time and have as great a time as we did.

Dave & Paula