Rainy Sunday in London

Today was a little quieter day. When we woke up it was pouring rain, which made it easy to sleep a little late, but we did have to get up to get Krista off to her flight back to the states. We took a car to Paddington Station and saw her safely on the Heathrow Express. She should be well on her way by now, her flight left around 3:20. Gloria and I took the tube to Westminster and went to the Cabinet War Rooms. This is the underground bunker where Churchill and his War Cabinet worked along with other key leaders, during World War II. It has been preserved as a very interesting and well done museum, and includes a great Churchill museum as well. I had just read several books on Churchill, as well as a biography of FDR that dealt heavily with the war years. I found this to be a really interesting museum.

Then we had lunch at The Red Lion, a traditional old London pub right across from Parliament. The history in the menu indicated that this pub goes back many years (to the 1400's, although not in the current building) and was an inspiration for Dickens.

We had fish and chips, which is about the 4th time this week. I have really enjoyed indulging my British taste in food, with fish and chips, steak pie and a sort of shephard's pie made with smoked salmon. On the whole though the food is probably not a reason to come here. The history, the interesting bustling city yes. The food, not so much.

Gloria has classes all day tomorrow so she is catching up on some homework and letting me use her computer while she does the reading part. I can see that she is close to the end of her play, so my computer time will shortly come to an end.

I am back at Pickwick Hall, where Gloria and her program are housed. It is a decent hostel with a very friendly staff. I have a small single room which overlooks Bedford Place. It is a little chilly and I am just thinking about turning on some heat, but afraid of getting it overheated.

Tomorrow I plan to visit Westminster Abbey and the Wesley Chapel, and to take my time about it. I will need to meet up with Gloria late afternoon for dinner, then we are going to a play in the evening. It will be good to hae a day with a little more relaxed pace as the last week has been a whirlwind of activity.