Reilly Britain

 Well, this is our last day in London and tomorrow we're headed for home. We have done so much in London, everything we set out to do and a bit more. We wrapped up our day today at 3 pm and we're pooped, sore knees, sore feet and nothing left to see or do where the desire surmounted our need for rest.  Solution, have a coffee, a chocolate and rest up for our last dinner away from home. We have gotten into a morning rhythm of fruit, yogurt and nuts in our room then out for a coffee and a pain au Chocolat. Today we took our coffee in the Westminster cafe, then a visit through the Westminster Abbey which all attempts are made to remind the visitors that it is a working house of faith and prayer with 5 services each day.  Then they proceed to walk you through all the relics and tombstones, monuments and crypts of notable people in England's past. It really seems like a glorified grave yard. Oh, what a grand place and so much history.  Amazing is that Edward the Confessor...

 Today's adventure was the Tower of London.  We started a bit early on the tube so we could grab a coffee prior to our entrance at 10. We joined the mass of bodies and entered the courtyard. Last night we watched a YouTube on the Tower. It was very informative and helped us grasp the history and the many renditions it has gone through. On Rick Steve's recommendation we went straight to the Crown Jewels building. Good call. Well done presentation of an amazing collection. We weren't allowed any photography inside this building. One display was for the party plates for a coronation party. A bit of a step up from paper or plastic; Solid gold, one which was a punch bowl for wine which holds 240 bottles of wine.  Took a little coffee break and chatted with a lady from Georgia. Then back out to the courtyard where we stopped in the Fusilier (kind of like our cavalry) museum and walked some of the grounds. Took a walk through the medieval museum.  Again, a  wonderful p...

 We decided to visit the Churchill War rooms today. We figured out the tube (the underground) and traveled to the Westminster area. Met some folks from Ohio while standing in line waiting for our entry time. One of the gentlemen served at Kodiak in the navy. He and Dennis had a great "military in Alaska" chat. The War rooms and museum were great. The war museum was almost overwhelming with the amount of information displayed                                            Clementine Churchill's room underground  Afterwards we walked around the Parliment square garden adding photos of Big Bend, Westminster Cathedral,Westminster Bridge, the Parliment building and ALL the tourists. The clouds had cleared and it was beautiful.  (Last nights forecast for today had been up to 75% chance of rain!) We sat at the park and then strolled up Whitehall street up to Trafalgar square...

 The day began looking towards our last train ride in Great Britian. First a light breakfast at a coffee shop owned by a Spanish woman who served up a fresh home made potatoe tortilla, we would have called it a frittata.  Then up the stairs came a tray of fresh cinnamon rolls. Totally down for more, and we did. Heck, we were going to walk 1.2 miles to the train station, what trouble is splitting a cinnamon roll, right? We have the walk down having completed it the day before on our trip to The Cotswolds.  The train was 5 coaches, we had reserved seats, it terminated in London Piccadilly station. It was packed,  PACKED. A total body crush trying to get to our seats with our light back packs and two small carry-ons. Dennis being rugged and dutiful braced the packed train aisle, manifesting to the surprise of friends (and himself) why he was 2nd team all district offensive lineman. No injuries to self or foe and the objective of an open (and reserved) seat was secured....

  Today we booked a tour of the Cotswolds. Cot inferring small and wolds connected to the sheep trade. The area is full of rolling green hills with villages and small towns nestled among the hills. The entire area is home to only about 170,000 people. Thats about one person per 2 sheep in the region. The first village we visited, Snowshill, had a population of 184.  It had a church, a pub and a telephone.  (Joke from our driver Steve). In order not to bore you with little details here is an overview. Several of the other towns would have more like 3000 to 5000 population. We visited Chipping Campden, Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold, Bibury and started at Moreton in Marsh. We drove through Dover's hill, Broadway, Great Barrington, Ablington, Winson Village and Coln St. Dennis.                                     Old original market in Chipping Campden A majority of villages hav...