Wednesday we started our day at the British Library where we saw the Magna Carta,
     the Gutenberg Bible, and Beatles memorabilia, among other things. We learned the Magna
     Carta was signed for the first time on June 1215 and was drawn up by Barons, who wanted
     to limit the King's power; it's real principle is that the law was a power in its own right to
     which the King, like his people, was subject. A novel concept.

            Then Tom took us on a historical walk, sharing stories along the way. After lunch at
     the Counting House, one of the oldest pubs in London, we were on our own.

   

         I had agreed to go on the London Eye with mom,
  so that's where we headed after lunch. I don't like
  heights, but keep trying to overcome my reaction to
  them. The Eye is a gigantic ferris wheel of glass en-
  closures. Since it sits right along the Thames, the views
  of the river and London are spectacular!

        The large photo is the Eye, top right is looking to
  the north, below that is Mom (very much enjoying her
  ride) with Big Ben and Parliament (a beautiful and sub-
  stantial building!) in the background, the bottom is the
  city view to the southwest with Parliament in the fore-
  ground, and the bottom left is looking down at the
  ground where people are sitting in the grass.

             We then headed to have High Tea at the Orangery,
  but they closed early that day, so we relaxed in front of
  Kensington Palace and had delicious Cornish Pasties for
  supper... they were very good!

 

            For Harry Potter fans--there were so many people asking for Platform 9 3/4 that they
     set one up far from the actual trains at King's Cross station. We took turns pretending we
     were leaving for Hogwarts.

         Don't bother looking for an 'Exit' sign at a tube station,
  instead you will see 'Way Out' signs with an arrow.

         We became quite familiar with tube stations and all 26 of
  us were usually able to get on the same train. The couple times
  during rush hour that the trains were too crowded, we would
  just wait at our destination until the rest of the group arrived.
  Tom was very good at looking after us and we always knew where
  we were going.

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