Day 1, London town

We started with breakfast at the Gatwick Premier Inn. Very poor night of sleep for everyone, but particularly the adults. Probably 3-6/7am, none of it REM. Linc slept the latest, but it’s an airport hotel, so it’s loud. Lovely breakfast at the inn — rashers! And something they called bacon, but I’m not buying it. It was ham. I particularly liked the toasted crumpets with honey. Train from Gatwick to Clapham Junction and about a third of a mile walk to “our” flat. 2 BR, 2 baths (one in a cottage off the back, accessible only by walking outside), a very small kitchen, nice sitting room and outdoor patio. No central AC though, which might be an issue later tonight. Also no screens on windows. Guess mosquitoes aren’t that big a London problem? And garbage bags in the front alley with no cans. Niskayuna squirrels wouldn’t stand for that! As for the day, we soldiered into the city instead of napping, spending a few hours at the Tower of London and walking a bit through Central London before jumping back on the Tube at Monument Station, site of the memorial to The Great Fire of 1666.

Classic red booth outside a construction site near our flat. Doesn't work and Greta thought she saw poop on the floor.

Changing of the Guard outside the Crown Jewels.

Opting for the sword over the guillotine.

The Yeaoman Warder who gave us a brief tour said the new sigal will likely be G VIII R, assuming Charles takes the royal name of George as most expect.

He needed a hat and he's used this cannon as a weapon in Fortnite.

She's taller than Prince Edward was in his armor at her age.

The Monument to the Great Fire. 202 feet high, I believe.

You can't see it from this angle, but he had three eyes.