Day 28 - London

An early start today to visit St. Paul's Cathedral.  A big, impressive church to be sure, but far from my favorite.  Plus, they charge more than 25 CAD to go in.  A lot of famous churches are free.  No photos allowed.  If you've seen the churches in Italy and/or France, I'd pass on this one.

That was followed by a visit to the Churchill War Rooms.  This is definitely one of the things you should do in London.  This is the actual space that was created for the government and military to command the war effort during WWII.  Not a re-creation, but the actual rooms.  It also includes a Churchill museum and a ton of WWII history.  Loved it.

A few thoughts on England and London with only two days left in our journey:

• If you are anywhere near the coast, it's colder than you think.  Always damp and always windy.  Dress appropriately.
• Englanders think that if it's 12C or warmer and sunny, then it's summer.  Shorts and short sleeves.  It's not.  They are all nuts here.  Dress appropriately.
• Country roads are really, really narrow.  Drivers know this and are courteous about pulling to the side to let you by.  Most roads are lined with hedges.  If you pull over to let someone by, STOP MOVING.  You will scratch you car and you will get dinged by the rental company if you keep moving when against a hedge.
• This is the first country I've visited where you can consistently get a good hamburger.  Surprising.
• Make sure you have at least 50P in your pocket at all times.  Pay toilets.  Enough said.
• There aren't nearly as many Indian restaurants in London as TV would lead you to believe.  The ones they do have are good, and have things on the menu you've never heard of.
• Most everything here opens late and closes early.  Even in London.  Except for pubs and restaurants.  Don't plan on shopping before 10 AM or after 5 PM.  Or on Sunday and bank holidays.
• Vehicles will always stop for you IF you are in a marked, lighted crosswalk.  Otherwise, you are simply a target.  Especially to a cabbie.  You have been warned.
• It is possible to have a good transit system.  If we had one like London's, I'd use it all the time.  It is pricey, though.  A single ride is about 4.25 CAD in the central area.  Prices vary by distance and time of day.  An annual pass will run you about 2,500 CAD if you live and work near central London.  Can get up to close to 5,000 CAD if you live a ways out.
• England is pricey.  Sticker prices of almost everything here look very much like they do at home.  But they are in GBP, not CAD.  They do, however, include taxes in the posted price.  And tipping isn't usually done here.
• A single order of fish and chips at a "chippie" will usually feed two people.  You can get half orders.  Consider it.
• There are no large supermarkets in central London, but they do a great job on prepackaged take home meals for one or two people.  So much so that it seems that everyone who lives here must buy these all the time.  There are entire sections in the stores dedicated to these meals.