By: Nancy and Charles Nevil, May/June, 2009
On day three, rain made the morning gloomy but off we went to the country to visit friends and see their lovely house about an hour outside of London. When we arrived at the little village of South Stoke, It was picture perfect, everything the English countryside should be. 
Even in the rain, it was glorious and charming. We had a barbeque (yes, Brits forge ahead with outdoor cooking, rain or shine) and when the rain let up, we walked along a country lane which ended at the Thames River, so picturesque as it winds through the countryside, ducks and geese paddling about happily, interrupted from time to time by Punters practicing their strokes and a few pleasure boats slowly and quietly floating down the waterway. We fed the ducks, walked through natural beauty that was stunning, visited an old churchyard, and, reluctantly, said goodbye to our friends and returned to the hustle and bustle of London Town.
The Underground is a perfect way to get around London quickly and avoid traffic. It is almost impossible to get lost; there is perfect signage and station announcements. We purchased an Oyster Card which allows you to prepay a set amount and then quickly enter the Underground by pressing it against a sensor. At the end of the journey, another swipe of the card as you exit and the card calculates the lowest cost and deducts it from your balance. Our trip to South Stoke was smooth and easy, thanks to London’s fabulous Underground and England’s superb rail system. The best thing about the Oyster Card, is should you not use up all of your original purchase, the balance is refunded back to you. It is a win win situation.
Day Three was filled with sunshine and clear skies. How lucky were we that British pals and desert neighbors could, via e-mail, introduce us to the Chief Yeoman Warder at The Tower of London. We arrived at the Tower early, and were greeted by The Chief, and went off on our tour (a lot of walking and climbing stairs. If you are not physically fit, it is a must that you make prior arrangements for special assistance).
The historical exhibitions are incredible and so beautifully presented. Everything from Henry VIII’s, armor to the Crown Jewels are there for you to see. History and sensory delights beyond words are at your fingertips. We met up with The Chief after about two hours and were taken by him to see the Yeoman’s private Pub. We learned a lot more detail about the life the Yeoman live inside the Tower (many of them have homes inside the walls), and learned even more history. What a fabulous day, and what tired feet.
That evening, we met with dear friends and business colleagues for cocktails, talked about the present economic issues that plague us all, and to finish off our day, took a stroll down Piccadilly, up Regent Street, and through Soho, down Carnaby Street, and back to our hotel. The Pubs were brimming with happy young people, stores busy with late shoppers. It was a perfect way to end a perfect day; late into the evening; the sun was still shining on a warm spring evening in London.