Today we saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and we laughed and laughed and laughed. Not because the ceremony itself is funny, but because the Band of the Guards Division played “Shut Up and Dance” at about half tempo. I couldn’t even sing it that slow, never mind dance to it (you can’t sing or dance even at regular speed), but boy were we amused.

Here’s a hint for Americans: The food hall at Harrod’s is NOT a food court. Yes, there are restaurants, but it’s more a food market. So, we went into Harrod’s and walked out of Harrod’s. Anyway, we went to Harrod’s as everyone should so you can feel not-so-posh. Then, we decided a pub was more our speed and we headed over to the historic Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street. If it’s good enough for Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s good enough for me. Jake had a burger and I went with the fish and chips. So good, but I think I will need to detox with a week of salad when I get back. I’m not sure even the mushy peas count as a vegetable. (Sam Smith’s!  My favourite brewery….The pride of Tadcaster…not like that nasty John Smith’s (boo!) – see their history).

Next, we were off to the Tower of London, because this is the ultimate Be A Tourist week. For me, the best part of everything we’ve done is the architecture combined with the history. We took the entertaining tour from a Yeoman Warder–you know them as beefeaters. The Queen does not mess around; in order to be a beefeater, you must have at least 22 years of distinguished military service, but then you get to wear a wacky costume and live on the grounds of the Tower of London. Funniest moment: Someone was walking on the grass. A beefeater yelled at them to get off and then said under his breath but loud enough for us to hear, “Ah, so what, it’s just queens were executed on that land.”