London. With our guests still suffering from jet lag, we enjoyed London for two days. An early morning train and tube ride to the Tower Hill station got us to the Tower of London. We checked out the crown jewels – legacy symbols of the British monarchy. Despite rain, we stopped on Tower Green to watch the Ravens and listen to a Yeoman of the Guards (Beefeater) tell of the beheadings including at least two wives of Henry VIII. Legend is that if the Ravens ever leave the Tower, the monarchy will fall. Perhaps wisely, a “Ravenmater” (Beefeater) is responsible for their care and feeding. Next we toured Bloody Tower where the young sons of Edward IV were apparently murdered (around 1483) and which served as a prison for Sir Walter Raleigh (among others). We also had time to explore the White Tower before heading off to Buckingham Palace and the “Changing of the Guard.” To our good fortune, the palace was open for tours! This included a special display of royal diamonds in honor of the Queen’s Diamond jubilee. A “Big Bus” tour of London facilitated a quick tour of the city. At St Paul’s we climbed the 259 step to the Whispering Gallery and pressed on for another 319 steps to spectacular views from the “Golden Gallery” at the top of the dome. Our time in London included the London Eye and visits to Westminster Abbey and the British Museum. We also took in “Wicked” at the Apollo Victoria Theater.