Londinium

We arrived a couple of days ago to beautiful clear skies and cold air - think Dunedin on a sunny day. Fortunately Jan met us at the airport and spirited us away, via the Underground, to her little flat in Clapham; a lovely area with a large park (Clapham Common) and lots of shops. I managed to pick up some Cherry Coke at Sainsbury's, the local supermarket chain, and Jan made us a duck-egg fritata for dinner. Yum!

The food selection is surprisingly good here - lots of fresh produce, a world of beer - and cheap! Contrary to much of what we had been lead to believe.

Jan had to go back to work the next morning, but she left us detailed instructions for getting out and about on an orientation tour. We took the double-decker bus (I was the man on the Clapham Omnibus) into Westminster, and then travelled by foot through St James' park to Buckingham Palace.

Not a whole lot to look at really - looks like a pretty average hotel - but we were in time for the changing of the guard. I actually found the mounted police more interesting than the Beefeaters' brass band, though they do leave quite a mess behind them (the mounts, that is).

After a coffee/hot chocolate and a spot of lunch, we found our way to the London Eye - an overpriced ferris wheel - that has spectacular views from 135 metres. One revolution takes about 20 minutes, which is more than enough time to absorb the London cityscape - which is actually kind of flat and unremarkable.

More interesting, and well worth the overpriced entry fee, was Westminster Abbey. Although the building was only erected in the 1300s, the site was in use by monks from 960AD and consequently there is a powerful sense of age throughout. This is reinforced by the haphazard additions built over the subsequent centuries - very organic. Nooks and crannies, worn steps, damaged reliefs and ancient tiles all added to the experience. Saw the tombs of several notable monarchs (Elizabeth I, Henry V), some not-so-notable monarchs (Henry II), and good old Geoffrey Chaucer.

Clever boy that I am, I managed to find some interesting little window in an abandoned corner - and went and had a peek. I saw a chaplain taking a pee. Now you know.

In the evening we caught up with some of Jan's friends, and some of mine (hello James and Alisha!), and bid the day farewell with some pints at a couple of local pubs.

[Aran - you will be jealous - Kronenburg do a blonde 1664 that is delicious. Imagine if beer and lemonade got together and made sweet, sweet love.]

SQUIRREL WATCH: none whatsoever.

NZ WATCH: saw New Zealand House and a plaque referencing Canterbury (not sure what it was about) from the bus. Also found a NZ flag in Westminster Abbey - where members of the Commonwealth sit during services.