Traveling Rat Royce

	*London* Oh, I was looking forward to this moment! I am in Greenwich, and my host is helping me stand on the Prime Meridian, which represents 0 longitude.
	In the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates were executed at Execution Dock on the Thames just here on the spot the Captain Kidd pub occupies today. Executions were carried out beneath the high tide line, and the bodies were allowed to be covered by the tide three times before being removed. This was because piracy, being committed on the high seas, fell under the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Marshal, and it was under his authority that pirates were executed.
	Here is a statue of Boudicca that stands by Westminster. Boudicca led a revolt against the Romans in AD 60 or 61.
	I knew that I would have to come here to see Nelson on his column in Trafalgar Square after I saw the Nelson Monument in Edinburgh. Everyone is making a big deal of Nelson this year, as 2005 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
	After getting out of the rain, we were ready for some hot food! Being a British rat, of course I wanted a traditional meal, and I got it. Here I am with my beer, shepherd's pie, chips, and peas.
	Well, we just had to go to Harrods to shop! Actually, my host told me she'd never been to the store even though this was her fourth trip to London. So I insisted. And I was right to do so - my host bought her rats a lovely food bowl that says "Harrods" on the side!
	We went by the Hammersmith Bridge
	We went to St. James's Park, where I posed in front of Buckingham Palace.
	Now I am looking the other direction in St. James's Park, toward Whitehall and the Eye.
	Outside Westminster Abbey. Finally, a little bit of sun! I think this is the only time we saw the sun in London this week.
	One of the most famous sites in London - Big Ben and the houses of Parliament.
	This statue of Richard I stands outside Parliament. He seems an odd choice for regal hero - he spent only six months of his ten-year reign in Britain and he didn't speak a word of English!
	2005 is the year of anniversaries - the 200th of Trafalgar, the 60th of the end of World War II, and the 400th since Guy Fawkes & friends tried to blow up Parliament. November 5 this year should be a rollicking Guy Fawkes Day! Hey, why not send an ecard to a friend to mark this occasion?
	Here we are traveling on the Tube. Shortly after this picture was taken, we pulled into Earl's Court station and heard the announcement about London winning the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
	The papers said it all.
	The following morning the mood was not so jubilant. London was attacked by terrorists. For my host's pictures of London on July 7-8, clicky
	By the following day, most of the Tube stations were open, so we went to visit this statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus.
	But then it was time to leave. We have gotten through security in Heathrow and are now in the departure lounge awaiting our flight back to the U.S.
	Once to Boston, we got on another plane to take us to St. Louis. I watched the clouds go by and thought about all the things I'd seen on this trip. More later!