[LONDON LIGHTS 1984] DAY 7

August 6, 1984

Today we caught the Changing of the Guard, and very lucky we were to do so. Thanks to currently running NATO exercises, the schedule was switched from a daily changeover to even-numbered days. The Guardsmen are doing NATO rotation, hence the regiments are undermanned, and a composite full-dress battalion is so *not* the thing. It was a beautiful sight, and we managed to get a pretty good vantage point, though not quite front row and center.

We took a walk in St. James' Park after the Changing of the Guard. I have a particular soft spot in my heart for all the wee creatures that you can find in a city park. Here, the ducks, geese, sparrows and the rest of the wildlife appear to be quite used to people. The come up to those who approach the water's edge, looking for all the world as if people were created to give them handouts. For a little while we sat on a bench and people-watched, relaxed and absorbed the atmosphere.

Today was the day we learned to use the Tube. As was our won't, we took one of the big red buses, but I managed to read the route map wrong and we ended up practically in the suburbs of London. We lined up at another bus stop, but then a sweet old lady who got tired of waiting for the bus decided to take the Tube instead. She figured us for tourists, and asked if we'd like to join her. Mama was having a mild attack of nerves due to our surroundings, and off we went.

The Tube station was just around the corner, and the lady told us how to follow the map of the system. Every line has a color, and there are arrows to show which platform you should be standing on if you are going in a particular direction. So very easy, much easier than taking the bus! Riding in the trains isn't scary at all (at least not from my point of view), and in less time than it took with the bus, we were back in the familiar region of Russell Square.

We discovered a Safeway supermarket across the hotel. It's located in the Brunswick Shopping Center, which is a sort of mini-mall. We bought fresh fruit in season, especially apples and nectarines, some milk and bottled water. After all the excitement of dealing with the transport system, we settled in early.