Ron's birthday today - 64 today!
After breakfast Vera, Ron and I took the HMS Belfast tender to shore. Vera bought a City of London Hop On Hop Off bus ticket (£27) and hopped on to meet us at Buckingham Palace. Ron and I bought an all day public transport ticket (£12.30 each) and took the Tube from the Tower Gateway station to St James station and walked to Buckingham Palace. We had to wait 45 minutes for Vera to get to us. We met Vera in Hyde Park. A challenge as the Changing of the Guard was in progress. No chance to see anything. The park was packed with people. The Buckingham Palace ticket was £23 and included the Royal Gifts, the State Rooms, Princess Diana Commemorative Room organised by Prince William and Prince Harry and Gardens.

Next we took the Tube to the British Museum to see the Egypt displays ranging from 3000 BC to 300 AD. The Roman period began in 30 BC. Ancient Egypt covered sculpture, life and death, afterlife and mummies, early Egypt plus late Egypt Sudan, Nubia, Ethiopia and Coptic Egypt. An amazing exhibition. Entry to the museum is free.

Vera then completed her Hop on Hop off bus tour and we took the Tube to Waterloo and walked to Westminster. We viewed the London Eye, Big Ben (the bells are not chiming for 4 years for maintenance), Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street and Whitehall.

We had dinner at the Old Shades Pub in Whitehall for a traditional English pub meal. Ron had pork sausages and mash and I had a beef burger with chips.

Back to the ship for drinks and snacks.