July 26. London

Our last full day of traveling! We didn't have to be at the University College London Archaeology Department until 11:00 so we took it easy this morning. I went to a cafe and read my book. Ellie slept in. On the way back to the hotel I stopped at the post office to send my train tickets in to see if I could get a refund. It is heartening to know that British post offices are as slow and ponderous as American ones.

I wanted to get going around 10:00, but that didn't quite happen as Ellie was not moving very quickly. We were out the door at about 10:20 and were late because I mixed up the Square we were supposed to go to. Let's just say there were words this morning. We finally made it to Gordon Square (not Russell Square) at 11:15 and met Charlotte Freason and her dog Indy (Yes, an archaeologists named her dog after Indiana Jones... so cool!). Charlotte talked with us and gave us a tour of the department. She was quite talkative and very passionate about Archaeology. We both left the tour thinking this could be the right program...even better than York.

We walked around the University for a little bit before heading over to the British Museum. We did not stay too long at the museum. We were there just long enough for me to check out the Parthenon Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, and the Egyptian room. Ellie hung out in the huge Museum Library.

Ellie wanted to check out the Thames before we left so we took the Tube toward St. Paul's cathedral. We grabbed some burgers and a milkshake for lunch and then headed across the Millennium Bridge and sat on some steps along the Thames. Ellie was hoping it was low tide so she could practice her archaeology skills by analyzing what the tide washed up. Unfortunately, it was high tide so we sat and watched as the water got higher and higher. We headed back to our hotel to change and get ready for Les Miserable.

I had forgot how much I enjoyed Les Miserable. I had seen it about 30 years ago when I travelled to London with my family. It was pretty special that I was able to take Ellie 30 years later. She had seen the movie and the Southwest HS production, but was blown away by this experience. It was fun to watch her get so excited. After the show, we made our way through the crowds around Leicester Square, caught the Tube, and got back to the hotel around 11:00. Heading home tomorrow!