My first official day of the tour! After attending services Sunday morning at Westminster Abbey, I went back to my hotel and checked out. It was an easy connection and transfer from Lambeth North Tube station to Green Park Tube station near our tour hotel-the Washington Mayfair. It was a short walk to the hotel and Rick Steves' directions were spot on. No trouble finding the hotel at all! It was too early in the afternoon to check in, so the very friendly staff at the hotel stored my bag and I decided to spent my time exploring the neighborhood. And what a neighborhood! I crossed Green Park where I saw families playing on a sunny afternoon. On the other side of the park was Buckingham Palace! It was a beautiful afternoon for pictures and I took a lot of them!

After a long walk, I crossed Green Park again and checked in at the hotel. I had time to get settled before meeting my tourmates at 4:00 pm for our get-acquainted meeting. Our tour guide, Jeanie Carmichael (a delightful lady-has been a tour guide for 40 years!) introduced herself and then had each of us introduce ourselves. We chose our buddies-mine was a wonderful young man named Ben. The buddy system works great. We have buddy checks whenever we gather for a walking tour or board a bus so no one gets left behind. Brilliant!! After our meeting, we gathered in the hotel lobby for a walking tour of the neighborhood. When we returned, we had a little time to settle, then met again to take a bus tour of central London. Then we walked to our restaurant for our first tour dinner. I enjoyed getting to know everyone. What a delightful group! I am really going to enjoy this tour!

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