LONDON June 17, 2007 11:45 p.m.

Well, our first day is nearly over. We had a great lunch in a nearby cafe just down the street from the Best Western and took a nap for around three hours. That really helped energize everyone along with showers and a change into fresh clothes. We took off on the Tube for Hyde Park and Picadilly Street where we had a terrific dinner. Robby loved his all=American burger while Carina and I split a veggie burger and Cavatappi mac n' cheese. We loved the memoribilia--especially seeing Clapton's guitar which has been mounted on the wall directly over what an employee told us was Clapton's favorite spot to sit when he was a regular at the Hard Rock 36 years ago. It first opened on June 14, 1971, the very week I graduated from Evanston Township High School. They even had a huge celebration last week and sold t=shirts to commemorate the special day. We went next door to the Hard Rock store and went on an official tour down to the Vault where the most precious memoribilia was--one of B.B. King's guitars, John Lennon's coat and wire-rims, Jimi Hendrix's couch and guitar.

When the tour guide asked if anyone knew what the "B.B" stood for in B.B. King's name, Robby piped up "Blues Boy" and stunned the guide. She asked his name and saluted him saying that he was the only one today that knew the answer. Aunt Teenie would have been proud! Here's Robby next to B.B. King's guitar!


We took a long walk to Picadilly Circus (see picture below) after Hard Rock and checked out the local sites surrounding and wearily headed back to the hotel where we watched an episode of Mythbusters on the Internet about the Hindenburg Disaster and alligator lore and everyone is ready to turn in for a much deserved sleep and definitely sleeping in tomorrow morning==well, at least until the last call for breakfast before we head off for Westminster Abbey. Good night! (Please post a comment if you have time!)