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The great city didn’t even exist until the Roman’s decided they needed a trading center at the Northern end of their empire. And, as the Scottish will remind you by pointing at Hadrian’s Wall, they never quite got conquered. So, the little fort grew and grew and here we are today.

On Sunday, I woke up late and then headed into town. I went around London Bridge, where I ate lunch at a pizza shop that gave me my best meal in London: a soft crusted pizza with toasted goat cheese, carmalized onions, spinache, and figs. They also threw in a twist for the coffee I ordered: brown sugar instead of white, and steamed milk instead of cream. I came away from there quite satisfied.

Then I moved on to the Tower of London, which is the city’s closest thing to a castle, though with a much darker history than most.

I was supposed to meet up with the Americans I had met in Dublin, but they cancelled at the last minute, so I hung out at the hostel. I talked endlessly with Sven, a cool Guinnes-drinking Norweigen guy who goes to the University of North Dakota. Funny how accents from both those places are nearly identical.

Monday was my final day abroad. I was really tired of being a tourist at that point, but I wrapped things up quite nicely. I went to the Museum of London, saw St. Paul’s Cathedral, and then walked over to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. The English nerd in me came out for a bit. It was really neat to see how the theater has been reconstructed to be just like it was 400 years ago. I bought some mead, which I guess was the prefered drink in Shakespeare’s time - though I haven’t had the chance to try it yet.

Then, I had a traditional meal of authentic fish and chips. It was incredibly bland. I like the more Americanized version a lot better, mostly because there is flavor, and condiments beyond vinegar and salt.

Finally, I met up with one of the girls I had met in Madrid, and we exchanged travel stories. She was not surprised to hear about the pick-pocket in Barcelona. I guess it has a reputation.

I finished the night by having a final Guinness with Sven and then drifted off to what sleep I could manage before the trip home.