Originally written February 2020
It was 4 degrees and raining. At one point I even saw a few snowflakes, but unfortunately they stopped almost as soon as I noticed them.
Ruth has been so kind and generous in every way. Despite the cold and rain, she took me around London and became my personal local guide.
We went to see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. We only saw them from the outside, but I didn’t really mind. Sometimes you don’t have to go inside every attraction to feel that you’ve been somewhere. Just standing there and finally seeing places you’ve known from photographs and television for years was already special.
Buckingham Palace was particularly busy despite the weather. Apparently, a little rain and 4-degree temperature are not enough to discourage tourists. 
Later, we walked along the Thames and saw Tower Bridge illuminated at night. London looked completely different after dark—the Tower of London, the river, the lights and the buildings across the water.
And perhaps the best part of London wasn’t really any of the famous landmarks.
It was having Ruth there.
Travelling alone can be exciting, but after spending days trying to work out airports, trains, buses and directions by myself, it was lovely to have someone beside me who simply said, in effect, Come on, I’ll show you around.
Cold feet, rain, a few disappearing snowflakes and London at night.
Not a bad day at all. 
Stories Along the Way 