Exhausted.

This was it. Today was the day I spent the last ounce of strength and stamina. The mental facilities closed to all customers for reshelving. If I had a local physician, I'd have qualified for a Handicapped sticker. I was done.

Fortunately, this happened after we were more than 2/3 the way through Westminster Abbey, and it was lunchtime, so I didn't drag anyone else too far down with me. We were able to grab a quick lunch in the Westminster Abbey cloister walk, then we headed to the Embankment for a boat ride to Greenwich.

Four years ago, when we were last here, the girls were much younger, and were fascinated at the concept of a line dividing the East and West Hemispheres. At Greenwich, it is an actual line marked along the ground and even up the sides of buildings. You can see a video here.

We didn't make it to Greenwich last time, which was a bit of a disappointment to them then. So today, as we were making a farewell tour of the city, it seemed like a potential nice stop to round out the day. Especially for anyone who had more energy than I did today.

By the time we got to Greenwich, it was pouring. We've had spectacular weather over the last 4 or 5 days, so there's no complaining, but MAN was it wet! We got off the boat, managed to find a cafe about 3 blocks up from the river, and parked ourselves until it passed. By then, I was complete toast, and was prepared to stay in the cafe until everyone had returned and was ready to boat back to Kensington. It turns out I was not the only one. The guide book mentioned a "staggeringly steep hill" to get up to the Observatory, and after that, Cris was the only one who was even remotely willing to make the effort. So we sat, enjoyed cakes and tea (and hot chocolate and Diet Coke) and took the boat back down the river.

It seems strange that we didn't venture onto the Thames until now, on either of our trips. After all, the river was the main drag for most of the history of the city. Plus, as river boaters ourselves at home, wouldn't you think we'd have snapped up the opportunity earlier?

Of course you would, but you would be wrong. But there is something soothing about leaving the traffic and noise of a city for the sounds and smells of the river. Four years ago, our flat in Bermondsey was right on the south bank, and it turns out we've missed that river connection on this trip. Frankly, I'd have happily ridden the boat up and down the river without getting off at all, but that 's not really how it works.

We are now back at the flat early--for us. We leave here tomorrow by car at 11:30 a.m. to get to the airport, and we are as full of Europe as we can possibly be. We are shipping a bunch of books home, because like Thomas Jefferson, we cannot go to a city without needing to buy books so we can learn even more. Emily is currently asleep on the floor in the sitting room of our flat, and the only reason I am awake now is because I fell asleep on the boat going to Greenwich, on the boat coming back from Greenwich, in the cab from the Embankment to the flat. . . .

So, the NEXT time we come to England--yes, we are already making plans for the next time.