"You have the grand gift of silence, Watson; it makes you quite invaluable as a companion"

It is Wednesday in London. The apartment is working out fairly well. John and Angela's bedroom is too warm. Caroline's room is cool. Our bedroom is just right.

We are all fighting slight colds. We have not experienced jet lag per se. No headache. No sleep disorder. As with the last trip, flying to Europe, you are flying into the new day. You take off in the late afternoon and land mid to late morning the next day. So you go through day/night/day scenario.

What you do experience is traveling 16-22 hours. Of course, not on the plane that is only 10-11 hours. When you consider time to airport, checking in, connections and flight in a confined space, you are physically tired.

Today we have matinee tickets for the theatre (notice spelling - very English). It is London. We will not have visited London properly if we did not go to the West End.

We really wanted to attend a Shakespeare  play. But, April seems to be an in-between month. Plays and performances are ending and new performances have not yet begun. Plays and performers sell out quickly. London theatre, similar to New York and Chicago, has discount ticket booths for that days performances. We buy online which is not too bad. There is five of us. That is a large group for discount tickets which are usually one or two seats together.

So what do you do in London until 14:00 (2 PM)? Why, you go to Buckingham Palace to view the changing of the guard.

We arrive about 20 minutes to eleven. We are winging this. Maybe John and Angela have done research. I have no idea what to expect. You line up against the iron fence that circles the entrance courtyard to the Palace. Caroline and I take position quickly and we are in front with a great view. We are about 60 yards from the center of the courtyard and to the right of the gates. John and Angela move to a different position along the fence.

Nothing happens. Well, the two guards on either side of the main door do come to attention individually and walk. The soldiers of the Household Guard are shouldering loaded automatic rifles. The weapons are current model and most likely standard issue. They move with an exaggerated arm swing with the free arm. My first guess is that it was to exercise and keep the legs from cramping. I now think it is a ceremonial review of the grounds.

The changing of the Household Guard is very symbolic. My only point of reference is the US Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In that case, the ceremony takes about 10 minutes from beginning to end. It does happen every hour and at certain times of the year more often.

This changing of the Household Guard happens most often once a day weather permitting. It involves the changing of the entire regiment not simply a single guard. Also, as opposed to the Tomb guard, this pageantry is affected by the time of the year. The pageant is daily from April to end of July and then only on alternate days for the remainder of the year.

The guards for that 24 hours duty are housed to the right of the main door to the Palace. My guess that the team is an officer and NCO and eight infantry men (as with the Old Guard/Honor Guard for the Tomb, these are trained infantry and are the first line of security).

At the beginning the Officer and NCO appear and inspect the two guards on duty. Then in a  ceremonial step with arms swinging and sword held upright, they walk back a forth of the area in front of the Palace. It is definitely ceremonial. It is about 60 yards to the left and turn in a back step and then 60 yards to the left side of the courtyard. They do this 10 times. They must know that ground really well.

The Household Guard wear the large hairy black caps. I presume at one time they were made from black bearskins. The cap is 18 inches in height and weighs about 1.8 pounds. I googled it. The height of the Guards differ. Apparently, as opposed to the US Tomb Guards (6'2") and Old Guard "6'", the Household Guard have no height requirements to serve.

There is no commentary - even whispered. So, as this inspection is happening, you are starting to think - please stop with the walking. Then, you hear the band music playing a regimental favorite. The right gate opens an marches the regiment band followed by a whole company of Guards.

This is the Company of the Guard Team being replaced. There are about 80 soldiers in the courtyard. This officer and NCO ceremonially inspect the courtyard. The same distances, the same walk and the same number of times. Get comfortable, this happens over and over again.

Nothing is happening with the two stationed guards. The guard team to be relieved (replaced)  appears and joins their Company in the courtyard. More inspects of the ground beneath their feet.

Again, military music announces the entrance through the left gate of the replacing guards and their company including their own marching band. The music is enjoyable and they do offer up later a few Elton John songs.

Of course, the band has their own ceremonial inspections. More inspections and more walking the grounds. We are about forty minutes into this pageantry and the guards are still at attention in front of their wood cubicle shelter.

With the serenade over, the events begin to move quickly. New guards are posted. The previous guards join their company. The bands and the new company marches out first. The previous guards and their band march out.

The entire pageantry takes slightly over an hour. The crowd is large. I cannot image the size during peak tourist season. You need to go. But, only once. And as always, read about the ceremony the night before. It is always a big help.

John and Angela find Caroline and I. We start to walk. It is about 12:30. Buckingham Palace is very close to Trafalgar Square. We want to be close to the underground station where Betty will meet us  prior to the play. We split up. Caroline and I discover the National Art Gallery is a few blocks away. So, of course, it is the café. We do discuss art. I think.

The international call plan proves again worth the money. Betty has taken a taxi. We are on our way to The Prince of Wales Theatre to see "The Book of Mormon". The musical is excellent.The leads are both Americans.

The theatre seating is not well engineered. The seats are not spaced correctly so line of sight is blocked by the people in front of you if they do not sit up very straight and are short. The theatre appears renovated so the expected theatre goer is short and has great posture.

John is bothered the most. The couple in front of him are in love.

With the play over, we are hungry. Angela has a referral to a Ramen noodle restaurant. Now, come on, did you really know that there is such a thing as a Ramen Noodle Bar and that there is a list of the top ten on Yelp. Apparently, London has a lot and they are chains.

Wagamama is in the lower level just off Piccadilly Square. The menu is various types of combinations of Japanese noodles and ingredients. The other half is various types of curry.

We are sake - room temperature as it should be - only poor quality sake is served warm. We do it twice. A beer with curry dish, I am feeling fine.

As we leave, the line is out of the door.

We walk to Coventry Garden for the second time. It has turned slightly colder and still the outside crowds are large. Before taking the Tube back, we do a little shopping at Marks & Spencer (M&S).

Tomorrow. the Tower of London and Harry Potter.