Big Ben, December 28, 5:16 p.m.

After getting situated in our apartment yesterday, we walked a few blocks down to the Thames and then followed the river past the London Eye Ferris wheel to Parliament Square. Although it was just a few minutes after 5 o’clock, London was already dark. The Christmas tree was lit in front of the Houses of Parliament, but it was dwarfed by the big clock tower. As we passed the clock turned to 5:15, and we were treated to the deep tones of Big Ben striking the quarter hour.