We arrived in London on Monday evening. Yesterday, Tuesday, Siobhan and I took the train into London for a day in this beautiful city. We started at the National Gallery, where we attended a tour with an art historian who really taught us how to look at a painting and piece together the story the artist is telling. It was truly fascinating. One of the paintings we examined was by the artist Titian, painted in 1540. It was an eye-opening afternoon!
Fortnum & Mason
Next, we paid a visit to the famous Fortnum and Mason store, also known as The Queen’s Supermarket. This store has been in business for 300 years. It is the finest store ever for chocolates, cheeses, teas and coffees, candles, biscuits, jams and countless other confections and products. And the Christmas decorations are beyond compare.
The Raffles Hotel
Siobhan has a cousin who works at the Raffles Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in London. It used to be the Old War Office. It is also referred to as the OWO to commemorate its historical significance. It is in the neighborhood of Buckingham Palace, Scotland Yard, and 10 Downing Street. He treated us to a tour of the hotel, which is stunning in every way. He showed us the Churchill Suite. This is the very room where world leaders met to plan the D-Day assault at Normandy, France. Also, the room where heated arguments took place about who would lead this assault. Someone actually threw a chair across the table at General Eisenhower in this room. The chair missed the General but hit another gentleman, landing him in the hospital for two weeks. You could feel the history in the room. Take a look.
And, to end the evening, we were treated to a drink in the hotel bar. We discovered the London Sling.
It was an incredible day all the way around.
Ponferrada Hospitaleras and Beyond 
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