Today we leave the car and take the subway to the Tower of London. Here we meet Florian, Daniela, my Godson Dario and Nicolas. They are in London for the first time as a family, and Florian was here for the last time with Petr and me about 20 years ago. We are therefore all the more delighted to have been able to spend two days here together and show them the city we love so much.

We start our little tour at the Tower of London, with a walk all around, where we already have a look at the Tower Bridge. This is next on our program. We cross the bridge to get to the south bank of the Thames, but in height: In the first tower of the drawbridge we drive up and then walk over the connecting bridges to the other tower. We not only enjoy the view through the windows, but also through the glass floor in the middle part of the footbridges. Newly installed are mirrors on the ceiling for Selfies. And of course we try them out right away.

After a visit to the engine room, where the energy for lifting and lowering the bridge used to be generated, we continue our walk along the southern bank of the Thames. We pass City Hall and the former warship HMS Belfast and reach Borough Market. The fact that it is lunchtime is no coincidence, but part of our planning. There is something for all tastes at the many delicious food stands. Gabi and Florian eat a Beef & Ale Pie with potato stick and sauce, Daniela chooses an Indian dish, Dario eats French fries, Nicolas a hamburger and I a Scotch Egg – a barely hard-boiled egg in a sausage coat and with a crispy crust.

On our further tour we pass the replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge. At the Tate Modern Art Museum we visit the beautiful viewing platform in the new extension and enjoy the view over the city.

At the Southbank we even find a small sandy beach! Then we walk past the London Eye Ferris Wheel and cross the bridge to the Parliament Building and the newly scaffolded Big Ben Bell Tower. Here we say goodbye to Florian, Daniela and the children and take the subway back to the hotel.

Later, Gabi and I set off again to hunt our supper: we decide for burritos and frozen margheritas.