My friends know that I over analyze everything... and especially when I travel I want to choose exactly the right tours and excursions... Get the most bang for my buck... See as much as possible BUT only the things that I'm really interested in... I spend weeks tweaking my travel days, balancing activities with relaxing... It's really an art for me...

In other words, not really spontaneous... at all. No, really. And this was definitely a spontaneous trip to London... with zero planning time... so I had NO CLUE what to do... or where to go... I was a cork on the ocean...

So the folks at my hotel suggested the Tower of London, and printed exact instructions on the metro -- who KNEW the London underground was so massive!!! -- and I was on my way.

(Watch this TED Talk about the London Underground map.)

When I left Hayes & Harlington it was windy but sunny. After 40-ish minutes of listening to the announcements (in bee-you-tiful British English!) navigating the signage, and changing trains, I emerged at London Bridge to grey skies and blusters.

I strolled along the Thames -- pushed by the wind is more like -- and watched Japanese brides having their portraits done. I popped into a pub for a Pimms cup... and I looked for a sign to "Tower of London"...

Found nothing... Also came up empty looking for a souvenir shop where I could buy a sweatshirt to protect my tropical skin from the ever increasing wind and cold... Nothing, nada, niente...

And at this point, the bottom dropped out...