The (rebuilt) Globe Theater, Shakespeare's playhouse.

The bridge opens to let a sailboat through.

Cool Bridge!

The Tower of London is the infamous final destination of many politically troublesome people including a few wives! Mine stayed safely on the outside, thank goodness!

Ye Olde Cock Tavern was a hangout of some of Londons most famous, including Charles Dickens.

Piccadilly square in London rivals Time Square in New York. It has a bit of a different personality though. Whereas Time Square has taller buildings covered in glass, Piccadilly Square's buildings are historical and seemingly more sophisticated.

The Changing of the Guard. Joy is on my shoulders.

The parade of the Changing of the Guards.

The Horse Guard.

The two story horse stalls of Great Scotland Yard.

This giant ferris wheel in London holds multiple people per capsul and takes an hour to get all the way around. Our budget didn't allow us to ride it though.

Big Tan in front of Big Ben.

London isn't immune to the political protests that plague George Bush back home, but despite some obvious antiwar sentiment Tony Blair re-won his position as prime minister while we were in England.

After an excruciatingly long trip on Cathay Pacific airlines (their seats are obviously made for Asian sized people not fat Americans) we made it to London. We thought that Japan would be the most expensive place we would encounter on our trip. We were wrong, the pound is so strong right now (about double the Amercian dollar) that we went way over budget during this leg of the trip. We stayed in England for quite a while though because Joy wanted to see a ceramic show that was to feature one of the artists that inspire her, Kate Malone. Anyway, here I am in front of Buckingham Palace.

The gardens of the castle were equally well developed. I was continually amazed at the beauty all around us. Kyoto, and truly the Japanese themselves, are quite a wonder.

This picture is taken from the wall of a very old Japanese castle in Kyoto. It is amazing how well built it is. It looks brand new.

Very peaceful.

I believe this is a Shinto sactuary.

Japanese structures are beautiful, functional, and precise.

Beauty is to be found often in Kyoto.