Big Ben at Night. This photo was taken on my last full day in London, a half-hour before my ultimate favorite experience in London. I spotted Big Ben as I looked over Trafalgar Square after leaving the National Gallery. It was 4:00, with the sun quickly disappearing (the sunset occurred much sooner in London than in Chicago!) Following the movie-making disaster in “London 3”, I was determined to make a second video, this time actually filming Big Ben chiming the hour (as an added bonus, I’d have five chimes on record, rather than the one I was supposed to have filmed).

Expecting a long walk, I was surprised when I reached Parliament at 4:15, with 45 minutes to spare before the big moment. (Two things I learned in England: time moves very slow in London and it takes hardly any time to get anywhere!). So I wandered about, talked to a very nice “bobby” and picked out a prime spot on Westminster Bridge…all in the first ten minutes! (This picture was taken during my leisurely stroll to the bridge) Battling the cold and a growing deserve to just go somewhere nice and warm as well as taking several photos for fellow tourists, I waited diligently until 5:00 and captured the chiming of the hours on video. Very intense moment.

I watched that video about 15 times since then.