Return to London .page one

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Detail of Chinese Tile in the British Museum


Let me start - at the end, of our trip to London. It's spring time, April 6, daffodils and tulips are blooming, the trees are budding. And then, we wake up to snow! Big fat floaty flakes of snow! Not much accumulation at all, but enough to delay our flights so that we are 20 hours late getting back into Krakow. When is it going to be warm sunny weather?...
...Anyway. Yes, back to the beginning of our trip, spring, London, Covent Garden. So many cafes, pubs, boutiques, what a great, but crowded place Covent Garden is. The street into the market was impassable, crammed with the street performers and shoppers and tourists, and this was on a weekday. The street entertainers were really working for their pay.
"Sir, you can't clap with your hands in your pockets, you might injure yourself"
They must audition for their performers license, and carry their own liability insurance of L2 million ( that L is supposed to be the symbol for pounds)
We eat at a cafe, outside under the heater. Then head out to Trafalgar Square to meet up with our friends. (by the way, if you list our names it sounds like a Sesame Street production - Keith and 'Pete' and Dwight and 'Ernie'! more about "like a Sesame Street production" in another entry) They have been here all week, and we enjoy catching up and hearing about their London sightseeing adventures. We stop for a drink at Leicester Square, where a crew sets up for the premier of the Stones movie. Barriers were being set up and fans were already staking out their spots.
We then just walked around waiting for the other colleagues to arrive. One street in Chinatown caught our attention. The restuarants display the roasted ducks in the windows. The 'whole duck', with their little shriveled up necks and shrunkened heads still on.
Ernie and I have the next day free of husbands, so we head out for the obligatory shopping and museum going. Window shopping is at it's best in this trendy area. I suggested the British Museum, there is always more to see there. Back in Covent Garden we watch some of the street performers. While setting up for their performance, Ernie and I overheard the the helper of escape artist mumble "shit" while fumbling with one of the clasps on the straightjacket, as the artist was wrapped up in it! That couldn't have been good.
We roamed around the squares all day, each of us taking tons of pictures. And found our way back without getting lost, or run over by a taxi!

The hotel was on a small pedestrian street, and even with pubs close by it was quiet. Though the room was small, it had a split level down to the bathroom! I nag Keith about our funky accommodations, but they are 99% great.

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Photos

Ducks and squid in the restuarants windows
looks a little unappetizing, although the aroma was so good

crouching Aphrodite bathing
in the British Museum; Roman marble 2nd cent AD
[i]didn't see the lady in the background until now![/i]

the hotel, on a pedestrian street
entrance is under the awnings

he says "let's eat here they have ketchup"
'he really said that?' we're still not connisoures of fine foods

can you name all of the Rolling Stones?
production crew sets up for the premier

Diana's Diner
great for breakfast try the 'royal'

Comments

[Katie]

How many times have you been to London? I feel like you go almost every month