Wow! By this time next week we will be flying home. So hard to believe. Many blessings, some hardships, lots and lots of walking, interesting times.
Today we had an early breakfast and then rested in our room before leaving about 10:00. It was very dreary and looked like rain, but we decided to skip the umbrella (my idea which Bruce agreed with).
When we left our hotel, it was very cool outside, I felt chilly in my jean skirt and short sleeved top, Bruce was cold. We walked about 1 mile to Oxford Street, found an H&M department store where we picked up warm sweaters and a hoodie for Bruce. We headed for the beautiful green spaces of Hyde Park and enjoyed a nice long walk before it began to rain lightly, then more hard. After searching (almost desperately) we found a coffee shop in the Serpentine Gallery of Kensington Gardens where we had hot chocolate, hot tea and a delicious chocolate-raspberry brownie. BTW, April, we should have both packed a nice warm jacket, but it was fun shopping in London.
It continued to pour down as we searched for a place to buy umbrellas. We took a break from the rain at the College of London where we found free toilets, and chairs to wait out some of the rain. A gentleman from the UK sat down near us and he and Bruce began to talk about how different the WWII experiences were for us Americans and for the British and French who fought the war on their own soil. Bruce’s Dad had served in the Solomon Islands and his Dad had served in the RAF. He spoke of how few historic buildings in London had survived the Blitz unlike Paris whose Vichy government collaborated with the Germans and had all their historic buildings untouched.
As soon as the rain simmered down, we left the building wishing the gentleman a good day. We soon found a London tacky gift shop and bought two cheap umbrellas that threatened to fall apart as soon as the wind picked up. It was very cold, but Bruce was determined. He had made his mind up to go to Notting Hill. We found an Antique bookstore close to Notting Hill where we took a look around. The store had books by Jules Verne that I had not known he had written. He had many, many old editions and was kind enough to supply me with a paper towel so I could wipe my hands before touching books. I saw a folio of T.S. Eliot’s works that cost 200 pounds. Not sure Brent would really like that 200 pounds worth.
Through admirable perseverance and Bruce’s determination we made it to the edge of Notting Hill where we found Prince Albert Pub, which was truly a local hangout. I got 2 different half pints of beer and Bruce had a coke and lemonade. We shared a platter of munchies and a salad. The food was quite good and I had a chance to sample the British chips, although most people were eating them with ketchup instead of the traditional salt and vinegar. The finale of our meal was a shared plum and raspberry warm tart with homemade vanilla ice cream; the perfect touch to warm us up.
Interestingly enough, all ordering is done at the bar, including food. We waited quite a while before we discovered this, since I finally decided to go up to the bar to get us some drinks. Not sure we tipped enough, though.
Took the bus home from the pub, but got off way before our stop due to misreading and then was sent off in the wrong direction by a person who was waiting nearby. We walked an extra mile in the cold rain and Bruce allowed me to wear his new hoodie over my sweater because I was so cold.
So, warm and safe now in our hotel. The maid had removed our key from our room: Bruce’s worries were correct; so he had to check with the front desk and they cancelled that key. Really weird.
So...tomorrow, maybe David Tennant.....really hope we didn’t screw up the dates!!! I am so Excited.
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