Some random impressions from the week:
· London wasn’t as costly as we thought – except for the tiny flapjack costing £5 at the National Gallery
· Every café and restaurant we went to asked us whether we had any allergies
· I saw several men with painted fingernails
· I revisited Watkins Bookshop, the first bookshop I worked in 53 years ago
· We came across lots of school outings, some of them having a good look at the art galleries
· We visited seven art galleries altogether (Tate Modern twice because it’s so huge)
· We saw the Covid memorial wall opposite the Houses of Parliament with all its thousands of hearts remembering people who died
· We met up with an old school friend of Jenny’s and her husband
Unfortunately I had a bit of back pain, which took the edge off my enjoyment a bit, but I was determined to keep to our art itinerary and not abandon anything. All in all a very worthwhile and stimulating week.
How exciting! I like London too. I go about once a year. I have been in that store, but I didn't know the name since I don't look up to see door signs as I enter places. A spiritual person I met at the Brit Museum recommended it to me. According to a Harry Potter walking tour I overheard, the street doubles in the movies as diagon alley.
ReplyDeleteI always do the Tate more than once too. The other Tate, T. Britain, is where I would spend my last day on earth, for the beauty.
Sean: I didn't know Cecil Court doubled as Diagon Alley. I do now! Watkins Books is a very strange mixture of sensible beliefs (like Buddhism) and totally bonkers esoterica.
DeleteIt's been years since we've been to London but we did enjoy it. We stayed in a 2-star hotel about a half block from Paddington with a great breakfast included. The pub next door became "our" pub. We took the tube everywhere and loved its accessibility but that was before I needed wheels to get around.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: I lived in Paddington for a while, in a red light district. Women on the street would sometimes ask me if I wanted to "do business". I often walked round Hyde Park, which was nearby.
DeleteI doubt I'll ever see London but I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteDo you have photos?
Kylie: Jenny has some photos on her Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful week, except for the pain. I would expect London to be quite expensive. Nice surprise it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteSandra: We could fill up with a large cooked breakfast, cereal and fruit for £13.99, which isn't bad at all.
DeleteSorry to hear about your back pain but I'm glad you were able to have a good time.
ReplyDeleteMary: We had a great time despite my troublesome body.
DeleteI used to stay in the Paddington area, because a guy at my home town (Calgary) flea market said to get off at that station and just walk around to find a place. So I did, comparing prices to get the cheapest rental. When the guy in the Jack Reacher series needed to stay low, he found a place on the same street I stayed on. Like Jack, I would just show up with pounds in my pocket. ... Somehow I missed seeing the red light area.
ReplyDeleteI stopped staying there after I tried to phone long distance to rent a room, and was told I had to go through a. booking agency. So I switched to staying in the Bloomsbury district which has lots of bookstores.
Sean: I didn't know Bloomsbury had so many bookshops (at least ten, I see). It's good that there are still so many independent bookshops and the big chains haven't crushed them (yet).
DeleteGlad you had a good time! Also glad the bookshop is still going - that's no mean feat.
ReplyDeleteI hope your back gets better - maybe go to the doctor who might be able to suggest some appropriate stretching exercises.
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Ms Scarlet: I've got an appointment with the doctor on Friday week. I'll see what she suggests. Muscle relaxers might be good.
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