THURSDAY to TUESDAY

This was our last train trip and our last pilgrims Walk to the train!

Once settled in our hotel in London,Michael went to explore the neighbourhood and I stayed to work on my next post.We headed out for dinner and found a Pub just around the corner.There was. an alley way with 6 restaurants and we chose fish and chips and beer.There were so many of these alleys and new neighbourhoods we discovered as we wandered!

Friday was a full day as Michael had tickets to visit Churchill’s War Room near Whitehall and the parliament buildings.It was the 11 of November,Remembrance Day.I chose to visit the British Museum,3 blocks away from our hotel.A spectacular museum,and you should plan to visit ,should you come to London.There are some unique artifacts and a place to return to for many days.

This was my day to do some window shopping on Oxford Street.I was underwhelmed as the stores by enlarge were the same stores in most big cities.There were 4 Zara stores.The only new one was John Lewis Department Store.Sadly there were no purchases ,as I had a Carry on Luggage…full.My rule was 1 new piece in,one old piece out and I had nothing more to discard!Michael and I met at Piccadilly Circus and more exploring in that area.

Sunset came early ,and it was dark by 5:30.The Christmas lights were already in place and lit.Carman and Nick,I saw some new ideas for your houses.

Saturday we had a 6 hour tour to Stonehenge.We had a quick witted bus driver who entertained us with humor wrapped in facts about places that we passed.Stone henge,a prehistoric temple alligned with the movements of the sun built between 2000 and 3000 BC.It is the only one that has lintel(horizontal stones)sitting on top of the vertical stones(sarsons).

In the distance ,the Circle is surrounded is by burial mounds. The mounts contained burial grounds and cremations.Included within were weapons,precious stones(amber,gold).

The sarsons weighted 15-30 tons and were transported hundreds of miles.The smaller stones in the middle are called Blue stones and believed to be from a volcano.

On the outer ledge is a stone called the Heel Stone.It was a sarson,but not shaped.The solstice sun was seen and the bronze arrow marked the direction.

Sunday was the official celebration of Remembrance Day in London.There was much pomp and ceremony with 10,000 people with military or paramilitary affiliation and they marched toward the cenotaph.The streets were lined layers thick with crowds.You needed to pass through security to get close.There were marching bands and bagpipes.Many people were there to see the Royals and a cheer would go up from the crowd as the king passed their location.

many of the dignitaries were on the balconies of the Foreign Office building and on the roof was the ever present security.

We had hoped to see Westminster Abbey,but it was closed because of the services.So,we walked the Mall towards Buckingham Palace by way of St. James Park.Billy,it is a paradise for bird lovers,both in variety and friendliness…although one swan had a hissy fit when a dog came too close.

Monday was our last full day in London. We had 2 destinations:Harrods and St. Paul’s Cathedral.Harrods is a huge department store covering a full block.I was hoping to find a long wool coat(and thus a new suitcase),but no luck.We walked to St. Paul’s to see the Cathedral.You needed tickets to get in ,and they were ridiculous in price for a very short visit.having both seen it before,we were happy just for the exercise.

Monday night we had tickets to the Opening night of “ Best of Enemies” at the Noel Coward Theatre.It is the retelling of a debate between an arch conservative,F. Buckly Jr. and Gore Vidal,an iconoclastic liberal.The date was 1968 and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.It was a new television format debating the moral landscape of a shattered nation.This does sound like 2022 in the USA.

Gore quips that “the most disastrous man in the country could rise to power if they are given good TV. “

It was a fitting end to the odyssey and we headed home for a drink prior to packing for our flight home.