London

Barb, Darcey and I went in to London for a few days. It was Darcey's first time there so we wanted to be sure she saw everything on her list, including Westminster, Buckingham Palace, the Tower, Harrod's, etc. We encountered huge crowds in the Knightsbridge and Covent Garden areas (and occasionally on the Underground), but I guess that's typical for the height of tourist season.

After getting settled in our hotel, we started with a tour of Westminster Abbey. No matter how many times I go, I always find it wonderful and awe-inspiring. We stayed for the Evensong service, then made our way up Whitehall toward Trafalgar Square, pausing for many photo-ops on the way. We found a great Italian restaurant for dinner where the three of ate very well for a total of forty-two pounds ($84)--cheap by London standards.


I went off on my own the next day and found a free lunch-time concert in St. Martin-in-the-Fields (two clarinet and piano pieces, one by Schubert and the other by Brahms); then spent the rest of the afternoon in the National Gallery. A young art student had created this amazing chalk drawing on the pavement right outside the Gallery. The three of us met for a play ("Fat Pig," see below) and then dinner (cheeseburgers!)





Saturday we strolled around the Hyde Park-Kensington area (fans are still leaving flowers for Diana at Kensington Palace), then shopped at Burberry and Harrod's before seeing "Lord of the Rings" (see below again). I love the Harrod's Food Halls, which were pretty much of a zoo with the crowds, but Darcey was looking for a teapot so we took the lift to Housewares. Fewer shoppers there, many of whom were elegant-looking women gliding around in gold-and/or-jewel-encrusted black chadors.



With all the sightseeing we managed to squeeze in two shows: "Fat Pig", a comedy (but with pretty serious social commentary) set in America, about a young professional who falls in love with a very overweight but lovely woman and who consequently faces terrible teasing and ostracism from his "friends;" and Lord of the Rings, a lavish three-hour musical theater/Cirque-de-Soliel-type affair. I don't know the story (which kind of gets lost in the production), but I didn't care since the special effects, costumes, music and acrobatic choreography were so amazing. We all thoroughly enjoyed the shows and I would recommend both, for very different reasons.



















This morning Barb and Darcey left to return to Charleston. We parted at Paddington Station--they boarded the train to Heathrow and I hopped one back to Henley (along with a jauntily-dressed and high-spirited crowd of Regatta-goers). Can't believe they both have to be back at work tomorrow morning. We had a great time and we will miss them!