Happy Thanksgiving!!! Although it didn’t seem much like
Thanksgiving here, well understandable since they don’t celebrate it, I still
was reminded of all the things in my life I am eternally grateful for. Like my
family and friends, the opportunity I’ve been given to take this incredible
journey and in particular for this Thanksgiving, being able to spend the day
with my dear, dear friend Barbara and her husband Neil who are visiting London
for the long weekend. I never expected to see them because I was supposed to be
back in Tunstall by Thursday afternoon and not be able to leave Teddy, especially
after his accident, but the family isn’t leaving for a few days so I was able
to zip off to London for a few days and found a hotel I could afford right near
Barb’s hotel so it all just worked out so perfectly. I am a very, very grateful
person and although I miss Thanksgiving dinner with my family in the North End
of Boston and especially my aunt’s incredible, amazing, fabulous (yes, I could
use just about every good adjective to describe her food) food. But hopefully
she wasn’t too upset since her grandson surprised her by coming in from Italy.
So Elaine dropped me off at the Woodbridge train station
around 9:00am on Thursday and she went off to have her hair done. My train wasn’t
until 10:18am so I got to walk the waterfront and take some wonderful pictures
of the sun shining brightly on the bay area as low tide was beginning. I’ve had
such incredible weather since I’ve been here it’s really amazing! So as I
walked I saw lots of joggers, moms and dad’s walking dogs and children and just
random people enjoying the incredible morning.
The train was exactly on time and I headed off to London and
was in the city by about 12:30pm. I walked around for almost 3 hours straight
so you might say I was a bit tired but I saw so much I hadn’t seen before and
even this open air market, Spitalfields Market, and got a feta and cheese snack
for lunch. The Market is also like a big flea market with people selling all kinds of old clothes and house wares. By the time I reached Barbara and Neil’s hotel the Holiday Inn at
Kensington Forum. It’s a very nice
hotel, I just never know what to expect with Holiday Inn’s but this one is huge
and in a fabulous neighborhood. My hotel was the Best Western on Cromwell Road
around the corner and although my room was small it was so nice and clean and
just simple which is perfect for me. I don’t spend much time in the room I just
like to know it’s clean, safe and not expensive. A note about my trip by subway
from the other side of London where I was walking around, I bought a day pass
(I learned about this when mom and I were here and were horrified by the 4.20
pound one trip rate. ) The pass is only 7.00 pounds and it allows you to take
as many buses, subways as you want for the whole day. I ended up taking three
rides so I saved a lot not doing it individually but Neil and Barb who I had
emailed the details about the pass to weeks ago bought theirs at Heathrow
Airport as soon as they landed and then took the subway to Gloucester Road
station which is around the corner from their hotel and across the street from
mine. But either way that only paid for the pass but then they took 4 or so
other rides with it so they did really well saving money. So the moral of my
story is if you are in London get the day pass!!!
Also, you do meet lovely people. For me I got on the subway
at my starting point somewhere near Liverpool Street Station and couldn’t
figure out where the stairs were for the train direction I needed so I stopped
this young man who kindly directed me to the stairs down the way. I thanked him
and we parted ways and I went to the platform. A moment or so later the young
man comes bounding down the steps he realized he had sent me to the wrong
direction so he showed me the other steps and I went down and a train
approached so I got on and just then the young man came bounding again, this
time right on the train, and he said something like “I’m sorry I forgot to tell
you there is more than one train line on this track. This is the wrong train.”
So we both got off and he kindly waited with me chatting about Vancouver,
Canada where he’s from and how he’s working in London for a year and half and
loving it. I was just so, so impressed, although Canadians are known for being
friendly and helpful so I shouldn’t be so surprised but he went totally out of
his way to make sure I got on the right train. I must admit that I have done
something similar to people I’ve helped in NYC especially when I’ve realized I’ve
given them the wrong information. You feel so bad misdirecting tourists even if
it’s unintentional. The young man, Chris, also told me about the Olympics this
summer here in London and how he also got to go to the Vancouver Olympics as
well. That’s pretty unique I would think to be living in two cities that have
hosted the Olympics back to back. So I
finally said good bye to Chris who waited until I had gotten on and the train
pulled out. So, sweet really an then I realized I didn’t know exactly where the
hotel was when I got off at Gloucester Station but once again I met a nice
person or in this case a nice couple from Washington, D.C. who just happened to
be staying at the same hotel as Barbara and Neil. So they walked with me and
made sure I got there safely.
I also met a nice Italian dad who was in London with his
teenage son for a Harry Potter festival of some sort. He didn’t speak English
but I understood most of what he said and when I asked about where his wife was
he said with her mother and he didn’t like her mother so they came to London.
People really do tell me the oddest things even in a foreign language. Interestingly
there are so many American’s in London today as well as Spanish and Italian
families. Even with the exchange rate being so bad everywhere I’ve gone I’ve
bumped into an American or and Italian.
So after I called up to Barbara to say I was in the lobby
they met me down there and then Neil took us all out to a pub for drinks which
was so sweet and then we all took the subway to Piccadilly Circus because I had
gotten online a discounted ticket for a play in the West End (London’s
equivalent to our Broadway.) I couldn’t believe I got the ticket with the
booking fee for 12.50 pounds which was almost 70% off the ticket price. The
couple I met up in the Lake District recommended this web site for last minute
tickets and she was so right it worked so easily and my ticket was at the box
office when I arrived. My seat was up in
the last row in the highest balcony (4 floors up) but it was perfect and I
could see just fine. Barb and Neil went off to Chinatown for dinner and then to
do the London Eye Ferris wheel which it turned out they didn’t do because around
9pm a rain storm came and it was too windy.
It was beyond exciting to be going to see a play. Yes, I
know I’ve seen over 1,000 plays since I moved to New York almost 17 years ago,
but I still get so excited it’s crazy. I saw the comedy “A Chorus of Disapproval”
and here is a little info from their web page: Don’t miss Rob Brydon‘s
acclaimed performance, in Alan Ayckbourn‘s much-loved comedy A Chorus of
Disapproval, where he stars alongside Nigel Harman (Shrek, EastEnders) and
Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty), directed by Olivier and Tony award-winner
Trevor Nunn. The cast also includes Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia
Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle, Steven Edis, Jessica Ellerby, Barrie
Rutter, Paul Thornley and Susan Tracy. Play synopsis: The Pendon Amateur Light
Operatic Society’s production of The Beggar’s Opera is going off the rails,
that is until a handsome but shy young widower Guy (Harman) joins the group. An
instant hit with the company’s ferociously zealous director Dafydd (Brydon) and
the show’s leading ladies, including Dafydd’s wife Hannah (Jensen), Guy soon
gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that all the best action
happens off-stage. Classic songs fill the air as the drama on stage is mirrored
by the romantic rivalry and small town squabbles causing a stir in the wings of
this ambitious local show. Not seen in
London since the National Theatre’s hit production over 25 years ago A Chorus
of Disapproval is stealing the limelight once more in the West End.”
The play was very funny and entertaining and when we got out
at about 10pm I zipped off to the Piccadilly Circus subway station which was
very close and I could not believe how many people where there. It took almost
5 minutes to get through the turnstile before we could even get to our
different subway lines. I know it’s busy in New York but I don’t remember this
after a show but of course 99% percent of the time I walk home from the theater
in NYC.
I got to my hotel and had a quick dinner at a fast food
place and then off to my warm room, a hot shower and then to bed. I was so exhausted
but it really was such a great day and so wonderful to see Barb and Neil especially
as this was a big trip for Neil, he’s celebrating his 50th birthday
and his mother and brother (who is my dentist oddly enough) gave him and Barb
this as gift since Neil was diagnosed with cancer over 10 years ago, underwent
years of treatment for that including having to have a liver transplant and was
told years ago he would probably not live to see his 50th birthday.
So you can imagine how happy he is to be here and he’s just a whirlwind of
energy wanting to do everything, whereas Barb was not doing well with the
jetlag and just wanted to stay in the hotel. Neil said if I hadn’t come to the
city to meet them they would have spent the whole night in the hotel so he was
thrilled I got Barb out and that they ended up going to Chinatown for dinner.
Black Friday or Day 2 in London
I got up early and met Barb and Neil at their hotel for
breakfast. They overslept, understandably since they only landed at the morning
before at 6:00am. So they took me to a nice Parisian bakery for a yummy
breakfast and lots of chatting and I helped them plan out their day on the
hop-on-hop off bus, Big Bus, the same mom and I did when she was here. They also got tickets to go into the Tower of
London and the London Eye since they hadn’t done it the night before. Neil is
also trying to convince Barb to do a one day trip to Paris tomorrow so I’ll
find out in a few days when she gets home and emails me if he succeeded but I
figure since he’s been through so much way not just go to Paris.
So we parted ways as they got on the tour bus and I headed
across town for a long walk to Liverpool Street Station where I’d be catching
my train back toward the country. But I
had all day to explore so I went up to Harrods and as you can see from the
pictures they’re decorated for the holidays and the food court (check out those
cupcakes) is fabulous. I only got a small slice of salted milky caramel fudge.
From Harrods I headed toward Buckingham Palace because the
tour bus lady who sold Barb and Neil their tickets said that they had the
changing of the guard today at 11:30. I made it a few minutes late but it was
so exciting to see it, I don’t remember seeing it the last 4 times I’ve been
here. I didn’t see Barb or Neil so I’m not sure if they made it there in time.
Next I went up to Trafalgar Square and walked took some
great pictures of the lions and the Nelson’s Column as well as this newly added
sculpture of a boy on a rocking horse painted gold. From the London Telegraph
article: “Bronze statue of a boy on a rocking horse adorns Trafalgar Square’s
Fourth Plinth
Elmgreen and Dragset's 'Powerless Structures, Fig. 101'
depicts a classically proportioned young boy atop a flat rocking horse. The 4.1m high statue is the fifth contemporary artwork to
adorn the empty plinth in the Fourth Plinth Project series, which has become an
annual fixture in the London culture calendar and is considered a great honour
for an artist. Powerless Structures, Fig. 101 is a twist on a traditional
equestrian portrait, the artists say, because instead of celebrating military
victory and commemorating fame, it acknowledges the “heroism of growing up”. The artists have said that the sculpture makes a serious
point. "Why do we have this tradition to put people on horseback if they
have won a battle? What do we want to say by doing that? “ That is an interesting
question since so many of sculptures in this city as well as most throughout
the world including NYC have national figures riding on horses.
Then I headed up through Regent Street which is the main
shopping street and it’s fabulously decorated with lights hanging above and
large, colorful signage depicting the 12 days of Christmas song. The streets were crazy and it wasn’t until much
later that I realized it was Black Friday even here in Britain. I’m so glad I really
didn’t need anything and could just window shop and enjoy the sights. I passed Soho Square, a small park "Soho Square is a square in Soho, London, England, with a park and garden area at its centre that dates back to 1681. It was originally called King Square after Charles II,
whose statue stands in the square. At the centre of the garden, there
is a distinctive half-timbered gardener's hut. During the summer, it
hosts open-air free concerts." I passed the I also
visited the Liberty department store which according their web page: “Since
1875, Liberty has been synonymous with luxury and great design. Arthur
Liberty’s intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world
looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele.
Liberty is not just a name above the door, it’s Arthur Liberty’s legacy, which
stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed
product. This vision and spirit continues today within the iconic Tudor
building.
Arthur Lasenby Liberty was born in Chesham, Buckinghamshire
in 1843. He was employed at Messrs Farmer and Rogers in Regent Street in 1862,
the year of the International Exhibition at Kensington in London. By 1874,
inspired by his 10 years of service, Arthur then decided to start a business of
his own, believing that he could change the look of home wares and fashion. With
a £2000 loan from his future father-in-law, Arthur Liberty took on the lease of
half a shop at 218a Regent Street with only three staff.
The shop opened in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets
d'art from Japan and the East. Within eighteen months Arthur Liberty had repaid
the loan and acquired the second half of 218 Regent Street. As the business
grew, neighboring properties were bought and added.” Also, check out their web
page I just couldn’t do it justice with my pictures although I do like the one
I took looking up at their gold decorations and glass ceiling above. http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/content/about-liberty/newsarchive
They even have a haberdashery and yes, I had to look up the
word, it’s a place that sells small notions for sewing. They also have a
Christmas shop on the 4th floor that was packed with Christmas
ornaments and people were going crazy up there buying so much. There were
people with 10 and 15 ornaments in there baskets and although they had a few inexpensive
ones some were really pricy. I do like Christmas trees though especially when
they’re decorated in matching brightly colored ornaments. Arleen and I didn’t
have a Christmas tree in the NYC apartment all these years because our beloved
Zaboo was a bit of a terror and we could just imagine coming home one night and
find him on the floor with the tree on top of him and his adorable orange
stripped body impaled with a tree branch. He used to like to jump on things.
I left Liberty and went through the West End and past all
the theatres and to Covent Garden’s where their open air market was all dressed
for the holidays and the red Christmas tree was beautiful. I also found Neal’s
Yard which is a small area down a shopping ally where the great Neal’s Yard
perfume/bath product shop is and a place I visited my first time to London well
over 17 years ago and where I had a facial or massage or something. I could see
the room where I had my treatment from down in the courtyard. I still can’t
believe I found that place all those years ago, I was only like 24 years old, I
have no idea how I got around so well having not yet lived in NYC and experiencing
such a big city on my own. This whole
day has brought back so many memories of my first visit which was so lovely and
perfect. Except today the weather, unlike on my first visit in February, was
amazing and warm (like 60 degrees) and so sunny. Really just one of many, many
things to be thankful for and on my first visit I stayed outside the city with
a friend of the family from when we lived in Italy, Gloria Ingram.
So from Covent Garden’s I continued my walk toward Liverpool
Street passing by St. Paul’s Cathedral where Princes Di and Prince Charles got
married and I wanted to go in but it was closing so I only saw a little bit
from the front entrance and the windows which are clear, not stained glass.
All in all it took me about 7 hours from when I began to get
to Liverpool Street but it was a great, great day and with the exception of 45
minutes at an Indian food place for lunch and 15 minutes for something to drink
at an African café near Covent Garden’s I walked the whole time. Yes, my legs
are tired and I am looking forward to a good nights rest. Oh, and I also saw a famous Italian singer who was getting in a taxi and about 10 Italians were mobbing him to get his picture. I didn't know him of course he's extremely tall and bald and I asked an Italian man who it was and he said Mario Biondi. He must be a big deal these people were so excited.His bio on line says "Mario Biondi is a singer and composer, born in Catania, Italy on January 28,1971. His father Stefano Biondi was also a singer. Mario's passion for music began at the early age of twelve when he sang in his church choir . His many musical experiences over time in Italy saw him develop more and more into an artist whose scope was destined to be of an international level. For a while he worked as a session singer - then in 1988 he had an important opportunity as support act to Ray Chales' Italian dates. His love for soul music helped shape his particular vocal styling that takes its cue from great vocalists like Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau and Isacc Hayes."
