In London it's bloody cold this winter...the first 3-4 days were actually not too bad, damp and chilly, but the last 5 were SOOOOO cold! While I usually like the winter cold and really don't mind a brisk day, it had been really nipply...but I'll take it happily. I love this city!!!
We went down to Harrods one afternoon. We've seen it before, but each time we're amazed at the store's grandeur. It goes on and on, one room of designer clothes spilling over into another room of fine gourmet foods. We bought a few trinkets as gifts for family and had lunch at the Chinese counter. 6 chicken-chive dumplings and 3 jasmine blossoming teas=28 pounds....but the experience was so worth it.
The girls also met their British pen pals, who've they've been corresponding with for 4 years. Last year when we were here they were sick and couldn't meet up. But this year we met up at the British Museum and had a lovely day! Big sis and her pen pal are the same age and little sis and her pen pal are the same age. There is a middle sister in their family and little sis and her bonded quickly, now they have decided to be snail-mail pals, too!
On day 6 we went to The Sherlock Holmes Museum located at 221b Baker Street. What an amazing place, all the authentic Victorian items whisked us back in time. The girls loved it, and I must say, I did, too.
We also stopped by the Tate Modern Museum. While most of the art in there is not my favorite type of art, it's still a beautiful museum with many great pieces by quite a few famous artists.
Matisse
Jackson Pollack
Joan Jonas
And a day with my lovely, lovely, lovely pal Steph at the Natural History Museum and later dinner, was fun. Last year we met for the first time since (we're both crafty bloggers and are on the Creative Type DT) at Hampton Court. It was great to see her again!! My daughters adore her and love her "fancy" way of talking.
Can't wait to see her again next year (hopefully it won't be SO cold.) (geez.) (Or she could always come visit me here in the US whn we move back in a month...ahem...)
Another day, London Tower and London Tower Bridge. Dave was free that afternoon to join us! He hasn't been to that part of London for many years, so I was glad he was able to come with us more this time.
In the Salt Tower there are these beautiful, ornate carvings in the walls from the prisoners held there hundreds of years ago.
Portabello Road was fun, too. We looked at many antiques, cute boutiques, bakeries and fun kitschy things. The girls each got a matryoshka for their collections and I bought a Matryoshka pepper grinder. Dave bought me an antique ring as a surprise when I was inside a store, making it even more of a special gift!
The last two days we just sort of went wherever the Underground took us. We ended up at places such as St. Paul's Cathedral, walked over to Shakespear's Globe, back to Big Ben, Hyde's Park to watch skateboarders and ultimate frisbee players, Hamleys Toy Store in Piccadilly and through Borough Marketplace.
It was, as always, a fantastic city to visit. We ate yummy pub food, had fun with new and old friends, toured a lovely city and can't wait to go back next year!
