Minday September 10, 2012
Well it cooled off nicely today.  Definitely not hot but not too cool either.  We started out with our fleeces on but after walking a short distance we both were too hot so we took them off.  We got an earlier start to the day than we have been getting lately because where we first wanted to go had no opening times.  We went to 21 Saint James Gardens to visit Jean and Lionel.  For those who don't know this is the townhouse they use for outside shots for "As Time Goes By" when filming.  Our favourite British show which we watch faithfully each Thursday night.  Linda happen to mention it would be neat to see where the townhouse is,  so I looked it up on the internet and low and behold it was there.  Not earth shattering but we're glad we went.  They weren't home.  Oh well, we got to stroll the neighbourhood of Holland Park.

 

We left Holland Park on the subway deciding to see the British Museum and avoid the crowds of the Olympic Games parade of pride.  London was closing a large area to allow a parade of all their athelets and they expected a 100K plus of spectators.  Just outside the Museum gates we stopped at a small coffee shop which was nice, clean, and not too expensive.  Enjoyed our coffee and muffin.  We were at the museum in 1973 and it is still impressive.  We uses Rick Steves guide book to hit the hightlights of the Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek exhibits.  We spent about 3 hours there and and just touched on the 3 areas.  It would take weeks or months to see everything.  The rosetta stone at the beginning of the Egyptian exhibit is a do not miss and we were fortunate because just after we viewed it people were viewing 3 and 4 deep.  It is had to believe that there are ceramic cups with there handles still on that are over 3000 years old.  We have trouble keeping cups for a life time let alone a few thousand years.

Roy has turned the computer over to me.  It was a nice relaxing day. We had our breakfast in the breakfast room.  No flip flop waffles here, it is pretty spartan.  I learned to ask the breaky girl for toast which she goes off to the kitchen (ha ha they don't cook anything) and comes back with toast ( except for the day they ran out of bread).  The girls are very pleasant and make a great piece of toast

 

The visit to the As Time Goes By address was nice.  I really enjoyed seeing it and strolling through a quiet neighbourhood.  Moms and Dads were taking their children to school.  They all so happy to see each other and were making plans to meet for coffee.   The little kids all ride push scooters.  Old people like us ride them too.  Little 3 year olds on their way to nursery school are riding them on the busy sidewalks.  Some times they bang into people and fall off but jump up and are on their way again with mom or dad trying to keep up on foot.

 

We are getting quite good at riding the underground.  We'd like to ride the buses more but haven't figured them out as well.  Our Oyster pass has held out for the whole visit and we've done a lot of riding.  They each had 30 pounds on them and still have money left. Our visits to the Ace Cafe and Grennwich cost a bit more as they were in zone three and that costs more than zones 1 and 2.  Whatever is left over on the pass is refunded when you turn it in.

 

The British Museum is as amazing as it was years ago.  What a treasure trove.  I got a little over saturated with the Assyrians panels though they are very interesting.  A snack and a drink fixed me up and I was ready for the Greeks.  Thoroughly enjoyed it all.  It is hard to believe you are looking at something thousands of years old.  Tea cups!  With their handles intact. 

 

We left the museum and walked to Shaftsbury Ave.  where we saw an umbrella store.  It looked old and traditional so went in. There was a young woman buying an umbrella.  The salesman was pointing out its qualities - ribbing was strong and how the ribbing was constructed, how the canopy was connected and the mechaninisms were made it such and such a way.  I'm thinking this is like buying a car!  She doesn't like the dull colours of the one he is showing her.  It is rather a timeless design (I thought).  The salesman thinks so too.  He tries to tell her it will endure but she is not having it.  When I hear how much it costs, well, she might just as well buy a car!  I didn't get one.  It showered later and we got 2 at Marks and Spencers, cheap, and when we went back out the rain had stopped and it didn't rain again.

 

Next we visited our favourite haunt in London, Covent Gardens.  It feels comfy because we know our way around from our visits going to and returning from Kenya.  Strolled around and had lunch.  The waiter offered to carry me downstairs to the street if I had too much to drink at lunch.  He was not there when we finished.  Clever man!  I didn't have too much to drink.  Clever me!

 

Roy called home about his driving license but of course it hadn't come.  It is 10:00 London time so guess it didn't arrive today.  We are praying it arrives before we pick the car up.  Everybody better pray if I have to drive!

 

Today is my day to want to go home.  It took longer than usual to set in but we have been in 3 major cities and I am city weary.  We spent the evening in our room hoping we'd hear from Carol and packing our bags.  I got them all packed and realized there was a better way.  Next time, I wasn't starting over.