Vicarage Hotel - our home for four nights. Pretty hotel, but don't expect luxury or top-notch service.
Our room. Lynn likes the bed by the window. It's her thing.
European flower stalls always amaze me. SO artful! This was near Victoria Station I think.
Price tag on this bunch says 40gbp. Thats like 65 bucks. Yep, nice flowers...
This album won't ALL be flowers. But isn't this gorgeous?
Lynn and Becca, Buckingham Palace. Both of them bought the sweat shirts that morning, because they were both always COLD. Does it look cold to you?? Do other people in this picture look cold?
Buckingham Palace - sisters.
Buckingham Palace - sisters. (Becca's camera)
Buckingham Palace.
A walk up Tothill St. towards Westminster Abbey.
Stopping for a picture. This is camera #2 for her -- they lost the first one on a bus before I got to London. And all their pix of Tower of London and St. Paul's.
Westminster Abbey. We didn't go on the tour, mostly because of the 15 pound entrance fee.
Houses of Parliament. (We did go in and watch the MP's debating, which can be one of the best free shows in London.)
Horseguards along Whitehall. Stoic rider, stoic horse.
Horseguards along Whitehall. Stoic rider, stoic horse. And a tourist.
Stopped into a pub for lunch -- somewhere near Northumberland Ave. as I recall. First half-pint for me. Coke for Lynn. Really, Lynn.
And a Sprite for Becca.
Or maybe a couple sips of Aunt Wendy's ale, until Mom gets back from ordering.
Do we even LOOK like sisters??
Still in high-tourist district. But what a gorgeous day at Trafalgar, and the National Gallery porch is a great place to stand.
Wicked was awesome! Top of the line sets, costumes, music, performances. And NOT $150, as this would have been on Broadway.
This day of shopping started in Sloane Street, just for looking. Becca and I loved this dress. See her in the reflection?
Harrods is okay, but the food halls are more than okay. We are a couple of bread and pastry lovers. So much for the efforts to reduce gluten in my diet...
Becca's camera.
This was right before she did the little pole dance move. Couldn't get her to repeat it.
Waiting for our food at Curry Leaf in Charlotte St. (Rasa Samudra had closed just minutes before we got there, but this little place was just fine).
Headed for Gower Street, where both Lynn and I spent some time during college. This is cute little Coalville Place, off Charlotte St. This whole area is a lot nicer than I remember it being in the 80's...
Pride of ownership in Coalville Pl. Shades of what we will be seeing all over Cornwall, I think.
Arran Hotel, 77 Gower St. -- my home for semester in London back in 1982.
My favorite park, Regents. This is along the Avenue, towards the Broad Walk.
Becca - SO cute.
Oh you know you like the mommy nuzzle.
Lynn & Becca.
A long walk (Lynn and Becca would say "trudge") up through Regents Park to Primrose Hill. I have never found a travel companion contented to walk as much as I like to. I literally walked the soles off my boots when I lived here.
Panoramic, care of Windows Live Gallery. What a fun little tool (thanks, Lori Tolly!) View from Primrose Hill.
Snapped this one from the bus -- Baker Street, Sherlock's stomping ground. This one's for my book club friends since we just finished The Beekeeper's Apprentice.
Evening back at Trafalgar, headed for the bridges.
So London. Such a tourist.
Hungerford - a favorite bridge for evening walks (no cars, just the occasional train). Not sure what I think of the London Eye. Maybe if it weren't right across from the Houses of Parliament?
The perfect place for picture taking.
Photo opp. on Hungerford Bridge.
Back across to Whitehall. Grabbing a pint with your mates after work is a tradition that I hope will never die.
Last morning, we tackle Portobello Road market before heading out of town. I forgot what a looong way it is off the beaten path. Another long walk.
And forgot how ridiculously crowded it can be. (Of course, I was always there in Feb. or March...). A good way to make us ready to LEAVE London for quieter places for a while.
