Walking, Walking and more Walking

The 8th: Visited Disraeli's house in High Wiccombe with our Culture classmates, Katherine, Kathy, Vicky, Sue, Eva, etc. It was stupendous weather and we walked through the grounds. On our way there the rest of the group stuck to the road but the fam picked our way across a pond via some broken up pieces of a concrete dam. Once back in London mommy and I made our way to Whole Foods...on one bike.

The 9th: Rosie arrived at Victoria coach station and we set off for a country walk starting at Hever with members of the group from the day's previous outing. The walk took us so scenic meadows and paths. We passed a castle, large manor house, several historic churches and numerous picturesque houses. After a stop for dinner at a local pub, daylight began to wane and our hike continued into the night and darkness. It was very surreal, very funny and quite intrepid of us. We were not on clearly designated paths but crossing wide fields. At one point we saw some looming white shapes, wondering what they could be we were greeted with a herd of cows. One was ridiculously huge (seriously the size of a pick up truck!) and looked ominously over at us..seriously scary...I was through that squeeze gate as fast as possible. After ages, we found our way to the train station (Leigh) and were on our way back to the city. On the train these ridiculously overdone girls (think no clothing, orange skin and big white hair) kept laughing and obsessing over the poodle who was on the walk with us. It was so so funny.

Slept like a rock after our 10+ mile walk!

The 10th: Sunday saw Rosie and I covering a lot of ground as we made our way all around the city. Lots and lots of walking. Our journey took us to Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster, Big Ben/Houses of Parliament, by the London Eye, back to 10 Downing St., up to Trafalgar Square, into the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, to Covent Garden, to Pain for a Pavlova, to Spitalfield's Market, Brick Lane, South Kensington and Jak's, Hummingbird Bakery, Tower Hill, The Jack the Ripper tour, Oxford Circus, Regents St. and finally Piccadilly. We were absolutely zonked.

The 11th: More sightseeing with Rosie took us to: Burlington Arcade, Bond St, South Moulton St, Oxford Circus, Notting Hill, by Kensington Palace, onto Whole Foods, a little more walking in the park and then on an old 40's #9 bus back to our flat. In Notting Hill we round our way through cute streets and window shopped. The weather was absolutely tremendous and we had to change into cooler clothes!

Set of again this time to the Old Bailey (only to be turned away...) We proceeded to the Bank of England where we quickly perused the exhibit. After walking around the old city a bit more we were very weary and made our way to Westminster Abbey for Eve and Song.

After the service Rosie and I went to the Lanesborough for tea and coco. We sat in the Library bar by a warm fire and had an absolutely charming time. I love the ambience of the hotel-it is my absolute favorite!

Finally Giles (the barrister) came over for dinner and we played Liebrary.

The 12th: Rosie and I attempted to go to the old Bailey and sat in on a very unclear trial....something to do with a dark nightclub, a handbag and a gun...Afterwards we walked to Tower Bridge, along the Thames and to the Millennium Bridge. The sad time when Rosie had to depart was drawing near and we returned to the flat for the Culture class potluck. I escorted Rosie to the coach station and she was off. That night we went to a Pub Quiz at the Flask in Hampstead with Gareth and two of his friends.

Today: Another tremendously busy day! Started off the day at the Wellcome collection to see the permanent exhibitions and one on dirt. The highlights were a shrunken head, a Peruvian mummy and some of the King George's hair which was examined to see why he was "mad". Then it was onto Hampstead to visit the Fenton House, a museum on Hampstead's History, a delicious lunch and the architect Goldfinger's House. At about 3:30 we got back on the tube bound for Chelsea to visit the historian Carlisle's house. After touring our third National Trust sight for the day we went to Jak's for dinner. Next we went to Harrods and then finally onto the Haymarket Theatre to see Flare Path, a play set around WWII RAF pilots (staring Sienna Miller). I throughly enjoyed the play!!!!