London: Palace and Pub

 Sunday, March 19, 2023

Suzi and I spent another morning taking our time getting ready for the day. Tea and yogurt with fruit in the room then a short walk to Harrods.  We just wanted a brief peak inside but found it difficult to pull ourselves away from the Chocolate Room and the Food Room. These rooms are enormous and filled, top to bottom with delicious appearing sweets and gourmet and local foods. Some people drool over the Prada, Valentino, and Dior, I enjoy looking at all the beautiful food. 

From there we got the Tube to Buckingham Palace where we walked through a park bursting with yellow daffodils.  The trees are still bare of their leaves and though there was no rain, the sky was a chilly grey. The street where one might see a long procession of gilded horse drawn carriages was filled instead with locals out for a run, bikes and visitors.

 The Palace is an impressive size but much in need of a bath it seems. On TV it appears to be a multi-story rectangular building of white stone.  But it is more a pale yellow stone with "The  Viewing balcony".  Two Palace guards with the iconic black fur hat and grey coat stand watch. Changing of the guard is an interesting dance with a kick-step walk and side step routine. Since there was really nothing more to see, we headed out in search of lunch. 

The Queen's gift shop captured our attention for a bit and then we stopped in a restaurant hoping for high tea. However,  London was celebrating "Mothering Day" (as they call it here) and not a seat was to be had anywhere in London. So we opted for second best, a traditional Sunday roast pub meal. We were not disappointed.  

Once again,  we walked for miles, stopped in the British Museum and then spent our evening getting ready for our trip to Cairo the next day.

 

Final thoughts on London: it is a charming city that has much to offer. Cabs are expensive and take far more time to traverse the city than the Tube. But Cab drivers are often chatty and offer info and a laugh. When we asked if it might not rain the driver responded with, " If pigs could fly!" 

Old red phone booths pop up at most street corners but are now just for a picture opp. Food is delicious, diverse, and servings are generous.I would return again, but later in the spring.  I must say that other than one day of morning showers, we had no rain. Very lucky!

Tomorrow Cairo!

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