Today was the day that we were thinking of heading out of
the city to Oxford/Cambridge or Windsor/Hampton Court. I think that Hampton
Court was the best contender, but Jess was keen to stay in the city in the
morning to see the changing of the guard at the Palace. We went first to
Blackfriars station and walked across the river to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
to have a look. We walked in and found out that a tour was just about to leave
but we didn’t have time. Not happy with that tourist office woman! We had to
content ourselves with looking at the outside. It’s nice, but I’d still like to
tour the inside. I’ve lost the photos, but it’s white with wooden cross beams.
From there we went back to the Tate Modern Gallery and had
what we thought was a quick look. We saw Picassos, Monets, Jackson Pollocks,
and others. We didn’t see anything like everything. We went to the nearest
station, which was Southwark, which was quite a walk. From Southwark to Green
Park, and a very speedy walk to Buckingham Palace. We still only caught the
last ten minutes of the guard changing ceremony. I was quite disappointed [to
have got there late] because they were playing ‘Moment for Morricone’ and it
was very good – Jess and I were singing along. They marched off playing
something else, and I saw a bassoon player and a piccolo player with his music
on his arm. I’m definitely going back but I was very surprised to see so many
people there in the middle of winter.
We walked rather dejectedly back to Green Park station, but
got excited when this guy walked past us with swanky cowboy boots, ripped
jeans, pinstripe jacket, long, brilliant white cuffs, and long, carefully
tousled hair. The worst part was his perky walk. I said to Jess that he was
James Warner in ten years. She thought it was very funny and tried to take
video of him (unsuccessfully).
We were now at liberty, so I suggested we have a quick look
at Piccadilly Circus. We did that and took photos. Jess wanted to sort out her
transport to Luton airport, so we went to Victoria station next. We asked about
the trains and they were fairly expensive and didn’t go right to the airport.
We walked around the corner towards the coach station to find out about the
Green Line buses. Mike rang me then and so Jess asked the Green Line drivers
nearby and found out all she needed to know.
We went back to Oxford St to the internet café and caught up
with our emails as well as find a gig to go to. No gigs unfortunately, but
found a great French guitar Django Hot Club bar near London and emailed
Michael. I had missed Jason’s River Bar gig on Thursday night which was
annoying because it sounded really good on the web.
We didn’t make it to St Paul’s for evensong and had to meet
up with Mike, so decided to wander up Oxford St so I could have a look at Gap
jeans and Jess could look for Wallace and Gromit figures. I learnt about sizes
in Gap and Jess had no luck in M&S or Debenhams, but the woman directed us
to Hamleys in Regent St. It was a long walk but worth it for the successful
outcome.
We kept walking down Regent St to Leicester Square and got
the train to Covent Garden to meet Mike and Catla. After we finally found each
other, they were ready to go back to Leicester Square to eat dinner. Mike took
us to a Chinese restaurant and Jess and I shared a plate of Singapore noodles.
Mike and Catla split off to see Mamma Mia and Jess and I
headed back to the hostel. We cooked our sausages and veges, drank the last of
the vodka to deaden the pain in our feet and chatted to Gilarme and Argentina
girl, giving a rendition of ‘Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree’ in a round. I
had a shower and went to bed while Jess started to pack.
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