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Tuesday (London)…

Posted:  October 1, 2013 at 11:30 pm by John



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We arose with a keen sense that this was the final full day in another wonderful chapter in our London adventures. We just can’t get enough of this city.

Today we pointed our feet north of the hotel…to Marleybone for a bit of window shopping and serene Regent’s Park. On the way, we stumbled upon the Wallace Collection Museum. The lure of “Free Admission” drew us in for a quick peek. Fortunately we did, because what a surprise find. The house–the former home of Sir Robert Wallace–is full of wonderful paintings, furniture, miniatures, and armor. The museum’s art is displayed in the former city mansion of Wallace. There are no ropes or barriers of any kind. One gets the feeling of wandering the stylish home of a well collected aristocrat. Renoirs and Rembrants are tucked away amongst other lesser know artists of the time. The quality and quantity of the art is staggering. Only in London with a rich patrimony of former Empire would this be an off the path museum. We definitely need to return to take in more of what this museum has to offer.

Leaving the museum, we continued on our trek and were soon taking in the chic shops of Marleybone which offer pricey temptations in brick-faced boutiques. Home furnishings, art, decorative tile…mmmmm, and sumptuous apricot tarts.

The charm of Marleybone quickly gives way to the harried bustle of streets just before Regent’s. We ducked into a church where a hidden organist practiced on a hidden pipe organ, filling the quiet hall with a flurry of slightly off-key sinister-sounding notes that were still preferable to the traffic outside.

We turned onto the most famous block of Baker Street. A blue historical marker adorned the side of fictional 221B Baker Street, the fictional home of Sherlock Holmes. Kitschy as the site is, the recent (and awesome) BBC Sherlock series ensured that the “museum” and gift shop were popular. Patrons donned the famous deerstalker hat for photos.

Entered Regent’s Park through the Clarence Gate and strolled around the Boating Lake. We stopped to nibble on sandwiches from Eat. Watched kids chase pigeons and ducks and geese, all of whom clamored for bread crumbs from screaming kids. Gray skies minimized the boaters on the lake, and the waterfowl were thrilled. We paused for a peaceful spot on a romantic bridge to appreciate the quiet romance of the park. Two swans longingly mirrored each other in either side of a barrier fence, longing to be together. Ducks and gulls seemingly demonstrated how to fly over the fence, but these swans were earth-bound and their love went unfulfilled. Jeff and I grabbed each other’s hand in appreciation of what we have together.

Passing busy soccer fields, we joined the tree-lined Broad Walk. Walkers and bikers formed an orderly procession under a canopy of trees just beginning to show yellowing signs of autumn. The walk’s flower beds were in full autumn autumn, and their freshly tilled soil provided a sumptuous hiding spot for nut-burying squirrels and pecking birds.

Our return route to the hotel looped us back through Marleybone where we took a coffee break. And a bit more shopping…of course…stumbling upon Christopher Place which is a pedestrian pocket tucked between major streets lined with restaurants and shops.

After a short break at the hotel, we headed back out to meet Jeff’s dear friends from Michigan…Lynn and Jeff…in London to visit their son Ethan. We had wonderful Neapolitan pizza and stimulating conversation near Covent Gardens. Strolled for creamy gelato from Scoop afterwards. After saying our fond goodbyes, we wound our way back to The Yard in SOHO to wrap up the evening with a couple Mahou from Madrid which fondly reminded us of our trips to Spain.

Building rain clouds held their drops but trapped the day’s heat, making for a warm walk back to the hotel.

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  • Saturday (London to Swaffham via Sandringham)…Saturday (London to Swaffham via Sandringham)…
  • Friday (London)…Friday (London)…
  • Wednesday (London to SFO)…Wednesday (London to SFO)…
  • Monday (Swaffham to London via Burghley House)…Monday (Swaffham to London via Burghley House)…
  • Tuesday/Wednesday (SFO to London)…Tuesday/Wednesday (SFO to London)…

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