Today was pop culture day, and the day we proved our mastery of the Tube, which was good, because we rode it everywhere. Michael says the London Underground is the best subway in the world and I'm inclined to agree. It's amazingly simple. NY could take some pointers. They even have guys in some stations directing "traffic," (along with the cheery "mind the gap" recordings).
Making it a Tube day was also good because I didn't think Marsha and Madison would ever wake up. I think the time change and jet lag were still taking their toll. We didn't make it out of the room until around 3:00 pm. Seriously.
Our first stop was the Victoria & Albert Museum, which we discovered by walking past it repeatedly, since it's just down the street from our hotel. Marsha and Madison really wanted to see the special Alexander McQueen exhibit. That part had timed entries, so we got to explore the rest of the museum for an hour.
Madison wanted to see an exhibit on shoes, but that hadn't opened yet, so we viewed another exhibit on women's clothes through the ages, which went from the 1700s to the 1990s. Seeing the progression was fascinating. Of course, my favorite era was the 1940s. A couple of outfits looked just like Peggy Carter's clothes from Captain America and Agent Carter.
The Alexander McQueen exhibit was interesting, to say the least. Not exactly my cup of tea, but Marsha and Madison really enjoyed it, which was all that mattered. Some of the clothes were really beautiful, and most of it was just off-the-wall. We definitely got our money's worth: it was a huge exhibit and felt just like one of his fashion shows.
Our first Tube stop was the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, where we got tickets for tomorrow night's performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Had originally planned to see a show tonight, but switched it to tomorrow, our last night, so we could have a more relaxing evening.
One thing we've noticed is how much more polite everyone is here, even the hucksters. A young woman cheerily asked us if we'd "fancy some tickets to a comedy show," and when we declined, she still happily wished us a nice day.
Next Tube stop (which required us to change trains for the first time) was Abbey Road. We'd contemplated not doing it because of time and distance (it was already after 6:00 pm), but we were glad we did. We knew we were in the right place because the station had a Beatles souvenir shop.
The real trick is dodging the traffic, since it's right at a busy intersection. It is at a crosswalk where pedestrians have the right of way (marked by a poles with light-up yellow balls on top). No doubt because of all the people crossing the street all the time. Some of the other folks there (who were all college-age, I was impressed to see) just jumped right in front of oncoming traffic. Brakes were slammed to avoid hitting them. We were smart enough to wait, since it was safer and made for a more accurate photo. Doing the shot straight on was out of the question. You'd have to stand right in the intersection. No way without getting hit.
Then it was back on the Tube to King's Cross Station (which we'll be revisiting soon) to switch lines and head for 221B Baker Street. Not the actual address, but the one they use for the BBC show Sherlock. I looked up the photo to make sure we had the right door (there's one on the right and another on the left), but Madison was certain and she was right. Had the exact same door knocker.
Then it was back to Covent Garden, just a few blocks from where we'd started at Leicester Square. Our last phot opp was at Freemason Hall, which was used as Thames House in Spooks (aka MI-5). Madison has now seen the actual location (and the movie) before seeing the actual show.
Dinner was at one of Jamie Oliver's restaurants, Union Jack's, in Covent Garden, which is an outdoor shopping area. It is just beautiful! We'll be coming back to find someplace to eat before the show.
Union Jack's was unique: it's an outdoor cafe, but under the pavilion roof. The weather has gotten chilly the last couple of days, but they had plenty of strategically placed heaters to keep us warm. The food came out amazingly fast, though I'll admit that my fish n' chips at Hereford Arms were better (more crispy). The best part was dessert, though. Marsha and I both thought the Sticky Pudding was better than Maze Grill, but Madison disagreed. She's siding with Gordon Ramsey.
No comments:
Post a Comment