Well, I seem to be able to get in here again - and we've definitely solved the connection problems for our wi-fi, so hopefully, the blog can continue as usual. For those who missed the "afternoon tea" section and would like it, let me know and I'll email it to you!
We have been sampling all the local fare at the pubs, this considering neither of us likes beer all that much! We had come with the understanding that the best food is found in the pubs, and we've been attempting to prove this through the scientific method of testing, testing, testing! Our local pub is just a few steps from our door - The Old Swan - and they have the nicest sign - completely 3-dimensional!
We have been sampling all the local fare at the pubs, this considering neither of us likes beer all that much! We had come with the understanding that the best food is found in the pubs, and we've been attempting to prove this through the scientific method of testing, testing, testing! Our local pub is just a few steps from our door - The Old Swan - and they have the nicest sign - completely 3-dimensional!
We've eaten dinner here on several occasions - good food and nice people behind the bar - and just the most wonderful place to people-watch! Notting Hill is likely a crossroads for lots of very cosmpolitan people, so we've had a chance to rub shoulders with those very famous "all kinds" that it takes to make up the world!
Yesterday, we went to Covent Garden - walked around the market and spent an hour at St. Paul's Church - this is a small "actor's church" where many actors, famous and not, are buried. Ellen Terry's ashes are there, but there are plaques covering so much of the walls that it takes almost an hour to read them all. Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Stanley Holloway, and Vivien Leigh are just a few names you might recognize. There are many more you wouldn't.
We toured the area with our "walking tour" books, and found the Lamb &Flag - a very old pub. It was once known as the "Bucket of Blood" because of the fist fights put on there as entertainment - "The Fight Club" without Brad Pit! :D We stayed for a drink and saw that Dryden was a usual customer there.
Today, we headed for the London Bridge - walked through The Borough Market (a Pike Place Market style of food market) that has been there for centuries. A walk through the old streets took us to the Southwark Cathedral - a beautiful, quiet place for contemplation. Five or six women were creating huge autumn flower arrangements, and as Thanksgiving was coming up, we wondered if there was some kind of harvest feast that was about to be celebrated - surely they weren't already doing these flowers for Sunday? It seems the Queen is going to be there tomorrow, and the flowers are for her. Some of the ladies seemed quite nervous that Her Majesty would see their efforts! The cathedral has a wonderful, soaring ceiling with flying buttresses and beautiful stained glass windows. Sun was streaming in through those windows! In one corner is a sculpture of Shakespeare who spent some time as a member of the parish.
Yesterday, we went to Covent Garden - walked around the market and spent an hour at St. Paul's Church - this is a small "actor's church" where many actors, famous and not, are buried. Ellen Terry's ashes are there, but there are plaques covering so much of the walls that it takes almost an hour to read them all. Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Stanley Holloway, and Vivien Leigh are just a few names you might recognize. There are many more you wouldn't.
We toured the area with our "walking tour" books, and found the Lamb &Flag - a very old pub. It was once known as the "Bucket of Blood" because of the fist fights put on there as entertainment - "The Fight Club" without Brad Pit! :D We stayed for a drink and saw that Dryden was a usual customer there.Today, we headed for the London Bridge - walked through The Borough Market (a Pike Place Market style of food market) that has been there for centuries. A walk through the old streets took us to the Southwark Cathedral - a beautiful, quiet place for contemplation. Five or six women were creating huge autumn flower arrangements, and as Thanksgiving was coming up, we wondered if there was some kind of harvest feast that was about to be celebrated - surely they weren't already doing these flowers for Sunday? It seems the Queen is going to be there tomorrow, and the flowers are for her. Some of the ladies seemed quite nervous that Her Majesty would see their efforts! The cathedral has a wonderful, soaring ceiling with flying buttresses and beautiful stained glass windows. Sun was streaming in through those windows! In one corner is a sculpture of Shakespeare who spent some time as a member of the parish.
We continued down the street to find a replica of Francis Drake's Golden Hind ship, and close by the original jail "The Clink" - which has lent it's name to all others! There is a very cheesy museum there, and I couldn't resist! Vern will likely tease me about that for some time! :D
Then we headed off to find "The George" pub - one Shakespeare is known to have frequented. It was first built in the 16th century, but suffered several fires. The building which stands today dates back to only 1677 and is now run by the National Trust. Very picturesque! We stopped here for lunch - very hearty fare. Then off again, over London Bridge, to find The Old Wine Shades, which IS London's oldest pub - early 1600's - it's the only one that didn't burn down in the great fire of London. This pub doesn't serve beer, though - just lots of wine (and we did see hard liquor there, as well) - we sat and had a glass of wine and soaked in the atmosphere. Samuel Pepys is said to have come to this pub. After so much walking, we're dead tired at the end of the day, believe it! We're resting up now for tomorrow's adventures.
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