Last Full Day

Today was my last full day in London. I start packing tonight, and then I’ll leave early retracing my route back down the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow terminal three. Holborn is not a bad station to use unlike others I’ve seen. There’s only one short flight of stairs.
Today after breakfast I walked up once more to the British Museum. Before it opened I walked around the area and licked some touristy shop windows.
Pil! What is with this window licking—most unsanitary! No no. It’s a metaphor I picked up in Paris. To lick the window is to look rather than buy. In some of the stores across from the British Museum you could buy reproductions—some life size—of various antiquities. In a few stores you can buy small non museum quality but genuine antiquities.
Once the museum opened, I visited the Elgin Marbles, for one thing. Now in a small room just off the Parthenon Room is a series of defensive-sounding placards trying to justify Britain’s holding on to the marbles. The story seems to be that Greece has half of the frieze left and put it in a museum for protection and that’s all Britain is doing. I’ll leave you to your own opinions.
I visited a few other things there, including (ahem) the shop. All these places have shops, and most of them are good. I have actually been adding to my collection of a series for kids called Horrible Histories. I would say apply Moscow Rules. If you want something get it. Do not expect to see whatever it is at the next shop.
After dropping off my purchases at Citadines, I tubed off to South Kensington to the Victoria and Albert and visited some goodies—and the shop. The shop is beautiful, but this time I did not get anything, so I moved on to Harrods.
Nosing around Harrods is very interesting. What’s his name al Fayad has sold the place, which is a great advantage because the toilets are now free, and you can still find lotion and perfume there to try. Please note that Harrods has a good shop at duty free, and if you want tea to bring home—some of us do—waiting will work.
Then I walked up to Green Park as I wished for some relief from the concrete. It rained off and on all day, but I had my umbrella and I had a pleasant walk through the aptly named park. I got lost though and ended up down by Pall Mall. This worked out though because while making my way back to Piccadilly I passed St. James Palace. None of the big royals live there but it’s still the official “court.”
I had a great time poking around Hatchards, and have a couple of history books to read on the plane. Then I got the tube home.
Four whole weeks here was a real treat. I did not see Everything I wanted, but I did see what I wanted to see most. London makes a great base, but what I appreciated most was the chance to leave the city for the parks and stately homes around it. Those lovely walks through fragrant gardens and peaceful woodlands are the memories I will cherish most.
Another great thing was the Oyster Card. It was so easy to use and so convenient. I wish that I had such a thing at home and the extensive public transportation system to go with it. If I could walk a few blocks from my home, touch a card, and take a train for forty minutes and be in the lush countryside--how wonderful would that be? But Los Angeles does not work that way alas.
There are experiences that I used to have before I took to apartments. I would go to a tea room or even pub to write postcards and rest my feet as I had refreshment. Now I prefer to come home where I can take off my shoes and contact lenses as well.
The Citadines in Holborn was perfect for me. I could not have asked for a more convenient location. I could walk to a lot of places, find food easily, and it means a lot not to have to change lines with my luggage going to and from the airport.
Thank you for sharing my trip with me!
Cherrio.