Here Is London... Part Four!

Here we are, day 7. Don't worry, this is only a 10 day trip ;). Oh what fun! Day 7 was Sunday on our Lovely London Journey. We decided, since it's tons of fun and very interesting in other countries, to attend church in the morning. We went to the Hyde Park Chapel where I attended when I was in London with study abroad. We woke up very early and walked (I LOVED walking to church when I lived there) via the Embassy Road past the most amazing houses ever, past the Albert monument and on the border of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. It really is a lovely walk.

When we were almost to the church, a very friendly chap who was walking in the same direction came up to us and asked if we wanted to join him at his church. Instead of waiting for a reply, he said, "I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". We just laughed and told him it was his lucky day because we were already headed there :). What a cute guy.

Here's the Hyde Park Chapel

After church we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was fabbity fab. Steve had a blast. They always have such a great collection. It was wonderful. We couldn't spend as much time there as we wanted because we had a reservation for Sunday roast lunch at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, Foxtrot Oscar. We had to, for the sake of memories, head through the dank, horrid subway that you must go through to get from the chapel and the V&A over to the South Kensington tube station. It really is awful. It's very long and very stinky and if you are ever alone in it (which I often was when I lived there), it is horrifying.

Here I am in the Subway. Isn't it gross?

Foxtrot Oscar was a really lovely experience. That Gordon Ramsay is a taskmaster for a reason. Good food, good service, good times. We had the most amazing soup I think I've ever had. The one mistake I made is ordering pork belly. It was an accident, really. The waiter had a very thick Italian accent and I don't think I quite understood his description of the dish well enough. Oops. The bits I could eat were good ;). It's just that I'm not much of a "tip to tail" sort of eater and when food comes served with hair still on it, I just can't stomach it. It was pretty funny because I've made bad pork decisions in Europe before. It's sort of a tradition now. I couldn't possibly go on another trip without ordering pig snout or something ;). Steve was over the moon to be able to eat there. He is a major foodie and Food Network junkie so whenever he can eat at a celebrity chef's restaurant and it turns out that they can back up what they pedal, RESULT!

This is my new favorite car! If I didn't have kids, there is no way I wouldn't ship one of these babies over. LOVE!

Here we are in front of Foxtrot Oscar. You may think you've seen this picture before. You haven't. There are only so many picture taking options.

The cutest house across the street from the restaurant. I just had to get a picture. It's more plant than house.

Here's the Steve in front of Foxtrot. It was in a super lovely part of town. I might have to move there.

After lunch I went and fulfilled another London tradition-getting my hair cut. I got it cut twice while I lived there but both times it was at hair schools (granted, very good hair schools). This time my cute Steve made an appointment for me at Toni & Guy in Sloane Square (because of the song Hairdresser on Fire, you know)! It was v v exciting. My hair was a mop over there. The humidity made it hang like a limp rag and it looked terrible. I was planning on just getting a wee trim but I got crazy and had all of it chopped off. What a relief! I'm just a short hair girl. I can't handle much length at all so it felt really great to get the chop. And it was a really fun experience!

Here's the before. Mop city.

Here's the "team". They were all so lovely.

Here's the after. Again, embarrassingly excited.

After the haircut, we did some shopping. I was sooooo beyond the valley of the tired. Mostly, Steve did some shopping while I sat and watched. Seriously, this kind of traveling really takes it out of you. We were be bopping a scatting all over London like two crazy people. Anyway, the shopping... After said shopping we went to a movie. I didn't have energy for anything else. We decided on "A Christmas Carol" in 3D. The movie, popcorn and some bottled water cost us $50. Oh yes it did. INSANE! We both fell asleep in the movie a few times so that was money well spent ;).

Just a shot of us in the tubes, again. Love me some time underground.

This is the movie theater. See, not even posh. I tell you, Larry H. Miller could make a KILLING opening a cinema in London. I'd run it for him ;).

After the movie we needed sustenance. We decided to head close to our hotel to a restaurant called Khan's. Amazing. We'd both eaten there before and it didn't fail us this time. Such great Indian food. It was still early but I had literally hit the wall. I could not go anywhere else, so off we trotted back to our dingy little hotel and got to bed super early. It was lovely.

This is a picture of Steve at some point during the night :).

The next morning I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. Why is that? I'd gotten plenty of sleep! Whatever. It was go time. We had to get up super early to hit Westminster Abbey when it opened. It opened late. It was SO cold while we waited in line. I thought I might die. It didn't help that I was fulfilling another tradition-to eat a soft serve vanilla ice cream cone with Cadbury Flake in it. I know! I just have to do these things. They make me happy!

Before the Abbey opened, we had time to get a few pics around the area. One of my favorite statues can be seen right as you step out of the Westminster tube station. It's of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni (an ancient British tribe who fought, very well, but lost against the Romans). I love her. Lizzy stands up in our double jogging stroller when we're out for walks and hangs on to the sides and looks exactly like Boudicca in her chariot. It cracks me up!

Boudicca and me.

Big Ben. No, it wasn't night. It was SUCH a cold day.

Steve with his favorite statue. Winston Churchill.

Me with my ice cream on the side of the Abbey.

All of these poppies and crosses are put out for Armistice Day to honor the soldiers who have died in wars Britain has been involved in. Countless people wear them on their lapels etc. as well. It's a really fab idea. I think we need to do something like this here.

Westminster Abbey is an amazing place. It's full of the greatest deadies. I was so excited to see my girl, Elizabeth I's tomb. The funny thing is that she is buried right on top of her stroppy sister Mary I. They didn't agree on anything. Mary almost had Elizabeth killed. Different religions, totally different ideas on basically everything. Plus, Elizabeth was cool, Mary was a minger ;). If you're in London, DO NOT miss Westminster Abbey. You'll have to pay through the nose to get in now, but it's worth it.

This is just a great "Londony" shot.

After Westminster Abbey, we headed over to the Cabinet War Rooms and the Winston Churchill Museum. What a fab place! Both were completely fascinating. Steve could have spent ALL DAY there. Really. I had to tell him I'd had enough. I've mentioned before that my back can only take so much stopping and standing. This was a very museum heavy day. VERY hard on the old broken spine. Anyway, hugely recommended! Please do not miss these museums if you're in London.

Steve snapped these shots of one of Winnie's quotes. He had so many great quotes.

Again, it was time for susties. I have a friend, Sarai, who's been living in London for quite some time while earning her Master's degree and PhD. We got together with her for lunch at a fab Thai restaurant. It was so great just to sit and chat over some really good food. The only problem was that I had to go to the ladies and was wearing the tightest pair of skinny jeans (I've since taken them back) and it took me about 20 minutes to go through the entire potty process. Yikes. I've got better skinnies now ;).

Okay, whew! Next, we ran BACK over to St. Paul's and hauled our buns all the way to the top. I do recommend it but let me warn you that it is a trek. Really really. Do not underestimate me when I tell you this. My back hurt from my neck to the base of my tail bone when we were done. It's more like hiking, really. What a view! Amazing. St. Paul's is another must see. It's just so beautiful!

My favorite view of St. Paul's.

View from about midway up St. Paul's.

It's a tight squeeze. Just sayin'.

He's exaggerating a bit, but it's a bit tough for the claustrophobic.

Here's a pic of us at the tippy top. Cold and windy but so beautiful.

Going down St. Paul's is much easier but very dizzying. Once we were down we headed over to get Les Miserables tickets (Sarai described it as 3 hours of singing French peasants). Another London tradition! I love it! And before the show we went to China Town to get some dinner. We ate at a restaurant called Y Ming which was so great. It was a Rick Steve's suggestion and he rarely steers you wrong (except with our hotel).

Obviously, after a show you must shop. We bought some really naff souvenir-y things and then went back toward our hotel. We visited the lovely McDonalds on Queensway (we were dangerously close to becoming regulars) to get some ice cream. Then, to bed. Ah, bed. I was always soooo wiped out at the end of a day. This kind of travel can only be sustained for so long before you'll have a nervy b. Honestly. So much fun but SO extremely painful ;).

I just can't stand how much fun this trip was. I really need to go back. Next week, maybe.

Peace out,

Heidi