Trixie Traveler in London: Hyde Park and Princess Diana Memorial

To top off yesterday, we went to dinner at a restaurant Anne has been to - TAS Anatolian Turkish Restaurant in Bloomsbury. A selection of six or seven meze provided many delicious textures and flavors. The restaurant was buzzing with people and quite warm due to the warm weather. We added two miles walking to and from the restaurant to our walking mileage bringing it to a total of about 8-9 miles.

It feels good to be back in London. We wonder why we have not come back sooner. Though a long time, it seems familiar. We love the old buildings, the history and the vastness of the city. It can be overwhelming. One has to try to put some boundaries on what and where you want to go that day and not worry about trying to go everywhere. We are really enjoying the Bloomsbury neighborhood. We have seen quite a few bicycles. Cyclists can use the bus lanes, which are filled with a steady stream of cyclists at commute times, but it still looks pretty hazardous to me. Most aren't wearing helmets. The Tube is so efficient and a great way to get around. Anne had a couple of loaded Oyster cards (like our BART Clipper cards) ready for us when she met us at the airport so we were good to go. Trains come every two or three minutes and you can easily read which station you are pulling into no matter where you are sitting or standing on the train plus a CLEAR announcement is made. BART take heed!

We ate breakfast again at one of the little places in the lane just around the corner from our hotel (much cheaper than the hotel breakfast) followed by a Tube ride to Hyde Park, a place Anne particularly wanted to go. We strolled around this large urban park and found ourselves at the Princess Diana Memorial located in the park. It is a peaceful place of respite amid busy London. A large green area with big trees borders the main attraction, a water feature resembling a circular meandering stream that one can dangle one's toes in. It is open to all and the place was full of mothers with toddlers and young children waiting for it to open. We enjoyed cooling off by putting our feet n the cool water. What a lovely memorial, one that can be enjoyed by all instead of a statue or something that can't be touched or interacted with. Had lunch inside St. Pancras Railway Station because it is air conditioned. This station is huge with a whole shopping area inside. It is housed in a beautiful Rennaisance building (see picture).

We decide to walk past Buckingham Palace on our way back. The changing of the guard is just concluding and there are masses of people!! I am swallowed up in the crowd and lose Anne and Dave. I have to move with the crowd. Talk about crowd control. Finally, the crowd begins to lighten up and I can backtrack to where I see Anne and Dave across the street. Whew! Reminder to self: you don't need to do this again!

It continues to be quite warm. I am SO glad i booked an air conditioned room! It allows us to sleep well.

Anne is having dinner tonight with a friend from the States. Dave and I take the Tube to Covent Garden which is teeming with activity. Until 1973, Covent Garden was a big produce market. Now, it is a big shopping area with the stalls of the market containing all the familiar mall stores, I.e. Gap and stuff, and some I'm not familiar with. There is a large Apple Store here in an old brick building which of course Dave had to stop into. We shared a pizza for dinner and then began a search for some yogurt or ice cream. Alas, we saw not one store! We ended up sharing a bowl of ice cream at the restaurant associated with our hotel.

We are off tomorrow to Stratford for two nights to see two plays.