Living it up in London.

Our big Saturday night in London consisted of walking about in Piccadilly circus_the London Times Square_finding China Town for a bite to eat, stopping for a brew in an English pub, and walking for miles.

My long time friend from "Uni"_a short-hand term for University_met us in London.  She lives north, in Scotland, somewhere near Aberdeen. She flew into London and played tour guide.  This was a nice relief for me because after so many days of doing the unknown, it was getting a bit tiresome to be in charge.  It was quite nice to rely on another to put the plans into place.  Our first venture was a walk past Big Ben, to the tube and up into Piccadilly Circus. And a circus, it was!!!  Traffic going every which way, people everywhere, and signs that light the area up to a mid-day glow. We were still in the hunt for a suitcase for Libby to replace the one broken during journey in the Chunnel. We stopped in a number of places, comparing selection, price, and utilitarianism. Our shopping brought us to Traflager Square.  Also crowded with people, the car traffic is limited to the outside borders.  

Here we ran into a "hen party." This is the British equivalent of a bachelorette party, except all ages are included_well, all of drinking age_grandmothers, aunties, and the peers of the celebrated bride.  It appears that it is custom or at least trendy to dress in the same costume.  These girls all had pink tutus, pink balloons, and sashes. 

Note the cigarette in the hand of the gal in the picture above?  This was a curious thing in Europe, they still smoke, although it is banned inside buildings, but not in pubs. On each box there is a big sticker that simply says "smoking kills." Apparently, this marketing effort is lost on the folks abroad as well. 

In Traflager square sits a Swiss clock that would be called a glockenspiel in German.  On the hour it plays a tune in bells and has characters that move about.  It was very fun to see and reminded me of my time in Germany. It originally was inside a building on the square, but the M&M megaplex of a store replaced it with a giant disco ball and the clock was relocated into the square itself. 

Notice the McDonald's? Yes, the McDonald's and the M&M store face each other on the square.  America is oozing out of our borders, but clearly not with our best foot. 

Up from the square is London's China Town complete with red lanterns strung across the old granite cobble streets. 

It is a busy place with cafés and restaurants full to the brim and lines out the door.  In each of the shop fronts, chickens or ducks hang roasted golden brown. Slightly gross to me, but apparently quite normal here. 

We ate at a buffet so we could try many things.  London Chinese cuisine does not have Crab Rangoon, but they have these things I used to call crabby chips when we lived in Germany. (Also no Crab Rangoon in Germany.) They are white styrofoam looking chips that have a hint of prawn flavor.  Mostly, they are devoid of taste in my opinion. 

Filled up on London style Chinese food we travelled to the be-all-end-all location for me. Selfridges.  If anyone has been watching the same named show on the BBC, you will know that this store was opened in the early 1900's by an American businessman.  He, at least according to the BBC show, revolutionized the shopping experience.  At a time when products were put behind counters and were brought to you by the store staff based upon their recommendations, he put the merchandise out on display for the consumer to touch, view and decide upon. He also moved the perfume counter to the front and center of the entry into the store rather than hidden on the floors below.   It was not proper for a lady of the time to openly purchase make-up or perfume so one did it "on the down low." 

In the show, the building is grand and glorious.  The building is still beautiful on the outside. 

but the beautiful staircase and ornate woodwork inside is now missing.  It is a big glaring loud mess, even with the perfume counter being front and center.  Look around my photobombing daughter for a view of the harshness of the lighting, colors etc. As if they are trying to apologize, take a look at the entry which retains its original wood and metal work. *sigh* 

It is a monstrous building though, and does have an enormous food hall. A food hall is a combination of high end market and cafe style high end food court. I saw everything from macaroons to sushi. In the picture below, the tiled floor is the food hall. 

After miles of walking and browsing, we stopped at a pub for a pint. Libby is of drinking age in Europe which allowed her to join us in our festivities.  How lovely that she and I shared her first experience at a bar together, thank you Lord. 

In the pub, even if you are ordering food, you go to the bar to order.  Libby word not order for us, so mom saved the day by ordering a Stella for her and a Guinness for me.  My friend had a wine, which was poured from a tap!  Boxed wines have a new found respectability for me. 

A Guinness in Europe is very different from one in the states. I have concluded that it must not travel well.  I do not like Boddingtons in the US, but I do like Guinness.  The Guinness I had at the pub did not have the strong after taste and the head was much much creamier.  Libby did not care for it at all, however. 

Since we had fortified ourselves with the grain of life, albeit in liquid form, we set forth on our return journey "home" to the hotel, stopping along the way for an obligatory selfie of all of us. 

Please overlook the triple chin-I haven't mastered the selfie yet.  But I am quite in love with my Downton style hat! 

It was a fabulous evening with my KD sisters (one of which is also my real life daughter.) The lesson of the night is that the friends one makes in Uni are friends that will see you through life.  Even if you aren't super close in Uni, there is a bond that transcends time and distance.  I am grateful for all my friends, those near and dear and those far and fabulous.  Each of you make my life richer. Cheers!