London 2019 Day One

The London leg of our trip has only the very most minimal plans, and no itinerary (I know, right?). So today we went to the store for a few supplies, ate breakfast, hung out and eventually got out the door. We plan to relax and just enjoy whatever we choose to do. So we split up and there was some shopping, some park walking, and a disappointing lunch at Pret. I may be done with them.

Green door is home in Linden Gardens

Headed home from the shops with breakfast fixings 

on Bayswater Road

On the 52 bus headed to Ladbroke Grove

Picked up a few things at Sainsbury's

The alley of trees in Kensington Gardens that was destroyed by

hurricane about 1988 and replanted, has finally grown up -- almost

The Orangery at Kensington Palace is under restoration

So early in the season that it looks a bit bald

But the spring flowers are delightful -- the Sunken Garden

is always beautiful

Caramel shortbread square at Kensington Palace

Speaking of Kensington Palace

The Orangery at Kensington Palace

This little figure on the Elfin Oak in Kensington

Gardens brought my grandchildren who climb to mind

A walk down memory lane

#27 is still the best looking house on the street

Headed back to the flat past the Diana Cafe

When we were making plans for this trip we looked online for tickets to Hamilton. There were three available on a night that would work for us. They were expensive but we thought, what the heck, it's just money. When we tried to buy them, they wouldn't sell just two because there were three together and they wouldn't leave a single seat, so we bought all three and invited Annie to come as our guest. She wanted to treat us to dinner in return and made a reservation at an Italian restaurant they like. We headed out with plenty of time, but made a fatal error. We decided to take the Circle Line since street traffic at rush hour can be miserable on a bus. As we started our journey, the train stopped and sat in the tunnel for about 15 minutes while they waited for the train just ahead of us to clear off. By the time we got moving the platforms were all slammed, so they did not stop at Victoria for safety reasons! So we got off at St. James's and walked. Because time was now tight, we popped into Jamie Oliver's restaurant instead. Anyway, all came out right, but we had an adventure.

 Starting our journey on the Circle Line

 No stop at Victoria, so we joined the packed queue at St. James's

 Jamie Oliver's on Victoria Street

 Happy anticipation

 Very good carbonara

 Tagliatelle alla bolognese

Victoria Palace Theatre

 Victoria Palace

 The place has been completely spiffed up: at New York prices, it

better be nice -- the back row had tons of leg room and the AC worked

They enjoyed it

That's it for now.

OXO

D.