London is Cool

Okay, yes, I'm still a Country Mouse, but I had a lovely time wandering the streets of Central London today--Leicester Square, Covent Gardens, Jubilee Footbridge, Trafalgar Square, and all of the GREAT bookstores up Charing Cross Road. I got to see all of this while just leisurely strolling along (although it was all much easier after I bought a map). And then I accidentally stumbled upon the Sherlock Holmes Restaurant and Bar where I had a good Chicken pie, some veggies, and a Coke (with ice!).

It was all wonderful, and I was thinking how much fun it would be if my husband were here so we could catch dinner and a show together. Someday . . .

So I think it's not that I take issue with cities, it's that I get uncomfortable when it's nighttime in a city, and I don't know where I am, and I'm walking alone. Understandable, I suppose.

But standing on the bridge, looking down at the Thames, watching the boats is amazing and makes me think of the history of the place.

What a day!

Lessons Learned Today

1. Pate can be good-ish, at least when it's from a great charcuterie.
   
2. Creme fraiche is pretty good with the proper kind of cake.
3. One should not take trains into London at 8:00pm on a Saturday night.
4. One should not plan to walk anywhere from Hatton Cross at night.
5. One hears Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' a lot in the UK.
   
6. One should bring a lot of good movies to watch on the laptop because British TV options, esp. late at night, can really suck.

Finally, I've learned that I am still a Country Mouse, or, at the most, a Mid-Sized Town Mouse. Definitely not a Large International City Mouse (note to GoodEnoughCousin: I should have brought my T-shirt!).

Tomorrow, I will probably learn more lessons as I explore Covent Gardens.

Top Reasons This Trip to London has Started Off Better Than the Last

1. There was no storm with gale force winds at my hometown airport.
2. There was no loss of power at my hometown airport.
3. My first flight did not get canceled because of weather.
4. I did not have to ask my husband to drive me to SF to catch a connection the next morning.
5. I did not get re-booked onto a flight that went through Chicago. (Thus, I did not miss a connection in Chicago).
6. My aircraft did not get struck by lightening.
7. I did not have to walk through a tunnel at Heathrow that smelled like pee.
8. My B & B room is not dingy, depressing, or unsafe.
9. The breakfast area at my B & B is not in a hot basement with no windows.
10. Because I have my computer, a few DVDs, and access to Netflix, I am not stuck with late night British TV when the jet lag kicks in.

In fact, my flights were on time (gasp!), smooth, and relaxing (I'm not kidding!). I even had podcasts of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" on my i-Pod to give me laughs along the way.

Now, I'm in my B & B room, enjoying fresh air though my OPEN window that looks out over a small garden, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. I think I'll make some tea before heading out to check out the local eateries.

Too bad it's Sunday and the British Library (which is only two blocks away!) is closed (I think). Tomorrow morning, I take a train to PhD town, but do any of you, dear readers, have tips for what I should do next Sunday when I have a full day in London? I'm thinking maybe the British Museum or possibly the house of a famous writer.