Breakfast at Paul (just like in Paris and the croissants smell just as good) in Piccadilly Arcade. Then off to Hatchard's on Piccadilly, booksellers since 1797 and 5 floors of happiness for any book lover.
Wander inside and see for yourself...
Restraining myself, I only got gifts there including two Paddington books and mini Paddington Bears for two new little girls in our family. I also asked the very personable clerk for a suggestion of a gift for my 23 year old son who is a P.G.Wodehouse fan. He gave me a "stonking good" book which I will try not to read before I get it home to him! My travel mate is now tucked in her bed with her new book "How to Read Churches", a crash course in Christian architecture! She is studying up feverishly before we set off in the morning for Salisbury Cathedral.
We then wandered down to the Ritz hotel where our jeans and casual shoes almost had us ejected before we could look around. More welcoming was Berkeley Square where the LAPADA art and antique fair was happening on the north end of the park. Invitation only...pity!
Farther down the park there were benches with inscriptions like this one. Almost as good as the one in the film Notting Hill isn't it? But wait until you see who we stumbled upon next.
This lady was sitting under a tree with her two parrots. On her left shoulder is Girl (20 years old and well behaved) and Boy is ripping apart a water bottle. He is only 4 years old and was much more rambunctious, climbing up and down her jeans.
We then sauntered down Curzon Street to the little gem of Mayfair called Shepherd Market. Even more wonderful than the last time I saw it, the cafes look very much like they do on the streets of Paris.
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| Shepherd Market shops, Mayfair London |
I wish we could have stayed for another cup of coffee, but we were off to Sir John Soane's Museum. Crammed with antiquities, the former home of Sir John Soane (and his imaginary monk friend Padre Giovanni- I kid you not) this place has to be seen to be believed.
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| Sarcophagus of Seti I (Soane Museum) Illustrated London News 1864 |
This sarcophagus was phenomenal and is in the same place in the house as pictured above. What a place! We weren't allowed to take photos but the engraving above gives a good idea of what it still looks like. We also checked out the rather more gruesome Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. I won't torment you with photos of that!
We were planning on seeing The Garden Museum in Lambeth and having tea in their pretty outdoor cafe, however circumstances led us to the British Museum for a cream tea and then a peek at the Rosetta Stone. Although we weren't intending to stay after tea, the Battersea Shield (fished out of the Thames and dating from circa 350-50 BC) sucked us into an exhibit on the Celts. It was an irresistible force and we were happy to give in to it.
Sorry for the terrible photo but now you can see why we had to go in to the exhibit to see the Battersea Shield. We are such geeks that we went back 3 times to peer at the detail on it. The entire exhibit was amazing and we were so exhausted that supper was sandwiches and salad from the Marks and Spencer on the corner.
17,665 steps today. Tomorrow we leave London for Salisbury and Avebury.
Cheers!
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