The weather was supposed to be a challenge today as they predicted rain off and on. We planned accordingly and just took short forays out in the neighborhoods close to Leicester Square. We headed off to Trafalgar Square and were surprised to see tons of activity. There was a stage and lots of peripheral tent structures and about 50 porta-potties. As we got closer we realized that it was for a giant "pep" rally for the NFL Football Game in London this weekend! The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons will play at Wembley Stadium on Sunday and the hype is on here! I just read that the Falcons put out a graphic on their website about their trip to London and shows their planes landing in Spain!!! Someone should buy the Falcons a map of Europe with the names printed on the countries!!
We also wandered back towards our favorite neighborhood around Covent Garden. Found the Canadian Pub we liked but just walked by since it wasn't lunchtime. Checked the menu at "Rules" restaurant which is the oldest eating establishment in London and laughed because not one menu item was of a "domesticated" variety! There was boar, venison, pheasant and grouse and the prices were stratospheric! Fun to look and walk on!
Made a stop at the local Tesco (grocery) since the Commodore has decided he's going to shave more than once a week and needed some razors. The variety of goods offered here is always interesting to us. I remember how I used to stock up on Sacla pasta sauces when I came here but now they're available at home.
We then thought the rain was getting closer so headed to the National Gallery and spent some time enjoying the art. The Monet's, Manet's and Renoir's are such a feast for the eyes and for now anyway you can stand up nice and close! Every single room has a museum "monitor" to prevent any monkey business but everyone there was very respectful.
It was nearly two so we decided to try a "Pub lunch" but couldn't find one that 1) had room and 2) had a decent menu! So we decided on a restaurant called "Chiquita". That restaurant was as much Mexican as I am! We had a decent lunch but Mexican food it was not! The waitress (from Eritrea, is that near Mexico?) said they were leaning toward more of a "fusion" menu....Ha! Good for a laugh!
Betty and Don headed to Harrod's this morning and then had some lunch near Picadilly before heading back this afternoon. They had a long walk since there were no rain delays for them.
Met Betty and Don for "wine time" about five and then headed out to find a "Pub dinner"....again, no luck. It was packed and the wait would have been longer than we wanted and there was no place to wait but on the street! We ended up at a place called "Browns" that was terrific! A great guy named Don found us a table within 10 minutes and Jenny, our server, treated us like royalty with her bubbly personality. The food was very good and not too expensive. A winner dinner!!!
After all our planning and dodging today we never found any rain! I even carried the umbrellas around all day! I'll bet if I'd forgotten them we'd have been drenched! Murphy's law and all!
Tomorrow is another moving day. We have cabs lined up to retrieve us at 10:30 to take us to the Victoria Coach Transfer Station where we will get the Princess bus to Southampton. So we'll pack, get some breakfast and head out to the last leg of this grand tour! The Emerald Princess will be waiting at the dock! Two weeks from tomorrow we will be heading back home!
Talk to you tomorrow from the ship!
XOXOXOX
M
Well, I think I'll put my money on the Lions, since the Falcons apparently won't be at the game!
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