Day 3 London

March 29, 2010  Monday 

Began the day early — hotel buffet breakfast and then to the bank on Russell Square. We discovered that the bank along with the Tube didn’t open until 9:30 a.m. The Tube was open for the early riders, but our full-day access pass began later. We paid 11. 50 pounds (for two) each day to ride the two main zones. I fell in love with the Tube, though it took me awhile to figure out their “Mind the gap” slogan. The Brits are so cool … they actually care if you fall or get hit by a train.
We walked to a nearby outlet mall to pass the time. Discovered a few nice, although pricey, retail stores — United Benneton, French Connection (lovely trench coats) — and Waitrose grocery store. I ogled over their produce and well-designed packages. At the bank, I could not make a call to my local bank to fix my VISA card debacle. Frustrated, we took the Tube to Notting Hill Gate. No money, but we could still window shop. 

This orange car was a pizzeria by Notting Hill Gate … very tempting.
Notting Hill and Portobello Road have a plethora of unique, eclectic stores and open market. Beau loved the vintage dresses and found a store where every item was 5 pounds ($6.50), even boots! The post office offered the best exchange rate (1.223) for Euros (70 Euros = 57.24 pounds).

All Saints Spitafields. We stumbled upon my new, favorite store, uniquely designed with vintage Singer sewing machines. Everything, from the interiors to the products (leather jackets, neutral colored cotton shirts, jeans, evening dresses), was impeccable! Did I say how much I Love A.S.S? 

Portobello Road is an endless shopping district which later fills with tents for the market. We stopped by a cute cupcake shop, the hummingbird bakery, for my favorite, red velvet cake. 

Notting Hill homes. Go watch Notting Hill. Hugh Grant is always excellent.

Inexpensive, fun finds: London guitar pick and short, red cocktail dress for 5 pounds.

5 p.m. Tube to Russell Square and hotel. After explaining our dilemma, the gracious host of Bloomsbury Park Hotel, Amelia, allowed me to make a call to our bank and home without a credit card. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone and have access to my card. I did a happy dance and we planned our dinner. We took the Tube back to Waterloo to eat at The Anchor (a nice, historic pub by the river) or The Anchor and Hope Pub (by the theaters). We went with the latter and walked in the miserably cold, wet rain. Beau was smitten by a homeless man who said to her, “Spare change, love?” Admittedly, calling someone mate or love is so much cooler than dude.

The pub was old, dirty and full of men who ignored us until I asked about dinner seating. “Not until 6 p.m. (10 minutes).” 

We sat on the toddler stools and waited. A pleasant but scary-looking woman, who could have been a character from Sweeney Todd, finally seated us. Apparently, this is a popular dining establishment for people who want to eat before going to the theater. Since we didn't have a show to catch, our service was S-L-O-W. We ordered lasagna (surprisingly large, homemade and delicious!) to share because we could not stomach octopus or the other exotic dishes. After dinner, we walked back to Thames River to see London Eye and Big Ben at night.

Photos: Beau and Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved.