Saturday, October 19, London

Another late start.  This is starting to feel like a vacation!  Went to our trusty TKTS kiosk in Leicester Square and got tickets for the matinee of Dirty Dancing which was recommended by the Australian woman who sat next to me at last night's show.  Since we had a similar take on Curious Incident thought I could trust her judgement as well as anyone else's. The day was so overcast, with rain threatening, we scrapped the Eye and walked around Soho, Piccadilly, and Oxford Street, knowing we'd need to be back there for the show.  Didn't know there is a sizable Chinatown right there.  Charlie got his moon cakes. Wandered past Foyles Bookstore, through Soho Square, and stopped at a little bistro for lunch.  Again we were blown away by the delicious food.  I have to let go of all my biases because we have eaten well in a country known for it's terrible food.

Chinatown, one of several blocks

Soho Square

Since it had started to rain we ducked into Whole Foods and just browsed. Four bagels for £4.  That's $1.60 for a bagel! I haven't yet come to the point where I just equate a dollar US to a pound sterling and forget the actual exchange rate.

The show was a little disappointing.  It lacked the sexual tension and sizzle of the movie, but I was glad they used the music from the movie instead of a new score.  That was the most authentic part.  They didn't do a very good job of getting the zeitgeist of the Catskills in 1963 or of developing the characters.  Better to rent the movie again.  Oh well 2 out of 3 ain't bad.  When we came out of the theater the rain had stopped and we decided to try to ride the Eye after all.  Walked down through Whitehall and the Queen's horse guards to Parliament and just as we were crossing Westminster Bridge it started to rain again.  We kept walking, but it was getting dark and we ended up giving it a pass.

So glad the rainbow is showing!

So we returned home, had a Thai dinner in our neighborhood, and now we are packing for an early departure in the morning.  Nowhere near enough time here, but five weeks is a long time to be away and I'm ready to come home -- real home, not just the places we've stayed that feel something like home.  

15,810  (6.8 miles)