Travel Log Day 4 (Tuesday)

Subtitle – Celebrity Sighting Opportunity Missed!!!

Since we had such a busy and somewhat scheduled day on Monday we opted for a slower day with a more laid back pace on Tuesday. Ben and I (still being jetlagged) slept until nearly 11:00 am local time. He was still struggling with sleeping and now officially took over the bed with me and Kent on the couch!

Outside was yet another beautiful weather day. Still no rain! I expected much colder, wetter weather. We headed out to the Tower of London via the subway (aka the Tube). This was much like other subway systems…clean, easy to use, somewhat cheap. We arrived at the Tower of London just in time for Kent to get on a conference call (he promised me this was the only work he’d do while on this trip!). Ed, Pat, Ben and I strolled around the Tower grounds and watched a brief and informative film about the Tower, the buildings and their present and past purpose. Before touring the Tower we had lunch at Wagamama a really cool noodle restaurant. Kent joined us but his call continued on mute. Note – not all bathrooms in European restaurants have baby changing stations…come prepared. Thank God Pat was able to help me wrangle Ben on the ground to change a very nasty diaper!

After lunch we walked around the Tower and saw residential chambers of past royalty and rulers and most impressive the Jewel House where the Crown Jewels are stored and guarded. On the way into the Jewel House a short film was shown of the current Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. I had never seen that and I found it incredibly interesting. The jewels were breathtaking! Besides jewels were also serving pieces including cups, spoons, and the most massive and ornate wine/punch bowl I’ve ever seen. Kent’s conference call ended as Pat, Ed, Ben and I exited the Jewel House. I would hate to see Kent’s cell phone bill after that call!! Oh and Ben slept through all of this.

After the Tower we walked down the Thames on a not-as-interesting side as the South Bank. This side (not sure what it was called) appeared to be mainly office buildings and the like. We crossed over the Thames to see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. We walked back across the Thames this time using the Millennium Bridge with the intention of taking the subway back to the flat. But we instead decided to take a taxi in the interest of speed and convenience. The London taxis are roomy…it held all four of us plus Ben in his stroller!

After Pat and I got the men settled in at the flat she and I walked to Harrod’s for some shopping. That store does indeed sell everything. Pat and I fawned over the Baby Dior clothing and nearly dropped dead at the prices. It was fun looking around though. I had a terrible experience in the luggage department but I made my Dad proud and confronted the sales person after he sold me what he said was the last vanity case and I saw his colleague bring out another while I was standing at the register! I was livid! While hesitant to patronize Harrod’s any further we picked up dinner at the Food Hall which had cases upon cases of all types of food one would ever desire. Since Harrod’s was out of bread Pat walked up to the corner store and I went on back to the flat. When Pat returned she said a starlet was being photographed/interviewed outside of the posh Carlton hotel within a stone’s throw from our flat!! I could not believe I missed the celebrity sighting opportunity! I am still anxious to know who this was but I never found out. The London Film Festival is going on so the starlet could have been any number of celebs. I am still upset about this. However, I could almost swear that I passed Sam Elliott on the street either Sunday or Monday. I love him most from his roles as Cher’s boyfriend in Mask and as Patrick Swayze’s mentor in Roadhouse. I really think it was him.