If we ignore the cold, rainy weather, the hideously expensive food, the crowds and construction everywhere (for the upcoming Olympics), I would have to say we are having a bunch of London fun.
Seriously, the weather hasn’t been too nice but that is what rain jackets are for. Our first day was actually quite nice. We ventured out to Portobello Market which was even better than it looks in the movie Notting Hill. We made only a few small purchases: some imported New Zealand apples, churros with chocolate sauce and a jacket for hubby.
Hubby and the girls at Portobello market.
We have been having lots of London fun:
The girls helped a street artist by adding the New Zealand flag to a display of what seemed to be random flags from around the world.
We even did some “art” in the Tate Modern Art museum.
We all did brass rubbings across the street from Trafalgar Square.
We have been taking the double decker buses (and the underground) all around town. This shot is a bus in front of the tower bridge.
A fun exhibit sponsored by Colgate at the O2
Sometimes Melissa just can’t help herself. The tape line was a joke on the floor of a coffee shop directly across the street from New Scotland Yard.
We couldn’t resist the giantm&m store on Leicester Square in central London. Once inside we found m&ms in 22 colors, plus lots of m&m fun everywhere.
One of the many forms of m&m entertainment was a scanner to determine your m&m color. Despite finding it ridiculous, I couldn’t resist. Apparently I am like a blackm&m as I am naughty and nice.
As we were leaving the girls remembered the candy store in Dubai which claimed to be the world’s largest, yet this giantm&m store felt bigger to all of us. It left us wondering.
We had dinner with the daughter of a family friend at a fabulous deli called Gaby’s near Leicester Square. I miss deli food from when I lived in the states – we have not yet found any in New Zealand, nor anywhere on our travels until now.
While walking to Gaby’s we passed the movie premiere for Men in Black 3. The crowds were way to thick to see the actors. However as Will Smith walked the red carpet the mobs of “girl screams” was reminicint of the Beatles clips we saw the other day at the British Music Experience.
Brilliant or ridiculous?
Next was Hamley’s Toy store, with the coolest Lego display I have ever seen. This is Queen Elizabeth made out of Lego.
Then home to bed.
Leicester Square or Hamley’s Toy Store: Where would you go first?
All photos on this page © Rhonda Albom 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Looks like fun. I miss London at times, there was so much to see and do there, but when you live there you tend not to go out and see all the sights very often. I would love to go back and walk around the parts where I used to live in the late 1970’s when I moved to London, around St. Pauls, Holborn and the Embankment.
The weather has been awful for the last month (nothing new there then)
I like your fun photos, I hope your finding your way around on the Underground OK it can be a bit daunting just avoid the rush hour heheh!
Love the underground, very easy to navigate. So much easier with the station names in English letters 🙂
The weather . . . well we had great weather in China and Russia when it was supposed to be cold, so I guess it is just our turn.
It was a good thing you decided to have fun in London before the Olympics. It will surely be very busy, with a lot of sports buffs, media people and more to add to the normal tourist traffic.
We planned to be out of the UK at least a month before the Olympics started to avoid the crowds and the higher prices. We forgot about Diamond Jubilee.
Looks like you’re having a bloody good time. Did you see Steve?
LOL – “bloody” good time. No, we didn’t hook up with Steve. 🙁
Looks like you’re having a grand time. You even have toilets and toilet paper right? Yes, you do. Enjoy.
Have a terrific day and a fabulous cruise. 🙂
Yes 🙂 Clean toilets – with seats and toilet paper!