I spent this morning at the zoo. It was a little drizzly, and a few of the animals refused to come out, but it wasn’t crowded at all, and the animals I did see were great. My favorites, as usual, were the primates and the birds. There is a big walk-in aviary that’s really fun, and the rainforest at night exhibit was great. I found out why the Eastern White Pelicans turn peachy-pink this time of year (change in diet) but not why there are some wild ones in the park. One of the peacocks put on a show for me, maybe because my coat was the same color as him. Did I look like the largest peacock he’d ever seen?
After the zoo I checked out Camden Town, and then went down to Piccadilly, where I went to a little outdoor antiques market in front of a church. Then I hunted for a couple of museums that are in my book but not on the map I had with me. No luck. Tomorrow I will take my big map. Cheers.

This morning I went to Trafalgar square and saw St. Martin in the Fields, the Freed Store and the Green Man and French Horn (my Mom’s favorite London Pub). I went to the National Portrait Gallery and saw many of the paintings that I studied in my costume history courses in college. They have a new (to them) painting of Lady Jane Grey, my favorite British monarch when I was younger. Honestly, you could spend weeks in that place, there is so much to see, and the detail on some of those paintings is amazing.
Next I headed to Covent Garden, where I bought some antique sugar tongs in the open air market. Then I went across the river and saw the National Theatre and toured Shakespeare’s Globe, a replica of the original. It was fascinating. Next time I’m in London during the summer I want to go to a show there. The weather is still holding. It’s chilly, but it hasn’t rained yet. I’m feeling pretty lucky. Cheers.

The rain is still holding off. They’re now calling for clouds only for the next few days. This morning I visited Kensington Palace. It has some amazing ceiling paintings and tapestries. There was also an exhibit about the last season of the debutants in the 50s. Lots of cute dresses.
Then I tried to go to the Royal Mews to see the collection of carriages, but it’s closed until April. I did get to see the Queen’s Gallery. Right now it is displaying a collection of Flemish paintings, one of my favorite styles. I love that all the museums over here give you the audio tours with your tickets instead of making you pay extra. It really adds to the experience.
Then I went by Buckingham Palace, and on to St. James’s Park. It had an amazing variety of birds. Several beautiful kinds of ducks and geese, and huge peachy Pelicans which dwarfed the swans. The best bit was the squirrels. They are very tame, and not only will they eat peanuts out of your hand, they’ll run right up your pant leg to do it! A nice man shared some peanuts with me, and I couldn’t believe how gentle they were. Then I caught the right bus back to my hotel (a triumph) and am busily planning my day for tomorrow. Cheers.

I went to Portobello Market this morning. It was unbelievably crowded. It must have been the beautiful weather. Cars could barely get down the streets there were so many people. I don’t remember it being that busy before. I got myself an early birthday present, a silver teapot. Slightly wonky, but a great deal.
This afternoon was so warm and sunny I left my coat in my room. I collected my London Pass from Regent Street and went down to Parliament Square which was almost as crowded as Portobello. I took a river cruise past the tower bridge down to Greenwhich and saw the spot where time begins.
Then on the way home the bus broke down and stranded us in what I’m pretty sure was the dodgy end of Wandsworth. But I knew my hotel was in the west end, so I kept heading toward the sunset, and I made it back. I only have one giant blister, which isn’t bad. Tomorrow I start on the museums, and hope the rain holds off. Cheers.

Today I took a walk down to Notting Hill. I found a great little bakery which makes a delicious pear vanilla tart. It was hard to decide between that and the minty apple pie. Maybe I’ll have that next time. I found a bookshop and got Wendy Holden’s latest novel (it isn’t out yet in the US) so I’ll have something to read on the plane home.
The sun came out this afternoon, so after lunch I went back to Hyde Park. There were lots of well-behaved dogs scampering around, and people feeding the birds at the Round Pond. I’ve never been fond of geese (after being chased by them at an early age) but the swans were pretty frightening. Standing straight they came almost to my shoulder, and they weren’t a bit afraid of people. They really gave me the willies, I know that mixing ballets but it’s true.
I walked over to the big memorial in front of Albert Hall (beautiful in the sunlight) and on the way back I saw parrots! Bright green parrots with forked tails. First a group of three then later five at once. I tried to look them up online, but I just kept getting stuff about parrots in Chicago. Anyway, they certainly were exotic.
I’m almost over my jet-jag. One more early night and I should be set. Tomorrow I pick up my London Pass and start to see the sights. Cheers.

I didn’t do very much today. I’m still pretty jet-lagged. But I did get my adapter working so I can recharge my computer and update my blog every day (or so).
This was a day of flowers. I went for a long walk because my travel pass doesn’t kick in until Saturday, and I wanted to get my bearings. Hyde Park is beautiful right now. I found a huge patch of (I think) daffodils which should open before I leave, and even better, lots of snowdrops. The fair maids of February aren’t standing in the snow, but they are standing tall. They must be a different variety to the ones at home because these are six to eight inches tall. Gorgeous.
I walked down Oxford Street to Piccadilly and back. All the fancy buildings off Regent Street have beautiful wrought iron window boxes with miniature boxwood bushes, red or purple cyclamen, and trailing ivy. So elegant.
I came back to my room and took a nap, then I went out and bought myself a bouquet of orange tulips to perk up my room. I cut the top off a water bottle and swathed it in a new pashmina, and they look great. I love having fresh flowers around, they always make me happy. Cheers.

Well, I made it. It wasn't easy, but then air travel never is. I have a peculiar knack for booking myself on flights that get delayed, cancelled, or have to make emergency landings. Today it looked like I would never make it out of Eugene, but I switched to an earlier flight (which actually left later then I was originally scheduled) and I made my connection in San Fransisco. The next flight went smoothly, just under ten hours, and I had an aisle seat with no one next to me. Bliss.

When I was waiting foor my shuttle in Heathrow I saw someone carrying a Made in Oregon bag and got absurdly happy. I miss everybody already.

My hotel is great. I'm on the fifth floor, in a nice room with a king bed and the windows overlook Hyde Park. The bus stop is just opposite.

I went to Tesco's and got some cheese and crackers and fruit and juice so I can have breakfasts in my room if I want (there's a mini-bar fridge and tea-making facilities). I just found an old Poirot on TV, so I'll probably fall asleep in front of that. Exhausting day. Cheers.