The upper part of  my left leg is bothering me, so it hurts to walk. But, here's the thing - after walking awhile and swinging my hips, which I find difficult, the leg loosens up. So, when and where do I walk and for how long? I don't know.

Lynda and Frank head out to Harrod's department store and one of the museums on the way. We walk to Borough Market again. It has become one of our favorite destinations. Even with my leg problems, we walk the whole way in on and off rain. I stop several times to stretch with my ankle pulled back behind me. It helps a little. I also have some Rena pills (Amino Actv) that help.

Once we arrive, I want to sit, so I have an espresso and Linda has a cappacino and watch the people go by. After that, we investigate the Roast restaurant where we were told they have really good breakfasts. Well - they have really expensive breakfasts. The regular highlighted ones on the menu are 14-16 pounds and the special Sunday brunch is 35 pounds. That must be something. Way beyond our budget. Its almost 1:00 and we're hungry. I stop to try English oysters at a stand-up bar run by an Asian guy. There were several vinegar based mixtures sitting out and Tabasco Sauce. I tried them all. I think the Tabasco Sauce was the best. Next door was a vendor who had meat pies (very British) and Scot eggs. Of course, Linda had to have a quail Scot egg. Its a hard-boiled egg surrounded by a meat mixture and then a breading - served cold. She liked it. I found a sausage on a stick to complete my gourmet lunch. A couple more stalls down, Linda found an empanada filled with spinach. The owner was from Argentina and his helper was from Barcelona. We told him we had spent 7 weeks in Grannoliers and he asked why. He said there was nothing there and we had to agree with him. The one from Argentina had been to Longboat Key in Sarasota, so we talked a little about that too.

Our shopping list included vodka, processco, and white wine. We found all of that at Laithwaite's (sp?) a little way down the street. We took the good old RV1 bus back to the apartment. Later, we went out for a walk along the river and ran into Lynda and Frank returning from their excursion. It was a perfect time to stop at Cafe Nero and drink a coffee and have a "show and tell" time.

We had David and Johnny over for drinks and snacks at about 7:30. We have very interesting discussions with them. Its hard to get Johnny into the conversation but Lynda was able to pull him into a side discussion. He gave her directions on where to go to ride the docklands train. David dominates the talking. He's smart and has a lot of facts stored in his head. Frank had architecture questions for them both. They stayed until after 12:00. We will probably see them at least one more time before we leave and they have offered their place for  us to stay on September 4th when we have our layover before flying back to Tampa.

Today was warm and we took the tube out to Cheswick House. It was about a 30 min ride on the train. When we arrived at the town, we hopped on a bus for a 10 min ride to the actual 18th century house and gardens. The house was closed but we walked around the gardens. There was a large pond that contained swans with babies, several different types of ducks, and herons. We realized it was a dog-walking park. Lots of dogs being walked. Every now and then one of the dogs decided to go crashing into the water. They didn't swim far and the ducks just moved out of their way. Frank and I had a coffee at the outdoor cafe while the girls investigated the rest of the gardens. About 45 mins of that and they returned to the cafe. After eating lunch, we retraced our steps back to the apartment.

For our evening activity, we met David at the bar at the top (33 floors) of the Centre Point Building, just north of Leicester Square. David pointed out lots of buildings as we walked around the circular bar area. Dinner was at a nearby Korean restaurant - one of David and Johnny's regular haunts. Everyone ordered something and we passed them around so there was lots of tasting: beef barbecue, pork dish, combination veggie and seafood dish, and another seafood dish, plus rice wine served in a tea pot. I think everyone got their fill. We all used the same bus to get home. We got off at Waterloo Bridge to catch the RV1 bus that would take us to our door and said goodnight to David.

Frank and Lynda left before us to attend a concert and buy tickets for a play. We had a date to meet David for lunch. The weather continued to be just right - mid-60's, partly sunny, and a mild breeze. We walked over to Bourough Market instead of taking the bus, then turned left and went over London Bridge, up through the financial, around the Bank of England and finally to David's office. We arrived right at 1:00, right on time, and walked over to a tapas restaurant. A little different type of food: eel, paella, calamara, white anchovies over homemade crisps, and a very garlic shrimp dish. We washed it down with a pitcher of sangria that was a little stronger than we're used to. All very tasty. We finished with coffee.

After leaving David, we caught the bus he told us about and took it to Covent Garden. Lots and lots of  people. We walked through the market are and onto Leicester Square. After literally walking around in circles, we found the TKTS discount ticket booth and bought tickets for Jersey Boys. It was after 4:00 so we caught a bus to Waterloo Bridge and walked back to the apartment.

We had enough time for a nap, a drink and a light snack of various things that Lynda had purchased. All of us left together for our plays. They saw Relatively Speaking which was right across the street from the bus stop. We had to walk 4 blocks up Charring Cross Road and turned left for a half block to get to our play. When people keep telling you a particular play is great, I get very apprehensive that I won't like it. Not Jersey Boys - we really enjoyed it. I was surprised that I recognized every one of the songs, and they sang a lot of them. We noticed a fuss being made of some guys in the audience. We learned from the usher later that they were the Dutch cast of Jersey Boys which will open later in the year in Amsterdam.

Took the bus back to Waterloo Bridge and walked romantically up the river back to the apartment.

Today's objective was to buy tickets for a play at the TKTS discount ticket kiosk at Leicester Square. We took our regular bus RV1 to Covent Garden. Then, after a few false turns, we found it and purchased tickets for tonight's performance of a Stephen Sondheim show called Merrily We Roll Along. Then, since we were close we ate lunch at St. Martin's in the Fields' Crypt. Its a cafeteria with limited selection but Linda and I shared roast chicken, rice, and squash. It was just right. Frank wanted to visit the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House. There was one particular picture he was interested in by Manet, not Monet. It was a large painting of a barmaid standing at the bar looking at you at the Follies Begergie (sp?). There is a mirror behind her showing you the large room full of people having a good time. The description mentions that in the late 1800's the barmaids served both alcohol and love.

We walked across the Waterloo Bridge and took pictures of each other and stopped at the Cafe Nero to have a coffee. We ate in having mussels, chicken and salad. Then, it was off to the theatre. We gave ourselves 45 mins. to get there and it turned out that was just enough time. As we walked out of the apartment Frank took a quick right and was gone by the time  we looked up. We turned left and walked over to Waterloo Underground station. Once inside, there were lots of halls and escalators to walk, even some of those automated walkways that are in airline terminals. Big station.  Makes our Metro Center in DC look really dinky. A short trip over to the theatre district and after a couple of blocks we were at the theatre without a sign of Frank. We had 5 mins. to spare. It turns out that the theatres in London start on-time, no 7 min. delay like in the States. Lynda was able to get the office person to let her in without a ticket - Frank had their tickets. We tried to call Frank, but no luck. After the first act, he appeared. He was late but saw most of the first act from the back. Our seats were in the 3rd row.  Lynda was livid, so we left them alone while we drank water and waited for the 2nd act.

The play was much better than we thought it would be. I  didn't think I liked Sondheim's work, but maybe I do. I need to see more of his stuff. Afterwards, we walked over to the Strand near Waterloo bridge and took the RV1 bus right to our apartment.

Sunday - We were all a bit tired from yesterday, so it was sleep-in time. Lynda and Frank headed out to some markets and we stayed behind. Later, we decided to go grocery shopping at M&S. Linda wanted me to walk. We arrived, filled up a basket and then decided we would do better at the Borough Market where we had visited for the last two days. Everything went back on the shelf and we continued walking. Well, don't you know - that market is closed on Sundays. We ate lunch by the river at a very nice pub served by a cute Polish young lady. Fish and chips and London Ale, just right.

Then we walked back to M&S, refilled our basket and actually purchased the food this time. Stopped for an espresso and then walked back to the apartment  along the river, past the Tate Modern. Lots of people out enjoying the mild weather. a violinist and Irish dancer performing, and one of those guys who dress-up with gold on their bodies and clothes and act like a puppet.

For dinner we took the #45 bus out to David and Johnny's condo. They were running late, so we stayed on the bus and rode it 20 mins past the stop, got off and returned on another #45, back to the Ethiopian restaurant by their condo. The food was much better than what we had years ago in Adams Morgan in DC. The different meats and veggies were actual pieces, not globs like in DC and were tasty without being too spicy.

We talked a lot about traveling and shared ideas and impressions. The guys seem to be doing just fine. They're old enough now where they are thinking about retirement - both saving money for it and where they might live. They think that Johnny may be willed a house on a Greek isle. That would suit them just fine.

We made a date for them to come over to our place on Friday for drinks and snacks. They saw us off on the bus and we took it to within a 5 min walk from the apartment.

For Saturday night, Lynda had arranged to meet an old teaching partner of her's, Pat, for dinner and a concert. We took the Underground from Southwark station to one called Swiss Village, about 6 stops. We got there early so after asking a vendor for a nearby coffee cafe, and buying a very large Mars bar from him, we walked around the corner to a theatre cafe and had a not so good espresso while Lynda and Frank shared an Americano (regular coffee).

We met Pat, took a bus a few stops and walked to the Greek restaurant, Limonia. We were too early, so I sat down to wait and the rest went exploring up the hill of shops for a few minutes. Frank came back and we played with our Iphones.

We were having a good time talking and drinking red wine and nibbling on olives, radishes, and carrot sticks until the main entrees came. My Linda had lamb, I had pork, but Lynda had decided to try the hare. Within a few bites, she was in trouble. She was flushed and said it felt like a piece of meat was stuck in her chest. My Linda started rubbing her hand and after the rest of us finished, we were off to the concert in a church just a couple of blocks away. The two Lindas spent the first part of the concert in the restroom. My wife worked her reflexology and energy magic and finally brought Lynda around. A little scarey and certainly no fun for Lynda.

The concert was about 20 people singing English madrigals with readings and a soloist interspersed. It was charming.

Friday, June 21

After sleeping in, we walked over to a crepe restaurant and all of us ordered the English breakfast, with no crepes. Now we felt like we were really in England.

We caught the RV1 bus to the Borough Market, a large farmer's market-like place covered by a large steel structure. Bought a whole bunch of stuff, including bread, cereal, wine, brownies and for lunch - sausages, meat pies, and Indian food for Linda. Stopped for coffee along the walkway and took the RV1 back to the apartment. A little snacking, a little writing and reading, and a little napping.

Afternoon cocktails were vodka for the boys and prosecco for the girls. For dinner, we ate most of the items we had purchased at the market outside on our beautiful deck. The plan for the evening was to take our RV1 bus back over to the Borough Market and attend a free concert at the Southwark Cathedral right next door. There was a high school choir of about 40 students from Wisconsin and another choir from the Financial Times. The kids had very mature voices and sounded great.

Saturday, June 22

We had a little breakfast and then walked over to the Blackfriars Underground station and took the train to Monument station to join a London Walking tour. The theme was Food. We learned a lot about fish and beer and English wine with a little bit about meat and veggies. The tour ended at Borough Market so we knew where we were. Because of what Ann, our tour guide, told us we bought some discounted dark chocolates because they were not shaped exactly right. We caught the RV1 back to the apartment and ate lunch using the leftovers from yesterday. As we are finding out about London weather, it was sunny and warm for about 10 minutes, then the clouds came by and it got cold. Nap time. Oh yeah, we ate some of those chocolates.

We arrived at Gatwick this morning, right on time. It was a pleasant flight with lots of kids, but they behaved. So did the adults. Eight hours is a long time, but with a movie and some sleeping, it was ok.

We took the Gatwick Express train into London's Victoria Station. It was a bit expensive but 30 mins and clean. We had to queue up for a taxi. Our taxi driver has a son who has trained at IMG Academies in Bradenton for golf - go figure. We continue to marvel what a small world we live in.

Our apartment is perfect - small but centrally located. Three minute walk to the Thames River and cafes. The walk along the river is called the Queen's Walk. We are in Southwark, south of the river. It used to be the bad part of town, meaning brothels and other things, but today is trendy, young, and hip. I'm not sure we fit in.

We stopped by the apartment and dropped our bags and went exploring. An hour or so later we met Frank and Lynda Adamson who we are sharing the apartment and ate lunch at the riverside. The pizza cafe located at the riverside served excellent salads. Our waitress was from Croatia, but has lived in London for 20 years. She gave us a mini-history lesson on the region and shared how disgusted she was with the politics of it all. After a well-needed nap, we walked over to Nero's cafe for some wake-up juice - coffee and wandered around a little. Back to the garden at the apartment for a drink before dinner.

For dinner we walked down Blackfriar's Road to the Laughing Gravy restaurant. It was rustic but upscale. Frank and I wore jackets but didn't need to. We ate vension, lamb, and scallops. All of them were prepared expertly and tasted really good. Afterwards, we walked along the river and took pictures of a sand sculpture on the Thames "beach".

Today is departure day for London from Tampa. We will be in London for 2 weeks with Lynda and Frank Adamson, then off to Scotland for two weeks, then 4 days in Shetland. We come back to London and fly to Amsterdam and meet Dan and Sue Dodds. We will be in Soest just like the last two years. Dan and Sue want to see Germany, so we'll be driving over there for a few days before they leave. A few days later, Janie and Dan Bauer will join us in Soest for a few days. We will be returning to Tampa on September 5th.

I'm going to try and keep up with our travels and stay current on this blog. We'll see how this works.

Stay tuned.