After leaving Malta, I decided to give myself a break. Instead of multiple flights and airlines to get home, I flew to London for a short stay to break up the long trip.
I stayed at The Resident Soho, which is a great little hotel tucked away on a dead end street. While I arrived too late the first day for their complimentary wine hour, they made an exception and poured a glass for me so I could relax after my flight. I chose Soho for its proximity to the West End theatre district. I quickly learned it’s the go-to spot for young Londoners’ social life. Despite the chill, every evening found dozens of people populating the sidewalks, and sometimes the street, with a glass in hand. I guess the pubs get too crowded and it spills other the door.
It was still a bit chilly for sightseeing strolls, but I did plenty of walking. A trip to Fortnum and Mason to stock up on yummy gifts for my favorite cousin was a big success. I only wish I had been able to bring an entire hamper back with me. But alas, after nearly two months of gift shopping my luggage was maxed out.
As I walked around the area early the first morning (after having amazing french toast at, of course, a French restaurant) I came across an intriguing window display. It looked like the passage in the first Harry Potter book where he gets overwhelmed with invitations to Hogwarts as they fly down the chimney. Of course, that meant I had to go back later when they were open. The store is Minalima, and it is owned by the people who did all the graphic design for the Harry Potter movies. Oh, it was so much fun to wander through the store and see items from the movies. Sometimes the best part of travel is the serendipity of finding the unexpected.
Of course I had to take in a couple more plays while in London. This time it was Hadestown and Shadowlands. I loved Hadestown, and ended up listening to the music for days after. I chose Shadowlands solely because Hugh Bonneville plays CS Lewis, and I’m glad I did. The play was beautiful, sad, and touching.
It turned out that the theatre for Shadowlands was a good distance from my hotel. I walked, thanks to my Apple maps app (there were lots of turns and twists), but decided I didn’t want to walk back that late at night. So I got to take one of the classic London Black Cabs back to my hotel. It was a delightful ride through busy Soho streets, and the traffic made the drive much longer than usual. Which was great, because I got the best driver. We talked about when he came to the USA as a young man in the late 60s with a backpack and a copy of “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac. In the end he turned off the meter and charged me almost half the fare because it took so long and we had a great conversation. This is why I love to travel.
I also found a really good Italian restaurant, again thanks to my map app. Circolo Popular seems to be hidden away, sunken below street level. I walked past it twice before finding the entrance. But it was worth it. It reminded me of Mama Leone’s in New York City (which was an icon until it closed some thirty years ago.) Most of the seating was at long shared tables and the walls were lined with bottles. There was a party atmosphere, with lots of hustle and bustle. The food was great, and I ended up sharing comments on our meals with others who were sitting near me. While my meal was outstanding, I wish I had ordered the fettuccini alfredo. It’s prepared right at your table in a hollowed out parmesan wheel. Maybe I’ll have to go back and do that when I return in June.
So now I’m back in the USA, doing some pet sitting until my next adventure. Next up is a whirlwind trip home to Montana to finally move into my own place, and then off to Europe again for a Viking River Cruise and some side trips. So, Dear Reader, stay tuned!
Travels with Billie 