Wait, that's a line from my brother's blog :) No, I did not go clubbing. In fact, with Dan back in US for the conference I've stayed at home for most of the week. Although on Thursday I did out to work from London.
The plan was to work out of South Kensington and then drop into Victoria and Albert museum for lunch. I settled in at Starbucks near the station and had a couple of very productive hours. The area is a Little France of London. Around me people were having conversations in French. I regretted not bringing my camera because there were a few young students with picture-worthy hairdos. One had her pink hair in up lovely rollers.
For lunch I had dutifully walked over to the museum stopping at the bakery to admire the layout. In the moment of doubt I've asked the sales girl: "Is this a scone?" "No," she replied indignantly, "It's a brioche." In a few moments I could see why she wanted that clear.
The museum is overwhelming. You can easily stay in one room for an hour. It is remarkable that Irina ran though all five floors with kids. In one hour I barely covered 2 meters of the interpretive photo gallery (so so), jewelry (OK), and a small portion of Cast Court filled with cast copies (or not) of various tombstones, carvings, and more. That's where they took all the pretty Celtic crosses and tombstones. And that's the one that needs a lot more than an hour.
After work I walked over to Harrods to see the important English landmark and one of the largest department stores in Europe. It is five stories tall. Six if you count the ground floor. Maybe more if you count the basement. And it is terrifying. It is an old building - or possibly multiple buildings joined together. It looks like a maze of stores and sections with low ceilings. Escalator shaft done in antique Egypt style resembles derelict Vegas casino. It felt pretty claustrophobic. If there is ever a fire at this place, I cannot see how they would be able to get the people out in time. I wandered through the Fashion Lab featuring Victoria Beckham and others and no indication of having a sale as a possibility. And then walked outside to get some fresh air. Too bad brioches were left far away.
So tonight, sorry no transvestites!.. Kids and I went to Tosca, the Tapas place along the river. I'd give it 3-4 stars for the food. But the lovely location with river views, good music and very nice staff more than make up for the food. We read two Gilgamesh books and relaxed watching the setting sun. At bedtime Georgia read Gruffalo's Child to Isabella in Russian. How cool is that!!!
Forgot to say, Georgia had lost another tooth - one of those to the left of the front ones. She initially said she does not believe in tooth fairies. But once we confirmed that no bounty comes to the non-believers, she changed her mind. And fairy had paid a visit with a small token in local currency.
Isabella is telling me amazing stories about the fish that visits her in her sleep. She used to be terrified of it but now she says that she just closes her eyes and fish "goes to another world." We tried to make a composite image.
Off to London tomorrow to check out the Endless Staircase.
The plan was to work out of South Kensington and then drop into Victoria and Albert museum for lunch. I settled in at Starbucks near the station and had a couple of very productive hours. The area is a Little France of London. Around me people were having conversations in French. I regretted not bringing my camera because there were a few young students with picture-worthy hairdos. One had her pink hair in up lovely rollers.
For lunch I had dutifully walked over to the museum stopping at the bakery to admire the layout. In the moment of doubt I've asked the sales girl: "Is this a scone?" "No," she replied indignantly, "It's a brioche." In a few moments I could see why she wanted that clear.
The museum is overwhelming. You can easily stay in one room for an hour. It is remarkable that Irina ran though all five floors with kids. In one hour I barely covered 2 meters of the interpretive photo gallery (so so), jewelry (OK), and a small portion of Cast Court filled with cast copies (or not) of various tombstones, carvings, and more. That's where they took all the pretty Celtic crosses and tombstones. And that's the one that needs a lot more than an hour.
After work I walked over to Harrods to see the important English landmark and one of the largest department stores in Europe. It is five stories tall. Six if you count the ground floor. Maybe more if you count the basement. And it is terrifying. It is an old building - or possibly multiple buildings joined together. It looks like a maze of stores and sections with low ceilings. Escalator shaft done in antique Egypt style resembles derelict Vegas casino. It felt pretty claustrophobic. If there is ever a fire at this place, I cannot see how they would be able to get the people out in time. I wandered through the Fashion Lab featuring Victoria Beckham and others and no indication of having a sale as a possibility. And then walked outside to get some fresh air. Too bad brioches were left far away.
So tonight, sorry no transvestites!.. Kids and I went to Tosca, the Tapas place along the river. I'd give it 3-4 stars for the food. But the lovely location with river views, good music and very nice staff more than make up for the food. We read two Gilgamesh books and relaxed watching the setting sun. At bedtime Georgia read Gruffalo's Child to Isabella in Russian. How cool is that!!!
Forgot to say, Georgia had lost another tooth - one of those to the left of the front ones. She initially said she does not believe in tooth fairies. But once we confirmed that no bounty comes to the non-believers, she changed her mind. And fairy had paid a visit with a small token in local currency.
Isabella is telling me amazing stories about the fish that visits her in her sleep. She used to be terrified of it but now she says that she just closes her eyes and fish "goes to another world." We tried to make a composite image.
Off to London tomorrow to check out the Endless Staircase.
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