ABOUT TOWN (MOSTLY SHOPPING!)

While in London, one must try the various shopping.   Our hotel, a plain vanilla Holiday Inn (Kensington Forum) was conveniently located in South Kensington, about a half mile walk from Harrods.  So, of course we started at HARRODS – not only the world’s most famous department store, but probably also the largest!   We had high tea in the tea room there – they brought cute little finger sandwiches (salmon, cucumber, ham) scones with apricot jam and rose jelly,and pastries (and of course, tea) and we thoroughly stuffed ourselves. 

Harrods

We strolled Oxford Street; stopping to buy roasted chestnuts from a street vendor, and then had a coke at an outdoor pub.

Covent Garden

After stopping for a crappy pub lunch (what kind of pub has no beer on tap??), we went to Covent Garden. 

At the heart of the Covent Garden piazza lies the famous market, designed in 1632 and now visited by 30 million tourists each year. The large glass covered building comprises several arcades of fashionable boutiques, cafés and an arts and crafts market, the Apple Market

In the open piazza jugglers, mime artists, variety acts and musicians entertain the crowds.   Covent Garden is the only area of London licensed for street entertainment.

Farewell !

Alas, our wonderful trip had come to an end.  We overnighted next to Heathrow Airport, then began the long journey home; bringing with us blistered feet, dirty laundry, lots of shreds of paper for the scrapbook, and  thousands of photos - but most important, many fond memories of our "trip of a lifetime"