Day 2 in London

Woke up rather tired, and late. Had a bracing cuppa at a local bistro along with a chocolate croissant. Then tubed it to Trafalgar Square, where the first order of the day was to visit the Queen's Portrait exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, along with a tour of the rest of gallery as well.

I paid homage to the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and noted how cleverly they drink from the water fountains for people, then crossed the street to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, which used to be my parish church and where I was wed in the eyes of God. Unfortunately for me, a lunchtime concert was in progress, so I was unable to go into the sanctuary to genuflect and reflect.

However, I did go down into the Crypt Cafe for lunch. All I had was broccoli and Stilton soup. Still lacking an appetite but I needed fuel for all the walking. I remember the crypt when that was all it was - just a crypt - no fancy glass lift down to it from the street, no gift shop, no fancy menu. Just a place where we gathered after church services, walking down the old stone steps to drink filthy coffee in green cups and eat a Marie biscuit for 10 pence.

The Stilton soup revived me enough to make my way to the Tate Britain for the Picasso exhibit and the Turners - the bloody marvelous Turners. I have not been to the Tate since I lived here in 1978.


I returned to the hotel with time enough to clean up and head back out to Leicester Square for the very silly drawing room comedy, "Hay Fever" at the Noel Coward Theatre, starring the delectable Jeremy Northam, plus Lindsay Duncan and other fine actors. Yum!