Wandering through the Portobello Market(s) had been our plan for Saturday all along, though we weren't quite motivated enough to be there when it first opened at 5:30am! It is open every Saturday and lauds itself as the world's largest antiques market, with over 1500 dealers selling every kind of antique and collectable in addition to vendors with food and modern items. We began at the Notting Hill Gate end where the most antiques stalls are found and continued roughly northbound. Early on we decided that we would all be happier if we let the men go their own way, and Grant issued a challenge to see who could find the most interesting item for a pound or less. Becky and I meandered through the stalls searching for tea strainers, which were nowhere near a single pound in price, while Keith found various musical instruments (also more than a pound), and Grant found himself a postcard (80 pence). Eventually, I stumbled across coins from the Dutch East India Company circa 1790 which were going for a pound a piece and some degraded Britannia-Roman coins for 50 pence each, so I won the challenge hands down, though the victory was a bit hollow as no one else had anything!
We didn't end up purchasing very much (that pound is just too strong!), but Keith did find some reasonably priced tea strainers for us and I found a scarf for my mother (which I had to put on for awhile when it turned cold, sorry Mom!). "Elevensies" found us inside a sit down cafe enjoying sausage rolls and other pastries giving us enough warmth and energy to continue a few more blocks before calling it quits at the market and looking for a bus stop.
Finally taking a double decker bus, we leisurely made our way from the Portobello Road area to Trafalgar Square. We considered getting a picture on top of one of those lions, but upon closer inspection, it seemed a foolish idea to risk the very long fall down off the slippery sculpture. While in the square, one couldn't help but notice all the protesters and their catchy chant, "Shame on Canada". So often it is our southern neighbour drawing criticism, it was a bit shocking to be protested against ourselves. I thought the Canadian flags with "blood" splattered all over them were in particular poor taste. Figured out what they were protesting yet? The annual seal hunt had just begun.
From there, we wondered a few short blocks on foot down to the Parliament area and caught this view of the London Eye across the Thames.
Just down from Parliament and Westminster Abbey we tucked into the Westminster Arms Pub for a very late but delicious lunch. The bell in the picture below lets patrons know when there is about to be an important parliamentary vote so that they can make it back in time!
While at lunch we decided that we had time to go over to the Tower of London. Grant & Becky's time there earlier had been cut short by the funeral of a yeoman, so they hadn't had a chance to see the crown jewels and we had 2 for 1 passes making it relatively inexpensive so off we went! After the Tower we headed back to our hotel so Keith and I could change and still make it to the ballet (just) on time.
As you can see, our tickets to see the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden were pretty high up. In fact, there was no row behind us and I am certain a tall person could have stood on my seat and touched the ceiling. That said, they were only 5 pound tickets, and we did manage to see most of the performance by standing up and leaning forward. The sets and costumes were incredible, as was the dancing. Knowing what I know now about how much English Premiere League tickets were going to run us, I think I would have bought a better seat without any guilt about the price!
As soon as the ballet was over, and I mean as the clapping began, Keith and I dashed out of there and down many, many stairs as we were already late for our dessert date with Grant & Becky back in the neighbourhood of our hotel. We broke into a run when we got out of the theatre, and managed to catch the Tube before the major post-show rush began. The spot we had initially agreed to meet had closed for the night, but thankfully our friends spotted us from the place they had re-located to as they waited. Keith and I hadn't had time for supper earlier, so we were grateful that we could order a very late supper as we spent the end of our last evening in London in good company.
Wandering through the Portobello Market(s) had been our plan for Saturday all along, though we weren't quite motivated enough to be there when it first opened at 5:30am! It is open every Saturday and lauds itself as the world's largest antiques market, with over 1500 dealers selling every kind of antique and collectable in addition to vendors with food and modern items. We began at the Notting Hill Gate end where the most antiques stalls are found and continued roughly northbound. Early on we decided that we would all be happier if we let the men go their own way, and Grant issued a challenge to see who could find the most interesting item for a pound or less. Becky and I meandered through the stalls searching for tea strainers, which were nowhere near a single pound in price, while Keith found various musical instruments (also more than a pound), and Grant found himself a postcard (80 pence). Eventually, I stumbled across coins from the Dutch East India Company circa 1790 which were going for a pound a piece and some degraded Britannia-Roman coins for 50 pence each, so I won the challenge hands down, though the victory was a bit hollow as no one else had anything! 
We didn't end up purchasing very much (that pound is just too strong!), but Keith did find some reasonably priced tea strainers for us and I found a scarf for my mother (which I had to put on for awhile when it turned cold, sorry Mom!). "Elevensies" found us inside a sit down cafe enjoying sausage rolls and other pastries giving us enough warmth and energy to continue a few more blocks before calling it quits at the market and looking for a bus stop.
Finally taking a double decker bus, we leisurely made our way from the Portobello Road area to Trafalgar Square. We considered getting a picture on top of one of those lions, but upon closer inspection, it seemed a foolish idea to risk the very long fall down off the slippery sculpture. While in the square, one couldn't help but notice all the protesters and their catchy chant, "Shame on Canada". So often it is our southern neighbour drawing criticism, it was a bit shocking to be protested against ourselves. I thought the Canadian flags with "blood" splattered all over them were in particular poor taste. Figured out what they were protesting yet? The annual seal hunt had just begun.
From there, we wondered a few short blocks on foot down to the Parliament area and caught this view of the London Eye across the Thames.
Just down from Parliament and Westminster Abbey we tucked into the Westminster Arms Pub for a very late but delicious lunch. The bell in the picture below lets patrons know when there is about to be an important parliamentary vote so that they can make it back in time!
While at lunch we decided that we had time to go over to the Tower of London. Grant & Becky's time there earlier had been cut short by the funeral of a yeoman, so they hadn't had a chance to see the crown jewels and we had 2 for 1 passes making it relatively inexpensive so off we went! After the Tower we headed back to our hotel so Keith and I could change and still make it to the ballet (just) on time.
As you can see, our tickets to see the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden were pretty high up. In fact, there was no row behind us and I am certain a tall person could have stood on my seat and touched the ceiling. That said, they were only 5 pound tickets, and we did manage to see most of the performance by standing up and leaning forward. The sets and costumes were incredible, as was the dancing. Knowing what I know now about how much English Premiere League tickets were going to run us, I think I would have bought a better seat without any guilt about the price!
As soon as the ballet was over, and I mean as the clapping began, Keith and I dashed out of there and down many, many stairs as we were already late for our dessert date with Grant & Becky back in the neighbourhood of our hotel. We broke into a run when we got out of the theatre, and managed to catch the Tube before the major post-show rush began. The spot we had initially agreed to meet had closed for the night, but thankfully our friends spotted us from the place they had re-located to as they waited. Keith and I hadn't had time for supper earlier, so we were grateful that we could order a very late supper as we spent the end of our last evening in London in good company.
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