London -- Goodbye, Europe!

There just wasn't enough time in London. Not enough time for shopping.

 

 

Not enough time for walking about.

 

 

Not enough time to enjoy many of the things we would have liked. Like another really good pint of beer at a "genuine" pub! (Not a touristy place.)

 

 

But you make the most of what you have. So, we walked about in the rain enjoying the sites on the various paths commemorating Princess Diana...

 

 

...and the Queen.

 

 

We laughed at signs that amused us.

 

 

We were captivated by brightly painted doors.

 

 

I found the Tardis everywhere (any other Doctor Who fans out there? You'll get it!)

 

 

More than once our paths took us back to St. Martin's in the Field. We wished we could have heard a concert there.

 

 

But we did have a special treat. The best show in town and free at that! Evensong at Westminster Abbey.

 

 

Evensong takes place at 5 p.m. People line up in front of the abbey and are quietly led into the sanctuary, walking over gravestones of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, among many others. You are seated, the choir enters and the service begins. The location -- the site of royal funerals and weddings. (Oh! How the imagination soars!).

 

 

It was powerful, beautiful. Perfect.

 

 

We headed toward our hotel, taking the popular double-decker bus.

 

 

And it was then we decided we should have a special dinner. Our friends Linda and Larry had given us a generous gift with the purpose of having a lovely dinner. We chose the Russell Hotel, located on one edge of Russell Square, which was coming into full bloom.

 

 

. The name may sound familiar to you if you are a fan of "Cats." Remember at the end, when the cat is dying and going to her next life, they sing, "Up, up, up past the Russell Hotel. Up, up, up to the Heavyside Layer?

 

 

Well, that song kept going through our heads. It came as little surprise but with sad irony that as we were going up to the Russell Hotel, our dear Gypsy was beginning his journey to the Heavyside Layer. 

 

 

As you would expect, the dinner was lovely, and it was a perfect way to end our holiday and toast to friends at home and those we'd enjoyed on vacation.

 

 

 

We arrived at our hotel, tired and sick (at least I was,  101 fever) with packing to do for our early departure.

 

 

And the next morning, we were the only ones at the tube.

 

 

 

Goodbye, London. Goodbye, Europe. I hope I'll return to see you again!

Thank you all for "traveling" with us on our European vacation and for indulging me with your lovely comments on the posts. Because of Gypsy's illness and the graduation of Rick's son the day after we returned, we had little time to process our trip. Doing so with you has been a joy for me. Thanks for going along!