It seems like days ago, but we had no problem this morning getting to the train station at Bath (well, it was a hike with our bags) and the train trip was just great. We ate lunch at Paddington Station. I brilliantly didn't manage to take a pic of the bear statue right by the burrito place where we ate! (Yes, we chose burritos.) We've decided the English don't know how to do chicken... or Mexican for that matter.
Anyway, it was not so difficult to get our Oyster cards and find the tube... even made a transfer and found our way quite easily to the Highbury Islington Station. We had quite a hike to the place where we're staying. There were THRONGS of people at the park we trudged through, dragging our bags... and SO HOT, we were dripping. There was some kind of fair going on for families... it's kind of nice to see a little bit of London suburbia, and the price at The Highburry Centre, ("Affordable accommodations for Christian workers") and it's relatively close access to the tube makes it quite worth it. If only for this dreadful heat! (I'll stop whining, I promise!)
Anyway, we managed to get a load of laundry done and decided to head into the city for the evening bus tour. We got off first at Victoria Station for the Rick Steves recommended tour, but just missed it and the next one was sold out. We asked at the tourist info center if there were other options, and he recommended another company that had a bus leaving in 20 min just at the next tube stop. So down we went again, flashing our Oyster cards like pros and popped up out of the next station and saw the yellow bus immediately. SO glad we got right on, got a great seat up top and really enjoyed the overview of this MASSIVE, densely populated, crowded, old and new, incredible city. I don't know if I wish I'd put my camera down or taken more shots, but here are some. We could barely understand the tour guide gal, so I won't even try to explain the various shots I snapped. (Hard to get good ones in motion.)
We returned to Green Park Station and decided to walk back several blocks to Picadilly Circus (again, just a circle) to look for food... it is definitely the place to be in the evening (though I'm sure there are many other hot spots). We sat outside at Caffe Concerto which I'll give a C-, only because after I complained about my super dry chicken in my Ceasar, he gave me a free delicious lemon cheesecake. We knew this trip wouldn't be about the food!
We caught the tube back and as we walked back, we avoided the park which was pitch dark-- and I have a feeling it's not that smart to be out and about after dark anyway... so we hustled and though our room is sweltering (oops, I'm whining again), we are glad to be in it and to rest our weary HOT selves (sorry). Gotta' figure out what to do tomorrow-- a Sunday again. 3rd and last one of our trip!
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