After a
rainy morning we set out for Trafalgar Square. Nelson on his column, fountains,
hordes, nativity scene, Christmas tree from Norway, countdown clock to the 2012
Olympics, statues of the other admirals, a giant menorah sculpture to celebrate
Chanukah and a model of Nelson’s ship in a bottle weighing 4 tons to ‘celebrate
London’s immense ethnic wealth’- we didn’t really understand the link to be
honest. Bray rode the giant metal lions (after getting a very wet butt climbing
up onto it after the rain) and Roni shared a hongi with them.
Into the
National Gallery next – a grand building! We spent some time appreciating the
works Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Degas and many more before emerging
culturally and aesthetically enriched to consume our mandarins outside.
On leaving
the gallery we crossed the road, after spotting and photographing a London cab
emblazoned with the logo and advertising of Ernst
& Young - the company Roni’s sister Anna works for in Christchurch! St
Martin in the Fields was our next stop and we admired their windows and
sculpture reminding us of Christ at Christmas out the front. They were about to
celebrate mass so we didn’t stay too long. Next we carried on past the Judith
Cavel statue and multiple theatres until we stumbled upon the imposing art deco
edifice that is the Freemason’s Hall – it covers two and a quarter acres! The
rain arrived again about this time so we headed to Covent Garden where we
appreciated the MASSIVE baubles (if they fell on you we think you could die –
they are huge!), multiple shops, giant paella pans, delicious smells, topiary
Rudolph with red nose and big Christmas tree.
Then...Bray
found the Coca-Cola Christmas truck! The one that has lights all over it and is
in the Christmas ads they do every year. He was very excited but got really shy
– cute! Wouldn’t go over and get a photo with it or even get one of the free
mini coke cans they were handing out, crazy...who would’ve guessed. We took a
few photos of the truck nonetheless before walking past some luxurious robes
outside a shop and the Working Donkeys of Covent Garden memorial plaque on our
way back to the tube. We also discovered that the route we had walked was a huge
loop and we could’ve just gone straight to and from things – oops! Another
discovery was a fantastic travel book store, SO many titles, games and fun
stuff...managed to escape with our wallets unscathed.
Back to
Trafalgar Square for a few photos of Nelson from across the road by King
Charles I in order to zoom in and get his face and stuff...turns out he only
has one arm – you learn something new every day! More photos of the admiral’s
arch that we had seen on our Buckingham Palace wander day, this time from the
other side and we contemplated the National Portrait Gallery. In the end
deciding we were done for the day and could return for the late night opening
on Friday instead.
Back on the
tube, home to Maida Vale for a quiet cuppa before Roni headed out again for
dinner with school-friends Jess and Fiona near Picadilly Circus. She was early
so had a chance to explore the area some more before meeting the girls and
eventually opting for an Asian fusion dinner. Good catch up chats and some
tasty kai before heading back to the tube for farewells and each going their
separate ways.
Home again
to share news of the evening with Bray before heading to bed as the sniffles
and cough are still sticking around – grrr.
