Sunday Rundown

Here is a quick update from our Sunday. I will flesh this out with details and pictures tomorrow.

• Slept in again
• Went to Covent Garden area, and several of the neighborhoods around it

We walked around the Covent Garden market and saw several street performers and even more tourists. We also did a little shopping. We went to one department store that was very impressive both in its size and scale and in its prices. We did Rick Steves's west end walk, which took us to several areas we hadn't seen before, including a few hidden away squares. 

On our way to our apartment, we stopped early and went through Hyde Park. Sunday at Hyde Park is speakers corner day, so we walked by the area where anyone is encouraged to set up their own soap box and start preaching to the crowd. By the time we got there, it was pretty late, so we only got a taste, but that was plenty for me.

• Caught another football match, this time at a pub just down the street from our apartment

There was a big London rivalry match on Sunday between Arsenal and Tottenham. Both teams are from North London, and both teams are among the top 5 in the league. We took in the match from another bad pub near our apartment with hoards of others. We found a seat in the very back corner and were able to watch both the game and the locals watching the game.

• Went on a pub walk called "Soho Unzipped." We both enjoyed it very much

The walk is put on by London Walks at www.walks.com, which comes with my highest recommendation. This was the second of these walks that I have been on, and they have not disappointed. Our tour guide called himself Richard III, as there are several Richards who do walks through the company, and he happened to be the third. He was quick to point out that he had nothing to do with the guy who was recently dug up out of a parking lot. He was not effusively friendly at the beginning of the tour, but when we approached him at our first pub stop, he really opened up, and he made good natured jokes about people from Iowa and actuaries for the rest of time. Just like being back home.

The bartender at this bar was really nice and let us play with his toys

• NEW SINCE LAST NIGHT - Ikea Beds leave something to be desired

When I sat down on the bed after a long day on our feet, it kind of fell over. We discovered that it was an Ikea construction-by-number deal with some after-factory adjustments to make it work in the cramped bedroom of our London flat. We eventually were able to comprehend the advanced schematics which included several stacks of books acting as central support structures along with risers at various locations. It took us some amount of effort and composure to figure this all out even as we wanted badly to sleeping in the bed we were rebuilding.

• Successfully avoided jail again (this time there were no close calls)

Until Monday