rivers_bend

I had an adventure in London today. I actually went around exploring on my own. Which I've never done before. All my London trips in the past have been with people who knew their way around, or have been very specifically mapped out and with someone else to take over if I got lost. I don't do well with getting lost. Nonetheless, I was a big brave girl and set out on a mission.

Cut for pictures and in case people want to skip parts (or, you know, all of it *g*)


Well, really, the adventures of the day started with getting the train at Brighton station. Where I ran into my best friend who was commuting to London for the day, so we rode the train together. I was hoping it would seem a shorter journey for his company, but it didn't. It was more enjoyable, but it still seemed interminable. I'm used to getting the 'express' train, and though the commuter train is only about 15 minutes longer, it seems to take forever and a day. There was a huge crush of people at the underground entrace and I was a bit cheeky, as I had no luggage and wasn't in a huge group I kind of went along with the people leaving the train station and then cut back in, but honestly. The people with all their stuff! I didn't get to get on the first train that came, but the second one was along shortly, and I was at Oxford Station not too long after tigertrapped. Of course I ended up on the opposite side of the station from her, but thanks to mobile telephony we managed to meet up with no trouble. She led the way to John Lewis where we arrived moments before the doors opened. We made our way upstairs to the cafe where we had croissants and drinks and nearly two and a half hours of chat. Which wasn't nearly long enough, but one does have to work for a living *g* Before we went our seperate ways she pointed me in the direction of the tube station again and I headed off for my adventures in South Kensington.

Once on my own I had two missions.

I've never been to the Museums in London. Which seemed a terrible oversight, and I couldn't really feature having lived 50 minutes from London for 14 years and never having gone. So I thought I would go to the Science Museum, as I like them. But I also wanted to go to Montpelier Square, nearby. Which was the part I was worried about, on the getting lost front. I have a little pocket map of London, but I always leave it behind. Today was no exception. There was, however, a map of the local environs in the South Kensington tube station. So I photographed it and then used the zoom feature on my camera to look at the relavent bits until I had my bearings. I then could use a map on a bus shelter to find the rest of my way there. Montpelier Square is one of those gorgeous, gorgeous neighbourhoods in London that make me wish I had millions to buy a house with. Pretty much exclusively, all my 'lottery dreams' (not that I play) are house oriented. God would I love to have one of these houses. One that particularily caught my eye is the one below.

Montpelier Square

Before I could tackle mission two I definately needed lunch.

As I was walking towards Montpelier Square I passed a pub that had some delicous looking specials on its board out front. So I went back on my way past and went it. It looked to be filling up with business men and women, so I figured the food was probably decent. I was right and then some. I ordered the chicken breast in green peppercorn sauce and it was delicous. Served with split panfried new potatoes and steamed veg with a sauce that was the perfect amount of spicy and rich without being too much of either. I got a table outside, and just in time, five minutes after I sat down all the outside tables were full.

Tea Clipper pub

I was starting to get tired but was determined I was going to go to a museum.

Though I had been going to go to the Science Museum, I decided to stop into the V&A first as it was on the way. I didn't stay long, just walked through the fashion and materials exhibit and then sat for a bit in the statue hall to rest. Damn this stupid labyrinthitis which makes me like an old woman!

I then really wanted to go home, but plucked up the energy to go across the street to the science museum. It's really geared for children. It's half-term (spring break). OY. I walked through the downstairs bit, found a lift and went up to the third floor where the health stuff was. I saw an Iron Lung which was interesting, and I looked at the early x-ray aparatus, dialasys machines and the exhibit on pregnancy and birth and then I'd pretty much had enough. So I left. Two museums in just under an hour. Good thing admission is free.

There's a bus stop outside the V&A that had busses going to Victoria, and my underground ticket was good on the bus, so I took the bus rather than the tube. Much less hassle, much much less walking, and a much better view. We drove through Knightsbridge and Sloane Square so I got to see all the designer shops and boutiques and the chichi shops. I got back to the train station just ten minutes before the express train home. Yay!

Though I didn't actually go to the Natural History Museum (I've been to lots of NH Museums, and they are pretty much all the same), it is the prettiest building. So you get a picture of that *g*

Natural History Museum