England 2017 Thursday, 5/18/17

Arose to a rainy Thursday, our last full day in London.  After the full English breakfast, our querulous quartet broke up into two teams to explore the area.

DebD and Tim struck out for Marble Arch, expecting from there to explore Kensington Garden and the Princess Diana Memorial fountain, Oxford Street, Selfridge's and a stop at the Irish Embassy. All were achieved, damply, and more.  Selfridge's and a search for a specific Yardley eau d' cologne, while not successful, was an adventure in shopping and a chance to really experience the exquisite personal service of this legendary store.

Meanwhile, DebC and your faithful scribe struck out towards the new Design Museum and Holland Park.  The Design Museum was an interesting experience and a beautiful structure. The building was a complete rebuilding of the former Commonwealth Institute into an architecturally amazing new edifice to house all that is design.

Afterward, we stopped along the way at Champions pub for a beer, wine and a take on the Rueben sandwich.  When I explained to the waitress that we were from the birthplace of the Rueben, she was massively unimpressed.  Not a very good taste imitation in truth.

We trekked onward through the Kyoto and Fukushima gardens of Holland Park, up Notting Hill Road to Kensington Gardens.  We too walked the Diana Memorial Walkway, had a coffee at the Lido cafe, and soldiered on back to the Hotel, all through an increasingly heavier rain.

Arriving back at the hotel at 6:45, we dried off, changed clothes and then headed out for our 7:30 reservation for dinner at our longtime favorite French restaurant in London, Le Poulet Pot.  Amazingly good dinner for Veal Scallop in Mushroom sauce, Steak Frites with bear arise sauce, and a scrumptious Coccque  au Vin.

Home by 10:30 to retire for our future adventures.