The second part can be viewed at thevoice.us/languid-london-captured-on-warm-september-holidays
Last of three parts
“Hats are radical, but only people who wear hats understand that.” —London milliner Philip Treacy
London in September was beautiful azure skies and glorious sunshine. Average temperatures were in the 70s and without rain at all. Perfect for walking about. Miles upon miles! Loved every second of the new and unexplored.
Londontown was butterflies and bumble bees and baby buggies. It was a multi-national conveyor belt from Sweden, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Japan, China, Canada, South Korea, Texas, New York, Atlanta, and more. I would recognize the American speech and ask where they were from in the States.
My seat mates were extraordinary. One was a young professional photographer so, of course, we had the most marvelous conversation. He was going to Italy on commission to photograph the homes of the rich which were for sale. All expenses were paid. He recited one of his poems to me and I did the same to him. Returning was a wonderful couple who wed 47 years. After Chicago they were going to New Orleans and take a cruise before flying home.
Of course the London papers that were in the hotel lobby each morning were full of Brexit opinions and of the Royals. Rather tiring, really, the obsession with each. Almost no news of the States until the hurricane Dorian threats.
Kensington Gardens was three blocks from hotel so I walked there several days. Marvelous pastoral area amid the noise and furious fast-paced city. The Sunken Garden was planted in 1908. The garden is terraced with ornamental flower beds surrounding an ornamental pond with fountains formed from reused 18th Century water cisterns retrieved from the palace. The pond was full of swans and geese and various birds. The flying brown booby was spotted near Cornwell for the first time. The bird is normally found in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela.
Naturally, the English vocabulary is different from ours. I learned that frogmarched means to be fired. Boys are called lads or laddies. Doggy meant questionable as in that was a doggy decision. Biscuits are cookies and the water closet is the bathroom. A twitcher is a bird-watcher. Diet Coke is called Coke Light.
I enjoyed seeing the hats on the women passing by and in the stores. Visited Harrod’s, Marks and Spencer, Liberty, and Selfridges. But, my goodness, those prices! Each already has Christmas rooms which were full of unusual items that I had never seen. The British do not give bags with purchase at many stores. Funny thing, they are so adamant about that and yet continue to smoke. So many millions of cigarette butts littering everywhere. How can you be so concerned about the environment, but oblivious to the toxic and dangerous habit of smoking?
Taking the double-decker buses was the best way to traverse the city. I purchased an Oyster card which made it so simple and made the price about half of what it would be without the card. Have to be careful because they change the routes and the times willy-nilly. Or stop picking up passengers all together. Bus No. 94 took me to Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Covent Garden. The bus drivers were either very helpful or were downright nasty. Could not tell which until I asked a destination question.
Street musicians were beautiful to hear; singers with melodic voices. The free classical concert at noon at St. Martins-in-the-Fields featured a violinist and a bass.
Illegal migrants are an issue in London. Authorities send them back after police question them. They are deported quickly until they try again not to return to Iran or Afghanistan.
London is a marvelous city for art and architecture and theatre and history and bookshops and gardens and shopping. Literally anything a person likes to do or see in a world-class city is here. I miss London already. But now I am content to be…
Home sweet home.