Out of the Palace

Another day, and another Hotel change. Up bright and early this morning and headed out to Starbuck's to get an internet connection to check on hotel accomodations. Well hell, they don't open till 7:30, so stopped and got a donut and went to Burger King...of all places...and used their internet cafe. I looked and looked and finally went back to the hotel to tell John HE'D have to find a place, I was L@@KED out.

We went back and finally found another place, got on the Underground and came to check it out. It is right across from Hyde Park, little place called Eylesses Hotel. Not a lot different from Regent Palace, but does have a private bath, the window opens, and is much smaller and quieter.

After having an American Institution (It's the REAL thing) in England, produced in Russia, we took a short nap, then took off for a tour of Hyde Park. My god it was so NICE and cool. It almost had a feeling of fall in the air...leaves blowing, cool air, guys playing football in the park. We hiked by Kenningston Palace (Victoria's birthplace), Prince Alberts statue (for whom my father was named after), and by the 'round' lake. Unlike White Rock Lake there was PLENTY of room for bikers, hikers, and runners. Notice the picture to document this.

I ran across three guys looking at a map and asked if they were from London...well obviously, looking at a map they weren't, but the guy standing on the corner WAS from London, so of course I HAD to ask WHERE does one go to have 'Fish'n Chips'???? He gave us directions, so off we went to locate JUST the right place to have 'authenic' English fish and chips. We Hiked and Hiked, and Hiked. I tell you what, you don't have to worry about all the Isralies and Lebanesse, or Iraqies...they are ALL here in London. They were smoking their habashies at restaurants, wearing their babikies (whatever) in the park, working their markets on every corner, and on one corner there was Beirut Restaurant, and the next corner Isralie Joe's Pizza. Craziest thing I ever saw. I thought we'd NEVER get out of the 'war zone'.

Finally we did. We came to a little place called Daniels Pub, hand battered fish and chips 6.95 pounds. It was SO nice to sit down, had a cold Fosters and our "Fish'n Chips". There was a young guy sitting one table over from us drinking Corona. He just had that look about him that he really needed someone to say "Hi"....well I thought about it and thought about it but didn't. Finally HE leaned over and said "Where are you from?". I told him and we had a really nice conversation over a couple of beers. He is from New York and going to school in Liverpool. He had just finished and was stopping by London for a week to see the city before heading back to New York. Just goes to show, when it looks like someone would really like for someone to speak to them, you should.

We then headed back to the 'New' hotel and working on plans for tomorrow. Have to pick up tickets to Paris for Friday, hopefully a Grayline tour of London, a two day pass for the underground, then maybe Thursday a boat trip....see how it all goes. We are meeting friends for dinner tomorrow night, so will report on that as well.

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