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London Trip Report - Day 9 - May 14, 2005
Notting Hill Day!!!
Today we got up around 9AM and got our morning Starbucks (which we've done most days). Then we migrated the Underground to head to the Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill. This is only big on Saturdays. The weather was gorgeous for it. We rounded the corner onto Portobello Road and were amazed to see all the people. It looked like a street festival. As we walked, we felt as if it went on forever. It was a good mile long I'd say. Tables sold fresh fruits & vegetables, breads, clothing, antiques, and more than anything jewelry. It was a jewelry lovers paradise. I saw lots of great stuff but only bought one thing. I got a very small silver pocket watch that winds up rather than using a battery. I didn't even know you could get one like that anymore.
From Notting Hill, we went to Tower Bridge again. I had seen something in the gift shop that I wanted to pick up. It gave us an opportunity for more pictures with different clouds and weather. We then went to the Covent Garden/Seven Dials area where Linda had heard a shop was that she wanted to visit. We ended up walking around quite a lot. I didn't buy anything. We ate again at Ponti's Italian Restaurant in Covent Garden. This was my third meal here. This time I had something different but I can't tell you what it was. I was unable to even pronounce it. I just pointed to what I wanted. It was pasta with spices, bits of asparagus, and cream of tomato soup. It was really good. I finished my meal with a piece of lemon merangue pie. The food here is quick and fairly cheap. I highly recommend it.
While eating dinner at Ponti's, we realized that they were playing the soundtrack to the Notting Hill movie. This coincidence continued as we went into the Underground to go to Piccadilly Circus. A musician in the Covent Garden station was playing "Aint No Sunshine (When She's Gone)". It's just a Notting Hill day.
We both made it back to the hotel at Piccadilly Circus just dragging. Linda was done for the day. She took some Nyquil and passed out. I took some Advil hoping to stop hurting and kept going. I went to the Tate Modern which everyone said I had to see. They are open late on Friday and Saturday nights. I saw works by many famous artists and many new artists. The most impressive for me was seeing Rodin's "The Kiss" sculpture. There were some very fun exibits...some which took up entire rooms. I highly recommend this place for everyone. It's not just pictures painted on the wall, it's a little bit of everything. As a plus, if you go late on Friday or Saturday nights, you can see the Millineum walking bridge and St. Pauls Cathedral lit up at night.
I made the trip back to Piccadilly Circus and walked around the area a bit more to kind of say a little goodbye to London. It is a magnificent city and it's lit up so gorgeous at night. I will miss it.
Now it's about 1:30 AM again...time for bed.
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