The Tourist.

This weekend, I played London Tourist to the max. Overdid it perhaps. I had a friend visiting London for the first time and had a list of must see's.
Portobello Market.
Ok this one was my idea. It is an antiques road market with lots of old paintings, clocks, china, porcelain, mirrors, marmalade jars, books, spoons, silver, vintage shoes, maps....and the list is endless. Now I am sure this would be a fantastic place to see things, browse but for a million other people who thought it might be a good idea to visit as well. The crowd just throngs here and it's quite insane. The street itself is cute with pastel hued terraced houses on both sides. (Some of you may remember seeing these in the movie - Notting hill). Why anyone would like a supposedly 1940's chamach is beyond me, but I loved the marmalade jars.
Nearest tube: Notting hill gate or Ladbroke grove.

The royal circle
Ok this one we followed from the map in the National geographic guide to Londra. Famished, we got a high calorie energy boost with a typical angrez lunch/supper/breakfast before we began the big walk. I ate jacket potatoes with melted cheddar and beans while Simone ate the Ham, eggs and chips with a pint of Guiness. Then came the coffee confusion, where we ended up drinking bad american black coffee on the steps outside the houses of parliament.
So the intenary is as follows - get out of Westminster tube station, Look up and you will see the Big Ben(Ding ding dong). Take some photos. I'm not explaining what the big ben is, look up wikipedia. Then move your eyes to the massive gothic Houses of Parliament (which remind me of Bombay high court near the oval maidan).
Walk to your right and check out Westminster Abbey. The stain glass is brilliant. I still dont know why this abbey is famous... but i know it's really old.
Keep walking down Victoria street and try to find Scotland Yard. Clue 1. Look for cops. It is Scotland Yard you get only one clue.
Then look on your right for the Buckingham gate road, and walk towards what else but the Buckhingham palace. I had a small flutter when i saw the Taj hotel, felt homesick. The guards wore gray instead of red , perhaps it is the winter uniform. Take some more photos.
Walk through st James Park. Hold hands. It is beautiful and reminds you of 18th century picnics. Weeping willows, squirrels and mandarin ducks provide the quintessential english garden setting.
Sweep through the Horses Guard Parade thingi, try to make the unsmiling guard smile. Walk walk.
Ten downing street. Google for Cherie Blair. She lives here.

Phew am exhausted.

Nearest tube: Westminster Abbey

In the night for my birthday, we went to the West end, Dinner at Angus steak house (Ha ha! Am vegetarian, but they had options :)) Followed by whisky cola in the bylanes of Soho.
Nearest tube: Leicester square