We got up early Monday to catch an 8am coach for Heathrow (via Standsted, Hatfield etc.) to take the kids and Coralie to their flight.
Elizabeth and her just completed scarf waiting for the coach. It was cold, and we were early.
We slept some on the 2.5 hour ride. No problems checking in at United, and Alex and I waited until they were all through security before we left.
We took the tube into London, and went right to the half price ticket booth in Leicester Square and got tickets for that evening's performance of The Rivals. Then we went to China Town to have lunch.
We ate here, where all the New Years Rabbits are still up!
But in the streets they were taking down the lanterns from the New Year celebrations.
After lunch, we walked to Covent Garden Market, and wandered around the stalls looking at all the things to buy. And we wondered if it would be a good idea to bring the kids when they are here next time. They would certainly like it!
So many little things to buy.
We stopped to take a look at Burlington House, where Alex did hours and hours of dissertation research.
And we window shopped through Burlington Arcade, where there are beautiful expensive things, and fantastic window displays.
The historic marker for the founding of Penguin Books!
We were just talking about Penguin Books with Coralie, since Alex bought the 100 postcards of classic Penguin covers.
Me in front of the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I love Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, and I couldn't quite believe we could just wander into town and get tickets to see them in The Rivals. We used to watch them in the early 1980s in To the Manor Born.
We walked past the theatre early in the day to check out the neighborhood and make sure we knew where we were going.
Regent Street at night. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around, and had coffee and some time to read at the cafe in the Waterstones at Trafalgar Square.
We had dinner at a little place around the corner from the Haymarket.
We had great seats, in the 9th row. The half-price ticket booth does not give you choice, you just get the best available at half price. We would not normally get such good tickets, but how could one resist. The theatre is beautiful, and well restored. The show was fabulous. Of course the acting was great, no surprise. And the play is really funny. A wonderful evening.
We caught the second to last train back to Cambridge from Kings Cross, and it was pretty full. We were somewhat surprised riding in the taxi back from the station at how many people were out at midnight, until we remember that the students are on their half-term holiday this week, so they don't have to get up and go to class the next day.
Oh my - well way to make sure you don't give yourself too much time to mourn the kids' leaving. I love the idea of getting out and having fun. It was also nice to see some pictures of you in there Heather! Definitely have the cold pink cheeks! You properly invigorated.
Posted by: Christy Story | March 02, 2011 at 03:14 PM