

Today we wake up in London! We did try to get an early start, but it just didn't happen---no matter, it's a vacation! We got back to King's Cross Station, and finally found Platform 9 3/4 so the girls could try to get onto the Hogwarts Express. No luck, so we'll try for the Tube instead. Finally get our oyster cards/travel cards under control, find the right line--the Piccadilly Line, and get to Leicester (say Lester) Square to get our theatre tickets. Wicked tomorrow night! Yay, the girls are so excited!! Now back on the Piccadilly Line, lucky us, our next stop is on the same line. The Victoria and Albert Museum, or the V & A, where we plan to meet up with a friend from our Hong Kong days. We had a great time with Hazel and her daughter Silvia--thanks for coming out to meet us!! We saw a good bit of the V & A, including the Chihuly chandelier, and a few other pieces by him as well. you might know that Chihuly is a glass artist from Seattle, and a favorite of mine since I first saw The Boat in the Columbus Museum. We also enjoyed lunch in the cafe and the girls got to wade out in the fountains in the courtyard---it was a beautiful sunny day in London.
Next we walked over to Kensington Gardens to have a walk around the park. We saw the Albert Memorial and the Diana Memorial Fountain and enjoyed an ice cream by the Serpentine lake. But it was getting late in the afternoon and our friends have to go. They helped us find our tube station, the Hyde Park Corner, which is also on the Piccadilly line, so we are experts on this one line. Wonder where else it could take us??
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| ironwork in the V&A |
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| The Chihuly chandelier |
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| The girls outside in the fountains |
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| Chihuly piece in the V&A |
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| Alex, Casey and Silvia |
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| The Albert Memorial |
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| The Diana Memorial Fountain, for splashing and playing in the park |
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| The statue of Isis |
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| seabird |
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| finishing up our ice creams |