LAST DAY in LONDON and GOODBYE

LAST DAY! There's no better way to see London than to walk it and it's an easy place to get around. I feel I'm part of the residents when I get away from the tour buses and the major sights. It's a different experience. Today we went from Trafalgar Sq to Regents Park via Marylbone and back through Picadilly. 

Marylbone is a village-like neighborhood with one main street of small shops, pubs and cafes.  You know me, I like history so I had to find out where the name came from. It came from its church dedicated to St Mary, now St Marylebone Parish Church. The original church was built on the bank of a small stream or "bourne". In the thirteenth century when the language of the aristocracy was French, St-Mary-by-the-Tyburn would have been St-Mary-a-le-Bourne  and from this you get the word ‘Marylebone’.
Marlee - bone.
Ok, it's a stretch. 

Regents Park was once part of the extensive Forest of Middlesex, back when London didn't reach out to Marylebone. With the dissolution of the monasteries (1536-40), Henry VIII acquired the Manor of Tyburn and created a hunting ground, Marylebone Park, which covered almost the same area as the 400 acres which comprise The Regent's Park today.

Stepping through the gates is like entering a colorful , soft country, Past roses still gave off their scent. Birds swam in hidden ponds with spilling water and fountains. It has immaculately maintained gardens  and a hoard of gardeners (too bad they didn't label the plants), tennis, sports, walks, it's famous zoo, and cafe's. We stopped at one for lunch. I had butternut squash soup and though the bakery cookies didn't inspire me the homemade jelly beans did. 

High Street

On Every Street Corner

This Was Funny: A Store Devoted to Cufflinks

Coot Fam

Apropos Mug 

We found a gem of a restaurant for dinner, HAWKSMOOR on Air St. George went crazy and had bone marrow! I had shaved fennel and watercress with Dover Sole which was perfect. We ended our last night with the gelato lady who knows us now and if we stayed another night would have probably made a home delivery!  The narrow streets  lit with fairy lights and subtle streetlamps were lively, everyone was happy.


Phase One of this trip is over for me. George heads back to Philadelphia, I'll go with him to Heathrow then meet Linda at Terminal 3 for Phase Two. 

Transitions.