Metropolitian Holiday

This past Monday was a bank holiday here in the UK and we decided to spend it in London. Opting to get a hotel, and theatre tickets we spent our time not exploring the history of the city but instead feeding our more trivial side. We arrived by train Friday afternoon and found our way to our hotel. Dinner at an Indian restaurant across the street and then Wicked at the Apollo. My Husband and I had seen this one before but this was the first time for our children and we were anxious for them to experience it. Watching my son perched on the edge of his seat and my daughter hanging on every word made every cent worth it.

The next day we spent most of shopping and learning the London underground in an effort to avoid using taxis, which we learned pretty quickly is not the cheap way to get around the city and certainly not the fastest. We each got some new items to bring home and loaded ourselves with bags from many stores not found in Canada. However the highlight of that day for me was definitely the play my husband took me to that night. Ditching the kids in the hotel with dinner, snacks and movie we headed off to watch Les Mis. Those who know me will appreciate how exciting this was. I loved Wicked, Phantom is amazing, really I am sure I would enjoy any theatre experience I have but Les Mis is something more. The curtain rising and the first few bars of music will quite literally bring me to tears, however I know that I was not the only one there in that state which helped ease any embarrassment I may have felt. Every minute of it was moving and profound for me, I anticipate I will attend this particular musical when ever the opportunity arises. 

The remainder of our time in the city was spent checking out landmarks of a sort. The kind that made us happy even if we weren't moved or educated. Our hotel was within a ten minute walk of the famous Abbey Road Recording studio and for a Beatles fan this was a pretty thrilling place to stop outside of. The walls and gate outside the studio are covered in messages from thousands of like minded fans leaving their thoughts on the iconic band. We saw the cross walk where the well known album cover was shot and witnessed the near hitting of several devoted people attempting to duplicate it by locals who are perhaps over the fetish. I couldn't help feel that the lack of enthusiasm  displayed by my own children reflected badly on the musical education I have contributed to their life.

It seemed only fair that after visiting a place that seem to impress only myself and my husband that we search out some that would get the kids excited. Happily that lead us straight to 221B Baker street to visit Sherlock Holmes. Believe it or not both my kids excitedly danced about and patiently waited to have a photo taken with his well know cap and pipe.

One of my sons requested stops was at Big Ben, I think on his radar because it showed up on Doctor Who of which he is a huge fan. Not one to quench a desire to see the more informative sites, we hopped on the train and headed over there. By way of information of those not familiar with London that is also the stop for the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. The London Eye looks as cool in person as it looks in all the movies and television shows that it shows up in. I am sure that the low point of my daughters trip was when told her we just didn't have time to wait in line for the trip around it. 

In order to lift her broken spirits we took her to the one place bound to put a smile back on her face, platform 9 3/4 of Kings Cross train station. In a true marketing genius kind of way they have built a trolley right into the wall and marked it clearly as the correct platform where they have photographers waiting to take your picture pushing the luggage through the wall. Once again more than willing to wait in the line to have their turn to sport a house scarf and have a run a the wall, my kids waited patiently in line while I waited somewhat less patiently in the crush of parents with their own cameras ready. Once your photo is taken they send you around a slight corner to the Harry Potter store to pick up your picture, a new wand and a back to school house jumper.

While out shopping my son begged and begged to visit the M&M store that is located in London, and after a few mis-turns and many minutes walk in the rain we finally found it. Having visited the one in Vegas also I should have already known this, but managed to forget until bombarded with it again, I do not like the M&M store. Floor after floor of all things M&M leaves me less than impressed. Despite my sons love of every ounce of M&M paraphernalia I feel confident in saying I don't need any of that in my house. In fact other the candy itself I can see no draw to fighting the massive crowds and confusion to go in there. I have been told that there is a store in Paris also and as the suggestion to visit it has already been uttered I imagine that despite my protestations I will find myself in another one of these stores again.

 I fell more and more in love with London the longer we spent there. The list of places we want to see doesn't seem to be shrinking, in fact I think we add new ones each time we talk to a local. It is full of historical treasures and more modern entertainment and all of it is captivating and beautiful to me.