New Feature and Beers We Drank On Monday

I'd like to introduce a new feature (pronounced fee-cha): Word/Phrase of the Day.  Today's phrase is bubble and squeak.  Now, one would think you were referring to the names of your poodle and your cat (I'm talking to you, Muffin), but noooo, it is a potato or leftover veggie dish.  So named for the sounds it makes while frying.  You take leftover roast vegetables and chop them up (maybe add some cold leftover meat), then fry it up for dinner (or a snack).  Sadly we didn't get to try it (they were out), but at least we know what is now.

Today's adventure started on a clear and sunny note...so much sunshine, we decided that it would be a great day to go to the Eye.  Erected for the millennium, the Eye has become an iconic, and I'm certain money-making fixture in the London skyline.  We bought fast track tickets because we have better things to do than wait in line and because our concierge recommended it.  Totally worth it.

We arrived at the park and were on the "capsule" within 20 minutes.  A once-around tour takes 30 minutes.

Gorgeous views!  There was only one thing that really disappointed me..and it wasn't even any of my business.  There was a girl in our capsule who was about 13 years old.  She spent the entire (and I do mean entire) 30 minutes looking at her phone.  I'm sure she was enthralled with the drama of Brittany and Macon breaking up, and later when she's asked what she saw she'll say "Oh, my mom has the pictures," but, dammit, how can she be so lost on life?  On what's going on around her?  I was sad.  I was truly disappointed.  I was glad I never had kids.  It's likely she was torturing her parents for bringing her on this lousy trip, but the worse was THEY didn't seem to care that she couldn't care less.  Yeah, it made me sad.  And a little angry...that I didn't have the authority to grab her by her turned up nose and explain in a reasonably calm and succinct manner that she was a stupid ingrate.  Deep breath.  Anyway...

Once off the Eye, we decided that since we were in the neighborhood of the Abbey, we should go see it since we missed it on Saturday.  However, once we got across the Westminster Bridge, it was obvious that we weren't going to get in there today.  The line was impossible!  Bloody tourists!  Everywhere!  Bugger!  Plan is to go back early on Wednesday.  

Instead, we set off to find a pub.  London is full of tiny back alleys they fondly call streets, so naturally we got a little turned around.  I approached a bobby (policeman) and asked where we might find a pub called the Two Chairman.  While he'd never heard of the pub (we invited him to go with us), he certainly knew the address...and gave us quick shortcut directions.  Brilliant!  We had a lovely lunch with a couple of really nice beers, and, after the quick rest/recovery, set off for Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.

In Denver, we have a big blue bear that peers into our convention center.  Here they have a blue cock (well, chicken) out front of the National Gallery.  I think the inadvertent "Wide Load" sign is appropriate.  Sodding British humor!

The National Gallery is huge and full of amazing work: Renoir, Degas, Monet, Michelangelo, Gauguin, van Gogh, Rembrandt, and a ton of others.  And of all of them, this one stuck out for only one reason: Sammys, I'm talking to you...

It was close to 5pm and getting cold outside when we finally got out of the labyrinth that is the Gallery, so instead of facing rush hour, we stepped into a pub in nearby Piccadilly Circus, The Admiralty.  Yay, us!  And yay Fuller's beer!  Once full of food and beer, and ready to get back to the hotel, we hopped the tube back to Marble Arch and our waiting bed.

Tomorrow, we think it will be the British Museum and Abbey Road.  It's so true...London is 10 pounds of shit in a five pound bag!