London -day 2 Tuesday 8th September-Hyde Park, Harrods and JERSEY BOYS

Last night it was too late to write by the time we got home, but I thought I would quickly try to put down a bit of what was involved in our day.

After putting some clothes in to wash (sadly the domestic stuff is still required) we hit the road, walking to the bus stop and catching our beloved hop on, hop off bus again.
Happily it didn't cost much more to add a second day when we bought the ticket, so it's handy as we are now familiar with the route,  and how to use it.

We hopped off at Hyde Park, stopping to take a photo of the fancy entrance gates, before heading in to investigate the treats inside.

We enjoyed watching the many grey squirrels hopping across the lawns with their tails wafting gracefully behind them. Birds were also landing on people's hands-we saw what looked like a parrot, and a small bird like a honey eater which came to take the bread a bloke was trying to feed to a squirrel! Scared the crap out of him! He got what he hoped for as later we saw a squirrel actually walk up his leg to take some bread from him!

We walked part way through he park with its wonderfull flower beds and fountains and then  through the streets to Harrods, where we wondered at the store decorations, the wonderful smells, the variety of things available and the prices that people are prepared to pay, before succumbing to the urge and having a cup of tea (English breakfast no 14) there out of fine bone China.  It was very nice.

On the way out we went past the wine and expensive jewelry (Trev wouldn't let me look too much).

We headed back to Hyde Park a different way, and happened to come across a street name that required a picture.

Strolling through the park again we visited the Diana memorial fountain,  and decided that we would not like to be a part of the swimming club who swim in the very duck-pooey lake.  It is a beautiful spot though in the middle of this very busy city.

We found a temporary fountain that made us laugh as we went.

We hopped back on the bus,this time hopping off and walking in to Leicester square, where we did the touristy thing, and bought last minute discounted tickets to see Jersey Boys in the evening.

Then off to find some late lunch (with wine) before a visit to the national portrait gallery. Here we spent a happy couple of hours before they closed their doors at 6 pm,  giving us enough time to wander and find a good pub for a drink and dessert before the theatre.

The show started a bit slow , but warmed up nicely with some great performances of classics, but it was added to by the group of ladies next to Trev who were getting very emotionally involved, and the older couple next to me who were grooving and singing along to the music.  The man sitting next to me used to be in three bands and performed cover versions of many  of the songs performed.

We walked back home after the show through St James Park and the horse guards ground. We could have dropped in to 10 Downing street no worries, but we figured the prime minister was probably getting  his beauty sleep.

The weather was not too cold, and the fountain in the park was very pretty lit up at night, as were the lovely old buildings on the streets.

We slipped in our door and into our room as our housemates snuggled asleep in their beds-but they woke us anyway this morning. That's life when you opt to use air Bnb to stay less expensively in a central part of the city.