Day 3: The Markets & Westminster

Taking advantage of the spectacular weather. High 60’s, mix of sun and clouds. Very comfortable walking weather!

Portobello Market in Notting Hill. MANY blocks, very overwhelming. Some new stuff like an art fair, lots of “vintage” that looked like a flea market and many food booths. Bought coffee and a croissant! Oh, and there was nature when we walked through Portobello Green on our way back to the Tube.

Then on to Borough Market. Also overwhelming and super crowded. Saturday! Honestly hard to really see anything through the crowds. We stayed around the periphery as long as we could. It’s located near the London Bridge, so checked that off our list. 

Split a small burger at a random pub (WAY too nuts to eat something at the market!), then on to the War Rooms! Very interesting; glad we went. Churchill and his team including admin staff ran the war from this bunker. Also heard a presentation about Alan Turing who cracked the Enigma code machine during the war and is credited with several mathematics and computing advances. I knew the Enigma part but didn’t know that he was later arrested for homosexual behavior, was chemically castrated and ultimately committed suicide. Only after his death was his work acknowledged and celebrated. 

Since we were in the area, went by Westminster Abbey. 

And this happened  

There is a pub close to our place, The Jack Horner, that we could get into on the way back. Charcuterie that was just okay. Came back to change shoes, sat down and fell asleep for an hour and a half!

But we rallied! Jeff Scott said we had to have a drink at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, so away we went (even though we’re not on a big-time advertising expense account like Jeff).  Cheers from the American Bar! Around since 1889. Named because they served American style cocktails. Many famous people have visited including Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Neil Armstrong, Ernest Hemingway, Jeff Scott and us.

Home by 11:00 pm. Tons of people on the streets past our bedtime. 19,300 steps today. Good night!