London-Day 5-Food & Sights

An aggressive four days will get you though all of London's must see sights.  With day five, we had time to explore the much less frequently seen sights.  As I knew Jordan was growing restless of the same city, I knew I needed to entertain him.  We ventured out across the Thames, into the suburbs.  Our first stop included a touristy area named Gabriel's Wharf, where I stopped at a foodie's dream area and tried a true British pie.  I tried one with sweet potatoes, chicken, and curry spice.  I did like this Pieminister place.  

After this, we did go to a beautiful park and the Imperial War Museum. This museum had artifacts from WWI until now.  We were both impressed by the style of the museum and the museum artifacts.  I did not know the European citizens of Hong Kong were in a very harsh internment camp, which I learned from the most beautiful quilted diary a nurse kept.  Also, the officers of Britain kept the original flag in the prison camp and in 1945 marched back to put up this flag as victory ensued.   Every war museum I visit further instills in me how grateful I am for being born into this generation & Jordan not joining the military.

After this, we went across part of the city to another borough.  As we crossed Mayfair, the window shopping was the best in the world! We eventually found Sotheby's and got to enjoy their exhibits.  Yes, this famous auction house is available to the public.  

After I dragged Jordan to more art, I realized I had to get him to a good eatery; and London has the original Hard Rock.

As any one who frequents this blog knows we love Hard Rock.  It provides a standard menu & good drinks.  The Hard Rock franchise started at this locale, on the famous Park Lane.  It was given a three month lease because no one thought the idea of American burgers would create a special place.  The food, the drugs (shhhh), the stage for performers and the crazy two owners were a perfect recipe for success in the 1970s.  In 1979, Eric Clapton gave his guitar to reserve a stool at the busy bar;  within a week, Pete Townsend gave a guitar to reserve a better stool.  They continued to one up each other until the late 1980s.  Also,  the restaurant bought famous memorabilia from other acts to further their collection.  --but again, we enjoy the American food!

We were done for the day, so we enjoyed the local pub of Crown and Rose which has been used by the RAF (Royal Air Force), Oliver Cromwell, and many others.  We had to kill time before the Jack the Ripper tour with some local drinks.  We ventured to Tower Hill to take the almost two hour Jack the Ripper Tour.  It was good, but the Whitechapel series delivers better facts.  (Or the Wilmington, NC bar tour...per the Hornacks.). I did enjoy seeing the places of the murders, as gruesome as it was.   We enjoyed a Beefeater tour guide, so he was crazy.

After that, we left the scary area to go home!