Day 7: London, England

London, United Kingdom

I had an absolutely lovely last day in London! Hard to believe it’s time to head home tomorrow, but glad I had the chance to explore the following today: I started my day with the full tour of Westminster Abby. Another stunning sight (no interior photography allowed), and I specially can’t get over the beautiful ceiling in King Henry VII’s chapel found at the rear of the church. I was also quite fascinated to learn about the coronation chair, used for over 700 years to welcome over 35 monarchs. The Stone of Scone that is typically placed in the chair is actually housed at Edinburgh Castle instead of Westminster. The incredible stain glass mixed with the high arched ceilings were such a pretty contrast against the dark wood and metal inside. I lit a candle and requested a prayer in the memory of my father, as I know his artistic eye would have also seen the beauty here. After touring the inside, I enjoyed viewing the other commons areas on the grounds where the monks spend a good amount of their time and was able to at least capture some photos in these peaceful areas. From here, I had the chance to meet Kristina at Harrod’s for tea and browsed the store afterward. Our lunch was wonderful and we decided it was a must to try a couple of their decadent desserts 🙂 Post lunch, I literally died and went to (shoe) heaven (found on the 5th floor). It was amazing to see the selection of shoes there and in every department throughout Harrod’s. From bed linens and towels to fine jewelry and China, every item was displayed perfectly with outstanding customer service. My favorite floor was the 1st with the various places to eat/food markets…care to have some oysters? Caviar? How about a roasted chicken? All the food (fruits, veggies, meats, etc.) looked so fresh. The flowers looked like they had just bloomed and the desserts, oh the desserts (even for someone like me that isn’t a dessert person) were just picture perfect. Check out the detail of each, along with the mounds of truffles, chocolates and macaroons! Overall, everything is simply grand at Harrod’s. I don’t think I’ll ever be allowed to live in London simply to avoid shopping daily at Harrod’s! Kristina and I then enjoyed a leisurely wonder through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens….both beautiful in their own ways. From very manicured areas to more natural green space, paddle boasts and row boasts to runners and sunbathers…these natural spaces appeal to all. I understand why Will & Kate decided to retreat to Kensington since the birth of the Royal Baby. From the outside the palace (building itself) doesn’t necessarily look as ornate as others, but the gardens would make for a beyond beautiful walk with a stroller. To round out our afternoon we walked to Notting Hill and had fun popping into various stores on and around Portobello street. Even had the chance to stop at the book store made famous by the movie, Notting Hill, and checked out the original local of Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell. Notting hill was a fun, spunky neighborhood with a mix of high end homes and some eccentric shops and people. I could only imagine the crowd during their popular Saturday market. Kristina and I enjoyed a refreshing pressed juice from a quaint boutique market to cool off from our walk around town and then headed back to Parsons a Green to relax for a bit before dinner. Dinner tonight ranks amongst the top meals I’ve ever had…hands down. We headed to the financial district to Sushi Samba, a Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian sushi restaurant with a view from the 38th floor! What a way to close out a fabulous trip. Cheers, London! I’ll miss some of your cleaver dialect (lift, push carts, lads, etc.), and will look forward to returning to be amongst the 8 million people in this 600 mile radius city at some point again. Thanks for all the fun! …Go Cavs!! See you tomorrow to celebrate, CLE!