Foolish fun, foodie fun

My morning went to sleep and email.  Walking consumed most of the afternoon, but the walking led to moments of foolish fun.

Isn't this connector marvelous?

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I love it.  I do not care for the notion that an American burger-and-fries chain sits on the corner, but so capitalism goes.

Just down the street I encountered this sign, which I absolutely adore.

Don't get me wrong:  I understand there's a lot that's very wrong about this sign.  That's part of why I like it so much.

London even treated me to some sunshine today.

Further along, on the way to the London Eye, I encountered this carousel.

When on holiday you encounter a carousel with no waiting queue, you have only one choice:  you must ride it.  So I did.  The horses proved to have names, so I chose the one named after my friend and business partner.

That it was pink and heavily made up only increased the humor for me.

If you know me well, you know I have a fear of heights.  So, you might reasonably ask, why would I voluntarily board this beast?

Because there's no time like the present to redefine one's self, says I.  So, on it I went.  My pulse was racing at first, but the cabins are as big as rooms, and the pace is slow and constant, so over time I relaxed and quite enjoyed the views, such as this one of that same carousel.

And this shot of Big Ben from above.

Later, I encountered the same landmark from a more traditional perspective.

Dinner tonight took me to another fantastic restaurant, Adam Handling at The Caxton.  I'd eaten Handling's cooking at the 2015 Cayman Cookout, and it was wonderful, so I was excited to go to his restaurant.

He did not let me down.  The food was superb from start to finish.  Inventive, whimsical, and always delicious, Handling's creations were a joy to eat.  The meal was absolutely world-class, and I recommend this restaurant highly.

Another fine day in London.

On the road again: London, day 3

Sleeping, working, and walking filled all but the dinner part of today.  I'll save the dinner for a separate entry, because the amazing meal deserves its own coverage, and there's little to say about the sleeping and the working, so let's focus on the walking.

I love walking in cities, particularly in old European cities, and London is certainly no exception.  Today's goal was simply to see a few of the lovely historic buildings and locations.  One of the first I photographed was the entrance to Downing Street.

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Like our President's house, Number 10 Downing Street is no longer easy to approach.  I understand and appreciate the need for these levels of security, but I still find them sad.

Big Ben stood tall and lovely over the Houses of Parliament.

Having seen Doctor Who and other shows trash it so many times, it's always reassuring to see the clock still standing and working.

The Houses of Parliament were gated but still pretty.

The British flag was flying high, as it should be.

Nearby Winchester Abbey, seen here from the back, was absolutely lovely, though I missed visiting hours by just a few minutes and so wasn't able to go inside.

Gorgeous old trees lined the river walk in the park, Victoria Tower Gardens, adjacent to Parliament.

Did someone mention the Thames?

A bit farther into the park stood this odd little building, by all appearances a folly.

I quite loved it.  Upon closer inspection, it proved to be the Buxton Memorial, a tribute to the end of slavery and the British citizens, notably and by name Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, who fought for that end.  It had originally stood in Parliament Square, but in 1957 the government moved it here to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 1807 act abolishing the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

For no good reason, I had the urge to pose in it, so here I am, scowling because slavery and its horrors were on my mind.

A short walk in a light rain brought me to the other side of Winchester Abbey, which was lovely indeed.

In St. James Park, part of which I walked on the return route to the hotel, for no reason I can understand beyond its beauty, this dahlia caught my eye and fascinated me.

A shop near the hotel proved to sell Jamon Iberico, which the shopkeepers were happy to slice from a full leg.  I bought 92g for afternoon snacks.

My favorite water and the world's best ham; what a delightful snack--enough to last several days.

Sometime soon, I'll tell the tale of today's amazing dinner.  Now, though, I must crash.

Tomorrow, another play, this time at the restored Globe Theatre!