Lots of cabs and walking today!

After breakfast at the hotel we took a cab to Portobello Road, where Paul purchased a traditional flat cap. We walked around for a good while, then had some tea. The markets aren’t exactly hopping on a Wednesday, and some stores were still opening as we were there. Still, it was more than I’d been led to believe would be there. Lots of quirky stuff mixed in with the usual touristy items.

One fortifying cup of tea later, we ambled over to a nearby tube station to ride to Maida Vale. Yes, we did the Abbey Road thing and crossed the walk along with a gaggle of tourists. We ended up shooting some video and making a composite shot of us going across the walk. Seemed safer than handing our camera to a stranger.

We ambled over to Lord’s pub for lunch. Not just any Lord, it’s named after Thomas Lord of the cricket ground fame. In fact, it’s next door to the current playing field, which has been in that location since 1814. The food was yummy, but there was quite the loud liquid lunch crowd in attendance.

Fortified with lunch and beer, we launched an attack on Selfridges. That venerable store has seen its ups and downs over the last 115 or so years, but it’s certainly the picture of a very upscale shopping destination. We found Harry Gordon’s bar in the basement and had a toast to his memory.

We then cooled our heels at Hyde Park for a bit, then it was off to an Italian restaurant called Bizarro that served Abruzzi food. Very crowded, but very good.

(Go to the next day)