Local Celebrity

Not.

I was interviewed by one of the Nashville television stations yesterday. That was interesting. I came back to the hotel after a shopping and I had a voice mail message. It was James Lewis from Channel 4 in Nashville. Can you say surprised? Then, in my email today, the local newspaper had some questions for me. Amusing. I suddenly feel so important for one who saw absolutely nothing. I was glad to be able to offer up some firs hand observations, though. I would hate for people to get the impression that London is some sort of unsafe war zone because it is not. It is a thriving cosmopolitan center that is sadly just a part of our time.

Went on a walk in Soho today. Then I went on another in central London today. Both were through London Walks (link at right) Soho is very quirky--lots of different little shops and crooked streets. Our guide, Graham, was positively charming. There were only four on the tour which he said was very low. Normal is about 20. I was glad that it was not crowded--made things much easier me and let's be honest. It's all about me. We went through Chinatown which was a first for me. While we were there, the deliveries were being mad for the day and we were treated to a poor worker trying to wrestle some live eels back into their box. Not the most appetizing site, I can assure you. This afternoon's walk was with Kim and we ended up overlapping some of the morning's walk, but none of the information was really duplicated too much, so it worked out all right.

I took the underground to the second walk. I wasn't going to, but I couldn't figure out which bus I would take in order to get to Embankment and I didn't want to be late. It was very empty and just as hassle-free as I remembered, so I was glad that I did. The Central Line station is just a block from my hotel, so I will probably use it again tomorrow. There is a pub walk that I'm considering tonight, but it's on the line that is closed, so I may skip it. I'm not sure the bus is worth the fight.

I'm burned out on buses because I managed to get lost on a bus AGAIN. Somehow I cannot find my way up Oxford Street to save my life. Twice now, in two days, I've gotten totally off course. Yesterday it was Tottenham Court. Today, I left Soho Square, walked onto Oxford Street and managed to get on a bus and end up at Euston Station. This, folks, takes a talent that few people possess. I was playing with my new cell phone, which is part of the reason I didn't realize the error, but it's not enough of the reason, I'm afraid. It took me about 40 minutes to correct that error. All I had to do was get on a bus and ride a few measly blocks and somehow I ended up dozens of blocks and turns away. I amaze myself.

It's getting to be dinne time, so I must go. Early morning tomorrow, I think. I'm going to try to hit the Portobello Road Market if I can get up early enough.