Started my day at the Portobello market, akin to Notting Hill, recommended by Jules, Tim and Nat. The market had everything a person could want: mink coats, Persian lights, antiques, vinyl records, old maps. Large bowls of paella boiling and French bakeries and even found a Portuguese bakery and indulged in ‘natas’. Notting Hill was made famous by Hollywood movie: Notting Hill. Hugh Grants bookstore is now a gift shop and never found his blue door. In fact, found the hood touristy but was enamored by the green sprawling, quiet gardens, accessible to only the residents of the well maintained Notting Hill flats. Spring has arrived in London. The birds are chirping, pink magnolias blossoming and white blossoms line the grounds.

Took the Underground and walked to the Royal Albert Hall for an impromptu 3pm light show Classical Extravaganza by the London Philharmonic orchestra. The newly commemorated Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps are evident as approaching the hall. A state of the art stunning round building with 5 levels. Finding my seats, helped along the way, I take in the music posters along the hallways:Diana Ross greeting Princess Anne, Sting, Robert Plant, Roger Daltry, even James Taylor! I’m sitting next to a lean man, my age, from the countryside, who travels to London for the occasional show, takes the train, sits in the nosebleed section, alongside me. Says he “sweeps floors.” The conductor started with 2001 A Space Odyssey with a corresponding light show. On to Sousa’s March, that has played at every American inauguration, and Handel’s Hallelujah sung beautifully by the choir. Reluctantly, left at intermission to see more sights of London.

Payed my respects to the Princess Diana memorial in Hyde Park, contrary to trip advisors critique, it was a fitting design to reflect Diana’s life, water flows calmly and then swirls, meeting in a calm pool at the bottom. The Peter Pan statue was a bust-under construction.

Metro or bus to London’s Eye, a Birdseye view of London. A bit of a disappointment-didn’t know what views I was looking at. On my way to eat fish n chips, stumbled on a tunnel of murals, the highlight of my day.

On the recommendation of my host, late night dinner, fish n chips, mushy peas, white bread and chips aka fries at Golden Hinde! That’s a ship built in London that SFD discovered SF. Celebrating and thinking of my friend, Mary Khans birthday today.

I ended the day, watching protesters against Brexit, return from the large scale rally.