London
I was so happy to be back in London last July 2022 for the fourth time. It was the last city in Europe I visited before the pandemic. I love everything about it. The architecture, the history, the theater, the shops, absolutely everything. I pray to God I get to live there when I retire from teaching. It would be a dream come true for me at this stage of my life.
I suppose I need to visit some more and stay longer so I'd really know if I can truly and honestly live there. It rains heavily in the UK as we all know. However, it was very dry during my last two visits. In fact, last month, there was a debilitating heatwave.
I have close friends there too. For my fourth visit to London, Marc joined me and we stayed at the very same hotel we stayed in during our very first trip to the UK together, the Paragon Hotel in Earls Court, although now it has been included in the IBIS chain of hotels.
Unlike in San Francisco where many people still wear masks, no one did in London. In fact, it wasn't just there but in all the places we went to. In Germany, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, absolutely no one.
This was a bar and restaurant close to the Paragon, now IBIS Hotel, we stayed in for five days while in London.
I never realized the rainbow flag's design had been changed. I don't remember seeing them with this design back home in San Francisco. But, this is how it looks in the UK.
Inside Liberty Department Store. I have never seen any store like it. It was totally made of wood from floor to ceiling. Some parts even creaked while I walked on them. So old and so historic, not to mention elegant and upscale!
My kind of bookstore, Ma Maison, off Piccadilly Circus
Fortnum and Mason, another upscale department store, not far from Piccadilly Circus.
The now empty space of Asprey along Bond Street
One of the many, many theaters that dot the city.
Trafalgar Square
This was a lovely artwork across the West Brompton Underground station close to our IBIS Hotel, formerly the Paragon.
The very first hotel we stayed in in London ever. Called the Paragon Hotel back in 1997, it has become an IBIS now.
We got to visit the National Gallery once again. It had been over 25 years since since we first came and toured this impressive museum. Honestly, one needs an entire day to leisurely take in all the exhibits.
Colorfully boxed teas from Fortnum and Mason
Got to have my selfie inside colorful Liberty
Of course, I couldn't go to London without visiting the queen. She's sending her warm regards.
A pub in the Covent Garden area. Taken mid afternoon one very warm day.
Big Ben, what a jewel!
We made our way to the British Museum as well. The last time we visited, we had to leave abruptly after an alarm went off and all visitors we asked to vacate the premises. This museum is so huge, we had to tour all the galleries really quickly otherwise we weren't going to see them all. It would be nice to return and visit at a much less hurried pace.
Some British stores are so old like this one. It has been selling umbrellas for a very long time. It looked so beautiful and artsy from the outside.
The very first branch of Jollibee in London. The one in Earl's Court was very convenient for us. It was just one underground station away from our hotel. I was hesitant to eat here at first given the fact that we have Jollibee in the SF Bay Area. But, the fried chicken here was simply out of this world! The best I've ever eaten, even better than KFC! For some reason their chicken back home in SF doesn't taste the same and nowhere near as good.
The London Eye
A full size view of BIg Ben
By the River Thames with the Parliament Buildings and BIg Ben in the background
Tired but happy to be back sightseeing in London. Taken inside the British Museum.