But before we made it there, we made our way - very late - to Leichester Square to get tickets to another show for tonight. Only in Europe do we sleep this late - Paris, Florence, Venice, Rome, London - these major cities reach out and drag us to the point of exhaustion, but we fight back as best we can. Since there was really no rush, we took our time. It's the first time I've had to wear jeans during the day. The temperature has dropped and the clouds have arrived, but it's still quite comfortable.
In line at TKTS, I offered my choice of shows to the family from Illinois behind us - they were going to Wicked, but I steered them in the direction of The Pajama Game. Why see something that's on tour in America when they can see a fun show. I'm not sure if they went, I really just wanted to keep them away from getting tickets to Billy Elliot. It's a show I've always wanted to see and just never made it and it will be a great choice, made better by our tenth row center seats.
As the clouds overhead threatened to rain for the first time since we've been here, we opted for a quick breakfast and a spin around the National Gallery. With Trafalgar Square all set up for people to watch The Tour de France, we stopped for a bit before heading inside.
It must be school trip day because the amount of children swarming all around us was uncountable. No guided tour for us this time, since it was just a pit stop. I did want to see the Monets and the Seurats, though, and as luck would have it, there was a guide talking in front of the forerunner to Sunday in the Park, so we stopped to take a listen. I love paintings and it's always a thrill to look at the vast amount of portraits that line the walls of European museums.
"Let's take a look at this queen," I said bringing my mother over to a painting that was, as you might have guessed, not of a real queen but of a QUEEN. Some King Louis of Spain in his full regalia and flummery. It made me wonder what it was like in those times - was this the image of hyper masculinity? Just imagine what I could have been back then?
We wandered through the religious art - loving the one of a very hunky and ripped Samson being betrayed by a very full-figured Delilah. There were too many other religious works to look though and really, after that gorgeous Samson, what was the point? We did pause to look at the execution of the Lady Jane Grey who we learned about at the Tower of London. These artists must have loved the men they painted, the executioner was either excited about his beheading the Lady or the painter wanted to really remake sure this was not the King of Spain.
As we started to walk, the London skies decided to finally spit its moisture downward and Rosemarie was so excited because she anticipated this and brought her very fashionable cloth rain hat with her. We ducked under a nearby arch when the rains got more fierce, but the shower passed quickly and we were off again.
Now, I told my mom that Harrods was beyond anything she's ever seen and when we walked into the food pavilion, I think I heard her jaw drop open. Packed as full as any underground train, the hallways of the store were overflowing with shoppers. If I hadn't just had breakfast, I would have gotten the wiener schnitzel in a second and gobbled it up on the spot. This was the Woolworth's and Kresgee's counter rich older and wiser sister - the one everyone wants to be next to and take to the prom and makes you forget about all the other girls that came before.
From teas, to desserts, to meats and fully cooked meals, what awaits you in these halls is pure food fantasy. We were getting overwhelmed and needed a store guide which we found quickly so we could orientate ourselves. I still wanted tea, so we headed upstairs to the Tea Salon, but then, there in front of us, was an old fashioned ice cream parlor. An attention stealer like seeing that beautiful boy across the room on your way to meet your friend. You forget the reason you came and spend a decadent time with someone you'll never see again.
We opted for a Nutella (how could we not?) malted milk shake and an ice cream sundae served with a jug of the most chocolaty silky hot fudge ever to be poured over dessert. It was ice cream heaven and porn all rolled into one.
"The food here is probably better than anything we've eaten since we've been here," my mother said, and I had to agree. From the pizzeria, to the prosecco bar, to the Japanese restaurant, to yes, even the Disney cafe, every stop for nourishment had an aroma better than the next. Should we get some pizza even though we haven't even digested our ice cream?
We wandered around the mammoth store for a while, checking out the insane Disney store and cafe and finding the cutest little boy outfits in kids. There was one Dior outfit that was so adorable, it made you want to have a little boy to dress - but not quite. She was quite displeased with me when I would not allow her to buy me anything. Since I am too old for that outfit, why bother?
And in the end as we left, I thought, if I ever think I hate my job, I will just remember the man whose job it is to wipe off the urinals in the washrooms after EVERY man finishes.
It was getting late, so we made our way back to our hotel for a quick break. Rosemarie took a power nap, I showered and then we were off again to catch Billy Elliot, The Musical. I heard my mother sniffing several times during the performance and I was blown away by the music and dancing. It celebrates being different and it really pulled all the right strings, although I was let down by the ending. I suppose I'm too invested with the film ending, and I wanted that one moment to close the show. However, seeing the young Billy dancing with his elder self was perhaps one of the most thrilling, touching and moving experiences I've experienced. When theatre can you move you like that, how can anyone deny funding for the arts?
Maneuvering the massive crowds in the Underground had my mother a bit unnerved. The sheer mass of people at this time of night is just mind boggling. Watching the drunken boy slide down the middle section of the escalator while avoiding the bumps and signs that would cause serious child bearing attempts was one of the most foolish and laughable things we've seen so far.
She's completely ready for bed and who wants to bet that in ten minutes, or before I even publish this
post, she will be asleep.
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