Travel: Anything is Possible!

 London: Two Days of intermittent Sun

I've been lucky, good weather has followed me for two busy days. On Tuesday I traveled by train to Oxford. Once out of the city there's miles of rolling grassy fields, old brick farm houses, and a few grazing animals. 

Oxford is a lovely ancient village surrounded by approximately 45 historic small universities. Oxford (name derived from oxenford) began in the early 11th century when Henry II banned anyone from seeking a higher education abroad. Exetor, St. Johns, and Trinity, are a few of the well known Universities.  Women had their own college which began in the 1920's and it was not until 1975 that  women integrated into the all male institutions.  

 I took a two hour guided walking tour with a small, international group of travelers. Only three of us were from the USA. Three were from India, parents with their son who will study public policy at Oxford. One woman was from Argentina.  She told me that she accompanied her daughter to London to launch her into her first job. She was struggling with emotions of sadness and elation that the youngest of her two children has decided to leave the nest. I could sympathize with her having a child move so far away. 

I was impressed by the history of this prestigious University town. Each college houses their students in mostly individual rooms with small groups of 4-6 students meeting for lectures with professors who see them through their degree. Tuition in many of the schools is under 10k per semester. 

Alum such as Charles Dodson (AKA Lewis Carroll) Tolkien and others... roamed these streets and gathered in the pubs to wax poetic and discuss writing styles. 

Because the tour ended at 1:30 and did not take us inside any buildings,  I missed my opportunity to get inside the Bodlian library. Apparently, one must visit with a guide in a small group and entry  ends at one in the afternoon.  Of course this was the one place I'd hoped to see on this trip. Apparently I'm meant to return to Oxford.  

After the tour I wandered into small interesting shops, found a gigantic shopping center that I was too tired to explore, and finally found my way to the train station.  I caught the 4:30 train which departed as planned but stopped twenty minutes later for unknown reason. My seatmate said she travels to Oxford weekly for work and that this delay had never happened. Apparently there was some type of emergency on the tracks a few miles ahead preventing any travel. It was speculated that all of us might be bused back to London. I could only imagine how many busses we'd need for this packed train carrying hundreds of people. Fortunately,  after an hour or so, we moved forward to our destination, Paddington station! I celebrated with a glass of wine and an Italian dinner that was salmon on Alfredo pasta. The sauce was too thick and not well seasoned. After a long day and more than twenty-seven thousand steps I was too tired to complain.  I ate the salmon, drank my wine was grateful to have a comfortable bed to crawl into. 

Wednesday, day three. After my first restful sleep of this trip, I enjoyed breakfast in bed and a leisurely morning. I've found a grocery store one block from the hotel where anything one might need can be found. I'm staying near Kensington park in the Hyde Park International. It is nestled among row houses on a quiet, tree lined street. Just one block away is a busy street where every type of ethnic food is represented along with two  Tube stations that I'm becoming very comfortable using. 

Today  I traveled to Trafalgar square and exited the Tube at noon into sunshine.  My intention was to wander around Covent gardens, take in a museum or two and then go to a matinee featuring the musical Wicked. However,  a Michelian star restaurant, with homemade pasta that was being made in the window, enticed me in to sample their delicious sounding menu. I was not disappointed.  I sat at the bar overlooking several chefs hard at work over a gas stove with multiple burners. 

This crowded venue looked to be fully occupied by professionals on their lunch break. I watched as one chef warmed sauces and tossed in various types of pasta in large sauce pans. With a flick of their wrist, a pan in each hand, the mixture came together with the skill of a juggler. Not one drop spilled as each pan was eventually handed off to another chef to be plated.

 Another chef toiled over a large deep rectangular pan of roasted duck hot from the oven. With gloved hands he stripped all the meat from the bones and returned it to a pan filled with a sauce flavored with Chinese 5 spice. His next task was to slice an endless supply of garlic. As I sipped my wine and ate the duck and al dente pasta, I sympathized with this chef doing tasks that were below his educational skills but must get done. 

I also enjoyed talking to a young woman (sitting next to me) from South Korea who found work in London. My server was from Bangladesh and had been in London for five years. She said she loved everything about London but the weather. "It's the one thing I don't think I'll ever get used to!" 

Fortified with the delicious food, I decided it was time to wander on toward the area of town near the Apollo theater. I had a 2:30 Ticket for the show. My plan was to attempt to locate the Chinese restaurant Suzi and I ate at last year. Our meal was delicious but was rushed and my intention was to go there for dinner after the musical and savor every bite. However,  in a sea of Chinese restaurants in London's Chinatown, it is not easy to locate the one that made a lasting impression on me. I settled on one that came closest to my memory and then decided to locate the theater.  

Guess again. Wrong Apollo theater!! Who knew there were two!!  I needed the Apollo Victoria and it was a few miles across town on the other side of Buckingham Palace. So one cab to the rescue and I was off in the right direction.  The driver said he'd lost count of the number of times he had driven others who had made the same mistake.  "Years ago my son had tickets to Wicked and ended up missing the whole first act because of the same mistake!" 

I made it in plenty of time and enjoyed this fast paced production immensely.  I wondered how Galinda and  others could go all out for two shows a day 7 days a week. Their voices were pure delight and the acting was physically demanding and well done. I doubt their salary compensates for the hours they spend on stage. 

I decided NOT to go back across town for dinner. I was still full from lunch. So as I stepped out into the chill of the early evening,  I decided to find a shopping center  to buy a warmer coat. Though I am proud of myself for packing everything into one small carry on suitcase I feel I may have over packed for warm weather and left what I might need now at home. Each time I travel, I've have often vowed to pack one or two outfits and buy what I need as I travel from climate to climate. And this time is no exception.  I did find a great coat at H&M  that will layer well with a sweater and promised myself that next trip I will pack even lighter. Yeah, sure!!

I finished my day with Yogurt and fruit, a hot shower, much needed advil and a hot cup of mint tea. The bed never felt so good. Tomorrow I'll hit the places I've missed and hopefully finish in Chinatown with a meal I've been dreaming about. Just one more full day in London. I'm praying the weather Gods will continue to bless me. 

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