Day 16: Au Revoire

Today was spent lazily wandering the Marais and shopping. Clouds moved back in, and merchants returned to their posts smoking cigarettes in the doorways of their shops. We collected a few souvenirs for friends, and a few articles of clothing for ourselves. Greg tried on a handsome grey cowl necked sweater and a pair of slate colored pants that fit like a glove. "We'll think about it." We said as we left. "Don't think too long." the couturier replied with a knowing smile "When it's right, it's right." Boy, has he got Greg pegged I thought to myself. Sure enough half a block away Greg doubled back to purchase the whole ensemble. A bag containing a beautiful purple paisley scarf  that caught my eye soon dangled next to Greg's.

   Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up the afternoon sky interrupting our shopping reverie. As thunder rolled through the humid air and large raindrops began to fall we dashed into a little cafe for lunch. Sitting under the awning and watching the rain fall we amused ourselves with fantasies of selling all our worldly belongings and moving to Paris. By the time we had worked out most of the totally unrealistic details the sun had returned, and lunch was finished.

   With heavy hearts we finally began walking back to the hotel to retrieve our bag and return to the bus station. A depressing silence descended, and in an effort to lighten the mood I turned to Greg and quipped, "Well at least now whenever things get really bad we can tell each other 'We'll always have Paris.'"

Day 4: Mind the Gap

  "Mind the gap."

  The warning that had become a familiar sound broke my reverie. I had been distracting myself by recounting the days events in my mind. Now that I had been so cruelly interrupted, however; I was all too aware of my surroundings. Even on a mild September evening the London tube felt like a boiler room. Sweat was trickling down my back, and I was sure my hair was sticking straight up like some deranged cockatoo. As I waited impatiently for the next train I returned to my musings.

  Sylvia and Steve had decided to stay home, and so it seemed the perfect opportunity for Greg and I to spend some quality time together. In short we got our shop on. First stop: Harrods, the shopping monolith. Yeah, you know it was way too expensive, but tons of super yummy designer clothes and shoes. We divined some trends right off the bat: fur, plaid, and old English hunting togs rebooted. We carefully made mental notes, and spent the rest of the day shopping on Regent's street for less pricey alternatives. We made a pact to pass any store that sold clothing we could get State-side. No Hilfiger, no Guess, and definitely no Gap. We didn't buy any thing that day, but you can bet our bags will be heavier when we return home.

  After returning to Paddington and conferring with our traveling companions we all went to dinner at The Gay Hussar, a Hungarian restaurant that has been in operation since 1953. It is a really small establishment with just enough room for a row of tables on either side of a runway for the waiter. On one side of the restaurant caricatures of famous politicians who have dined there hang above dark coffered wainscoting. On the other side mirrors reflect their images. It is a nice white tablecloth restaurant that serves the kind of delicious food my imaginary Hungarian grandmama used to make. Both Steve and I had the wild cherry soup as a starter and, as our eyes met, we both knew we were all in for a treat. Yummy dishes with flavors of dill and paprika. Can you tell I loved it? We will most likely return again before our holiday is over.

  After all that food Greg and I decided it would be nice to take a stroll around Soho. The evening in London's gay district had a Mardi Gras atmosphere. Music blared from overflowing clubs and pubs as we walked down streets filled with boozy British revelers. One venture inside a gay pub quickly convinced us that, even if we liked being packed into a bar like sardines, we would never get a drink. A short walk led us back to the tube station where the recorded announcement was once again reminding us to:

  "Mind the gap."

Day 4 Photostream