British Library, Portrait Gallery and The Importance of Being Earnest

Apparently, it has rained hard with thunder and lightening during the night. Anne asks us if we heard it when she gets here this morning. We haven't heard a thing! We see puddles around when we go out. We go to Carluccio's at the Brunswick Center again since we have enjoyed our breakfasts there so much yesterday. It is a more pleasant walk on side streets than the one to the train station on busy streets. It is a pleasant morning though we can feel the humidity and know it is going to get hot today.

Dave and I are hoping to get in on a 75 minue tour of the British Library is morning but are to be disappointed. Individual tours have been cancelled because so many large group tours have been scheduled that the guides are all busy with them. Oh, well, we have to leave something to do for a future visit. Instead we go to the historical documents room which is, in itself, a good experience. We were there last year but I had forgotten the impact of seeing some of these famous documents in person. There are documents in many categories - maps, bibles, literature, art in books, science, music. The Magna Carta has a special room all it's own. 

We meet up with Anne and walk to a Wagamama for lunch, this one near the British Library where we can take advantage of shaded side streets to walk on. It is hot! We all have a "square meal," a lunch size bento box. The walk back leaves us quite warm and we are happy to return to our cool, quiet hotel room. Once again, I am very glad we have booked an air conditioned hotel. The location of this hotel is perfect for us. Our only complaint is the poor wifi in our current room (509). We have been I. Two other rooms in this hotel (512 the first days of our visit this year and 613 -tiny room-last year) and wifi has been fine. It depends on where you are I guess. Hotel says they are going to upgrade their wifi soon.

We rest for awhile in the cool of our room and then head out for the National Portrait Gallery, dinner and the theater all in the Covent Garden area. We decide to take a taxi there because of the heat. At the National Portrait Gallery, we go to the exhibition of this year's BP Portrait Awards. We went to last year's exhibit and loved it. It is a competition to encourage the art genre of portrait painting. Some use techniques like the old masters. They are just wonderful. I have an even greater appreciation for these works of art since I've been sketching. 

We walk around the Covent Garden area and stop at the Apple Store for Dave's benefit. It is a huge store on three levels and is full of people. We have dinner reservations at JSheekey's at 5:30. This is a really nice restaurant where Anne took Vrad fora his birthday, there is an oyster bar at one end and a regular restaurant at the other. Emphasis is on seafood. Anne and I share a platter of six oysters and tuna tartare followed by their fish pie.dave gets the fish pie and we all have a dessert. Yum! Everything is delicious, nice ambience (cool inside!) and good service. What a treat. 

We see Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Harold Pinter Theater. It is very good though very hot in the theater. It is cool and drizzling when we come out which actually feels heavenly. We walk home. It has been a lovely day.

                         Sylvester the Chicken at the huge Apple Store in Covent Gardens

                                  Another Sylvester picture with a painting at the Tate Britain

       Interesting seats at the Brunswick Center