After some well-deserved rest and a lazy morning sleeping in we were off to see more art at the Wallace Collection, a manor house turned into a museum with a collection of paintings, furniture, porcelain, and armour. We then walked down to Grosvenor Square and had a late picnic lunch in front of the FDR memorial. Strolling through Mayfair and through the corner of Hyde Park to Knightsbridge, we enjoyed a bit of voyeurism checking out the upscale flats and buildings along the way. Not quite the East End, that’s for sure! We made our way to Harrod’s probably a bit too weary for the sensory overload, but perused a few sections of the huge store before securing some shrimp and a bottle of wine for a planned dinner in back at home. Of course, the journey is always part of the experience, as the tube ride home proved to be a bit convoluted on account of a closure due to a “person trapped under the train,” which Ira and I decided is about as accurate as the use of the term “water landing” by airline personnel… nonetheless we made it home and had a nice meal and bottle of wine - home indeed.

--- Wallace Collection museum ---

--- how the other half lives in Mayfair ---

For Ira’s last day in London, we decided to get the bikes out and cover more ground. We headed down the Thames and rode along Victoria Embankment to Westminster Bridge crossing and continuing west on the south side of the river now. The views looking back at Parliament were spectacular. We headed west all the way to Battersea power station, which Ira was excited to see. Crossing the Chelsea bridge, we made our way to Hyde Park for a picnic lunch and a gander at the Prince Albert memorial and Royal Albert Hall. After lunch, we rode through Kensington Gardens and took a stroll by Kensington Palace. Heading back through Hyde Park, we hit the streets north to Abbey Road. Required picture taking of each of us crossing the zebra stripes in Beatle’s style – check. We finished off our route through Regent’s Park, where we came across a couple bobbies’ one armed with a machine gun. When Ira asked what the hardware was for, he told us they were guarding the American ambassador’s residence. This also explained the very upscale houses along the canal trail I had noticed; homes of various diplomats. We hit the canal trail, spun by Columbia lane and back to the flat. For dinner, we joined Shane and Caron for some authentic chinese at Shane's favorite local spot, which is now also Ira's favorite restaurant as well! Naturally, one last trip to the Carpenter's Arms pub was inline before we would head to Paris the next morning.

--- looking downriver as the sun shines on Big Ben ---

--- Ira with Battersea power station in the distance ---

--- Battersea Power Station - now a protected site, but what to do with the largest brick building in Europe? ---

--- Prince Albert never looked better in gold ---

--- consulting the maps on a Kensington Garden park bench ---

--- theories abound about the fifth Beatle... ---