Today we are very comfortably settled
in London at The Penn Club,
a simple, unassuming hotel
near Russell Square. The hotel is owned
by the Quakers, and offers special rates
and accommodations to members of the Quaker Meeting. I love it mostly for its simplicity and unpretentiousness and lack
of fancy frills. It's a humble place
for quiet, unshowy people (like us).
in London at The Penn Club,
a simple, unassuming hotel
near Russell Square. The hotel is owned
by the Quakers, and offers special rates
and accommodations to members of the Quaker Meeting. I love it mostly for its simplicity and unpretentiousness and lack
of fancy frills. It's a humble place
for quiet, unshowy people (like us).
We had a smooth, peaceful flight yesterday from Boston -- actually, one of the best overseas flights I've ever experienced. Maybe it was because it was a daytime flight, and I was able to easily stay awake and get some quality reading and thinking done. I re-read some of Richard Rohr's book on Jewish and Christian scripture, which I loved, mostly because it opens so many good doors to the overall messages of the Bible. As we cruised across
the Atlantic, I felt like I was cruising into
some wide open spaces of new knowledge.
the Atlantic, I felt like I was cruising into
some wide open spaces of new knowledge.
Last night, after getting settled
at The Penn Club, we walked over
to Pret a Manger, one of our favorite cafes,
for a simple tasty dinner -- then back
to the Club for a peaceful night's rest.
Today, Saturday -- and Cia's birthday -- we spent the day walking the streets of London and visiting some of our favorite spots. We first stopped at a map store -- the largest in the world, they say -- where Cia browsed and purchased a few maps, while I stood outside and enjoyed some focused people-watching.
Then we walked over to St. Martin in the Fields Church, where we had lunch downstairs in what used to be the church crypt. Good food
in a strangely fascinating environment.
Then we walked down to St. James Park,
one of our special favorites, and sat on a bench to watch pedestrians and waterfowl and,
in the somewhat tempestuous sky,
streaking enormous jets.
Now -- 5:09 p.m. -- back at The Penn Club, sipping tea and feeling totally at peace
. . . and damn lucky.
Pictures from today . . .
* above, from a museum at The Quaker Meeting in London *
at The Penn Club, we walked over
to Pret a Manger, one of our favorite cafes,
for a simple tasty dinner -- then back
to the Club for a peaceful night's rest.
Today, Saturday -- and Cia's birthday -- we spent the day walking the streets of London and visiting some of our favorite spots. We first stopped at a map store -- the largest in the world, they say -- where Cia browsed and purchased a few maps, while I stood outside and enjoyed some focused people-watching.
Then we walked over to St. Martin in the Fields Church, where we had lunch downstairs in what used to be the church crypt. Good food
in a strangely fascinating environment.
Then we walked down to St. James Park,
one of our special favorites, and sat on a bench to watch pedestrians and waterfowl and,
in the somewhat tempestuous sky,
streaking enormous jets.
Now -- 5:09 p.m. -- back at The Penn Club, sipping tea and feeling totally at peace
. . . and damn lucky.
Pictures from today . . .
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| * my darling in perhaps her favorite city * |
