Lex..Hope you have a great time in London. Happy Thanksgiving. Did you bring this outfit with you?

Sadly, no Barbara Jean. Kept the frock inventory modest and tasteful with Mom onboard.

Today we toured the amazing Tower of London, where many famous people including two of England's queens were incarcerated or met their deaths on the executioner's block. Daredevil beauty Anne Boleyn feared the axe and chose to be executed via the French method, using a two-sided blade, supposedly the more efficient way of decapitation. It is said in the seconds following her beheading that her eyes and lips were still moving. Yeeesh. Still though, there was something breathtaking about moving through all those historical rooms and seeing the wall etchings made by many of the Tower's prisoners and hearing the folklore. Ghostly.

There seems to be no shortage of big, wide fat arses here. Surely it can't all be blamed on the recent opening of Krispy Kreme at Harrod's.

Restaurant-wise, we've done well thus far. On my last visit I was ripped off several times at expensive places with horrible food. This time around however hit a wonderful Italian place last night and tonight a great wine bar with tasty gourmet dishes.

Justin Bond's show was really fun. It's at this club that's kinda classy and kinda trashy on this tiny, tiny little backalley street so old and narrow that it doesn't appear on London maps anymore. Amidst lots of porn galleries etc and down the street from G.A.Y. A few references in the show to Pickles, San Fran, and meth-ed out NYC go-go boys. The Freudian Slippers were gorge .... if Mom isn't too worn out from sightseeing I may take her tonight. She's curious. But she should be AFRAID!

VERY afraid!

An exhaustive stroll through the National Portrait Gallery was quite interesting. I love the history and the renderings of all the royal and political players in all their severity. Especially Henry VIII, what a rancorous cow. Victoria, Anne II, and the various Marys were fierce bitches, but Elizabeth I remains the ultimate.

We also did the London Eye, this huge ferris wheel-type thing on the South Bank, just across the Thames from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The views from way above the city are cool. I didn't notice it so much during earlier trips, but London is a lot like NYC in that there is no regard for architectural symmetry. Unlike Paris or Rome, where newer buildings are constructed to blend and/or compliment surrounding structures, in London you will find lots of hideous 70s buildings right alongside some amazing 17th century landmark.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Luxury Lex,

DAMN!
I've been to London a hundred times and you've seen more in a week than I saw in 2 decades!

So the other hot topic apart from the revised drinking laws is the skyrocketing numbers of men having breast reduction surgery. Apparantly man-boobs is a *huge* problem with British men, they had several talk shows devoted to it during the morning with frumpy pastoids showing before and after shots. Other topics of interest is the Take That! reunion, minus Robbie Williams, and the death of some 60s football icon.

Also, their morning trash talk show circuit is a hoot. They're pretty much the same as ours with the audience throwing every stone in the book at the guests, except the problems of the subjects in question always involve excessive drinking. Invariably it's some Northern bloke hitting the ale too much and his beastly wife and family chomping at the bit.

If you're looking for something on Sunday with mum, you might like the flower market in the East End not far from Hoxton Square. You can take the tube to Olde Street, catch a nice lunch around Hoxton Square (nice selection of small, inexpensive but good restaurants), browse a few of the trendy East End galleries around Hackney Road and walk five or so more blocks into the flower market. Just ask someone in Hoxton Square the directions. A nice diversion is this wonderful 'women-only' kink shop called "Shhh" on a small alley on the east side of the Holiday Inn on Olde Street. A bit tricky to find, but loaded with a plethora of great play toys, couture, etc. Don't ask me how I get admitted to the place. But you shouldn't have too much trouble either, especially with mum in tow. When I'm in this neighborhood I feel a little more at home since it is quite a lot like Loisada.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seven,

Great tip, Seven! Thanks ...

Today we toured Kensington Palace in Hyde Park, the landmark mansion where many past and current royals have lived. It was King William III's primary residence and Mary II too, plus Queen Victoria was born and raised there. In the 20th century it was home to HRH Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon and later Princess Diana. (crazy Margaret had a shell collection!) For years much of it was closed to the public, but the old apartments were filled with actual 18th century tapestries, paintings and works of art. Huge gorgeous rooms and also a retrospective of Diana's gowns and her legendary Mario Testino photo shoot for Vanity Fair, along with other formal attire worn by historical monarchs. Grand staircases, gigantic fireplaces big enough for a person to walk into, ornate ceilings, formal gardens all around and views of Hyde Park. Lots of historical anecdotes too. I loved it.

Later we hit Harrod's -- my favorite department store in the world! Had to pick up goodies for the house and my boys back home, but my mother was exasperated with the hordes of shoppers. I made her pose in front of the tacky memorial fountain of Dodi Fayed and Diana.

ahh the di and dodi fountain ... nearly as fab as the ole Di and Dodi deli here... bless alfayed! If u have time go to Hampton Court or Portobello Road (smth both u an mum will like)...Kings Rd of course .... Neals Yard....best stick to good Curry houses if u want good food for Cheap... curry is that national dish of the UK... or if u have time pop over to Paris... real fast on the train... Westminster Abbey is amazing too (I love history and love the Tower)... the '60s' footie star who died was a legend - a real star/character - Georgie Best!! Style icon too... bless im. Glad u are having a blast eat lots of chocolate for me (its cheap and amazing there) but don't eat too much... u might get man breasts!

Ahhhh, "The Dodi & Diana Deli"...
I remember it well.
Who needs to go to London when we have such great monuments here?
Oh wait, they changed the name.
I guess we do have to go to London.
But first we have to go to London Part 2.