Shop until you drop

I left the hotel around 10 a.m. and spent more than 4 hours walking around London (with two, and then three heavy bags). I took this photo because it cracks me up that even temporary hoardings have window boxes in London.

From this building I descended Cockpit Steps, then along Birdcage Walk and into St. James's Park, where I was smitten with the parakeets. I think I've read that they are a problem--no predator, outcompeting native birds. But they are so pretty and bright and unexpected in an English winter. Here is Buckingham Palace from the park.

My timing at the palace was awfully good because I caught these guys on their daily commute.

I overheard someone say these gates were a gift from Canada. Very generous.

They lead into Green Park, through which I passed to get to Piccadilly for some power shopping. Why not adorn the entry to your coffee shop with hats and flowers?

Looking through the windows of Fortnum and Mason, I felt again like I was 10 years old, just as I did at the circus. I remember being entranced by department store windows when I was a kid.

These first two windows were more about Christmas cornucopias. The others were more magical.

Like this one. A squirrel swinging on a swing made of nutcrackers, while other squirrels are sledding along in nut shells. The swing actually moved back and forth.

Here we have hedgehogs on candy cane skis. Who thinks this stuff up? At least one of the discs was spinning.

What I loved about the one below was the robins making snow angels in the sugar on the mince pie.  

This is the side entrance to F&M.

I went into Fortnum & Masons, bought a bunch of stuff and left. I didn't linger or go upstairs. I was carrying my laptop bag (heavy), the bag with clothes/jewelry, shoes, dress jacket (also heavy), and now a bag full of F&M goodies. My next stop was Five Guys for a veggie sandwich and fries. Then more shopping.

I went into the Royal Academy of Art to find out if they have lockers. Indeed they did, so I locked away all my bags for a pound, which I got back after spending an hour or so exploring the work of Swiss-French photographer Helene Binet. In a parallel universe I became a photographer focused on architectural abstracts, just like Helene. I took a photography class in college and really liked it, but allowed myself to be put off by my professor. Who was a jerk. Either that, or it was the cost of the chemicals and paper. It might have been that. I went to the Royal Academy gift shop and bought more Christmas presents.

I retrieved my now heavier bags and decided to descend into the Underground and head for Heathrow, a half hour earlier than planned but my feet and shoulders were on strike. A 50 minute train ride back to Heathrow, schlepping all the bags through security. Then a lovely aubergine tagine, a quick chat with mom, then I was on the flight back to Belfast and a quick taxi ride home to an ecstatic springer spaniel.

Three days filled with so much fun! Let the holidays begin!

Nov. 27