EUR11 - Day 12 - London

by Jeffrey Dale Starr

Sort of a relaxed, laid-back day in London. The main thing we wanted to do was get to the Sherlock Holmes museum.



Headed out toward the museum. On the way, we saw this store that we thought had a funny name considering its product.



As we headed into Hyde Park, we spotted this sign that had meaning for us musically on multiple levels. First, there's Battersea, as in Morrissey's "You're the One for Me, Fatty": all over Battersea/some hope and some despair. Then there's Paddington, as in the Catatonia song "Londinium": Euston, Paddington, train station please....
On top of it all, our hotel butts up against Sloane Square. Busy, busy.



One of the many, many majestic trees in Hyde Park.



At the entrance of the park is this massive horse head statue.



Finally we arrived at 221b Baker Street, home of the Sherlock Holmes museum. They have faithfully recreated the interior according to the details provided in the books & the version of the TV Show starring Jeremy Brett. The building itself is about 200 years old. The address "221B", which is between 237 & 241 Baker Street, was assigned to the building when the museum was opened on March 27, 1990 (just five days after we were married).



Starrina does a Jeremy Brett impersonation in the minute she had to pose on an original chair used in the show. Watson was in his chamber upstairs packing for another adventure while Mrs. Hudson was preparing their dinner.



On the top floors of the museum, they have recreated scenes from the books. Pictured is Irene Adler and the King of Bohemia, as featured in the classic "A Scandal in Bohemia".



We tried to catch an early dinner at the beautiful Fortnum & Mason, but we were too early. Only sweets were available, and for the past few days I've consumed my yearly allotment of sugar.



Next, we went and saw "X-Men: First Class". It just may be my favorite comic book movie yet, and for a nerd like me, that's saying something. Starr and I continue our list of foreign countries in which we've attended a movie at the theatre: England, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, France and Italy.




Back at our hotel...pretty flowers and a beautiful girl.


Tomorrow - museums.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a Dallas-based Expressionist oil painter who concentrates on themes of Japan, Dreams, Europe, Texas and California. His work can be found in private and public collections around the world.

http://www.jeffreydalestarr.com/