Dave, starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, was released in 1993. I don’t recall too much about the film, but I do remember Bonnie Hunt as a White House tour guide. As she lead the group from one spot to another, she would repeat, “We’re walking, we’re walking.” She was really funny and dominated the screen, even though it was a minor role.
I think of her often whenever I travel abroad. Typically, we live a pared down existence, walking everywhere or using public transportation. This time we are in London’s Shoreditch neighborhood. We have already found a great little wine shop that is about 5 minutes away, a small grocery store run by two Turkish brothers that has lots of fresh fruit and veggies that is a 10 minute walk, and I’ve joined a gym that is about 6 minutes from the flat (you get exercise on your way to exercise!).
Because of the pandemic, some people, especially families., use delivery services for their groceries. Bernard and I choose to go in person—masks are required for anyone who goes in the shops. We buy only what we can carry (we always have nylon bags tucked away in our backpacks), and this means we have to go more frequently; but it also means that our food is always really fresh. We don’t waste much. I have exceeded my step count goal almost every day. It’s no wonder that Europeans as a rule are pretty fit.
Today, we took the tube to Queensway Tube Station which is in Kensington. We followed one of the suggested routes in my Walking London guide book. We passed through Kensington Gardens near the palace. In July 2021, a new memorial garden was dedicated to Princess Diana very close to the Orangery at Kensington Palace. We stopped for lunch at an historic tavern called The Goat. There has been a tavern on that site for 300 years. The steak and ale pie was delicious, and so was the IPA that was on draft.
We finished our walk at the South Kensington tube station, passing the Prince Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall, and ice skaters at a small rink near the Museum of Science.
Altogether a memorable afternoon. I look forward to exploring more neighborhoods. London is so beautiful when the sun shines! Thanks for tuning in! M
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