I planned my day around the rain today. The rain that never happened. (I can’t believe I fell for the weather report. I’ve lived in Vancouver long enough to know better… Must be the jetlag that’s throwing me off.)

Got up at 9:30 to catch the free continental brekkie, then hopped the tube to 221b Baker Street. Sadly Sherlock Holmes was not personally there, but the bobby at the door let me take my picture with him. Baker Street Station even had Sherlock Holmes motifs on their subway tiles.

Then, since the rain was holding off, I changed my indoor plans for outdoor ones. I got off the tube at Leicester, and bought tickets to two evening shows: Wicked and Quartermaines Terms (starring Rowan Atkinson!). Then I headed to Westminster Bridge over the Thames River. Following a walking tour map, I saw Big Ben, House of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, guards on horses and finished with Trafalgar Square. (All flags were at half-mast today in honour of Margaret Thatcher.)

After that, I just started to wander in the direction of Covent Graden Market, and somewhere on the side streets, found this awesome baked potato place! I almost walked by but the aroma drew me in, and I ordered a Pulled BBQ Pork Baked Potato with herb butter and feta cheese. And yes, it WAS as good as it sounds. Maybe better!

Continued on and walked through the Market, bought a t-shirt, then went to the London Transportation Museum (I have a London Pass so it was free. Not sure I would have wanted to pay the full £15 for that, altho it was interesting. I took pictures of the trains for Maddy!) After that I located dreamland, aka. M&M World. The smell of chocolate drew me into the 4 floors of heaven! Somehow I managed to resist buyng (could’ve been the inflated prices…) and I quickly headed back to the hostel to drop off stuff before the highlight of the day – Wicked!

Like I said on facebook, I got a wicked deal on Wicked (it’s so clever, it was worth repeating 😉 ). I went to the half-price ticket people, and would’ve paid £55 but they had a single-seat ticket returned so I got it for £40!!!  AND it was on the floor in the second section back. In the middle. With a perfect view. I really wanted to rub it in with my seat neighbours, but I managed to restrain myself. Probably because I had a bowl full of candy to chomp on.  The actors/singers were ridiculously talented, so obviously IT WAS AWESOME!!!  Props to the costumers and set builders as well – amazing!

I’m hoping the rain continues to hold off so tomorrow I can catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I have very detailed and strict instructions from Dani on how to catch the best front-row view, so seeing as it’s 12:30am, I should hit the sack to be in position to take over my sidewalk space by 11am.

G’nite!

oh, I took lots of pics with my fabulous new camera (thanks mom!) but I have to figure out hpw to get them from the camera to this blog, and at this time of the night (morning?) I can’t figure it out for you now. Stay posted for pics *hopefully* in the near future!