London - A Room in Bloomsbury

Once Customs was done, it was down to the Underground to get the Piccadilly line into town.

 This was the first of many trips down memory lane as it was the line I took when I was living out this way many moons ago. Here was my stop...

I lived here with the crazy Scot Shona, who also worked at Sainsbury's. We lived a 15-minute walk from the station, past a park and the local. She was crazier than a cut snake and I wonder what she's up to now.

The smell was the same! And each stop on the way brought back different memories - Hammersmith, of going to see INXS at the Hammersmith Odeon. Earls Court, where I deliberately didn't go as it was overrun with Aussies, Hyde Park where Lyn and I crashed out on the grass on a heatwave day in London before getting the bus to Scotland. Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Regents Park and so on. 

Even though google maps says it's only 10 minutes to walk to the hotel, after about 23 hours of travel and a lot of disorientation, I figured a taxi was in order - and you have to do a black cab in London! So it's a quick and easy trip to my home for the next six days - St Giles Hotel in Bloomsbury.

And following the discovery in New York of the compact single room, I've searched them out a lot for this trip - they are small and cosy and cheaper! So here's my 'room in Bloomsbury' (from the lyrics of the song in The Boyfriend).

So small it's difficult to photograph! Suits me perfectly. It's my little corner of London.

I always knew my first port of call would be Covent Garden - one of my favourite places ever. As I was walking down Tottenham Court Road, someone asked me directions to the British Museum. This happens a lot! And it happened the first time I came to London - I'd walked from the hotel up a couple of blocks, saw Euston Station and was walking back to the hotel when someone asked me where Euston Station was. I'd been in London about two hours and I knew where two things were so at least I could help.

I love that I'm just a short walk from the heart of town. Here's some typical shots of London...

And my memory of Covent Garden had rearranged things slightly but the whole feel and character of the place is the same! And it's fantastic.

Wandered down to Leicester Square and around there. Had a look at the half price tickets booths in the somewhat deluded notion that I might go and see something tonight! 

Back to the hotel and just out the door and across the road are these two stores...

Barclays Bank - where I had my account when I was here - there was no internet banking then! I didn't even have a credit card... It's also the bank where I can withdraw money without charge - some sort of sister program.

The store next door is Sainsbury's - where I had the perfect job at the perfect time all those years ago. So I'm a bit nostalgic with this store. I went inside to check out the sandwich selection - always my favourite. And I cannot believe they still sell the best one (not that I'll eat it now - prawn and mayo sandwich - it's delicious! And they still sell it!)

There's also a selection of cheese ones that I'm going to have to try - including Brie and cranberry. They have a gauntlet for shoppers to run on the way out - 3 layers of temptation aisles before you get to the checkout. 

See here - you have to go through 3 levels packed with chocolates and sweets. Must be a nightmare for parents.

Came back for a quick nap, so I can last through to bedtime. It's been a looooong day.