London Stories

Stories from the Road
June 12, 2015
The West End of London

The Palace Theater rocked last night. Swaying and singing to the pulsating beat of “Mustang Sally”, the packed house was in unison with the multi talented cast of the “Commitments.”  The musical tells the story of a group of Irish working class youths, who start a rock band. They find some success, but they can’t get along, and eventually the band breaks up.

The story line was somewhat weak and superficial, but the music was terrific. The energy of the cast was high, and they gave 100% of themselves in the performance. It is fun to see a show in which you know the songs. I had seen the movie years ago and bought the CD.

Last night we ate in Chinatown, which isn’t far from our hotel. Our waitress was efficient but hostile. I could tell she didn’t want to bring us water, and we had to ask twice. We paid in paper pounds, and she said, “thank you”, but never brought the change. On the plus side the noodle dish I ordered was excellent, as was the beef and mushroom dish that Dennis ordered. Our spring rolls were also very good.

The West End of London was crowded and vibrant again last night. The warm air seemed to bring even more people into the streets. The pubs were filled and pints were flowing. I am looking forward to seeing what the area looks like on a weekend, since all this action is taking place during the “work” week.

The train to Oxford was crowded today. A misty rain cloud covered this old, renowned city. The hop on hop off bus gave us an overview of the different colleges that make up Central Oxford.  The buildings are very attractive, and one would need several days there to explore the area. We had a light lunch in Oxford in a tearoom. I had a bagel with salmon and cream cheese while Vicki had a scone with cream and jelly. Dennis had a club sandwich. All our food was excellent.

Our cabdriver to Paddington Station was an interesting man. He had an understanding of English and American politics and the different cultures. He pointed out that the current PM in England had lost a child and was compassionate about certain social programs. It was fun talking with him.

Tonight we are going to the show, “Let it Be”, featuring songs of the Beatles. Have a good evening.