London, episode 20. In which London tis in my memory lock'd.

I begin this final installment of my sentimental London journey with a visit to a location brand new to us although it has been open since 1980. There is always something new to discover in an ever-expanding city like London and a visit to Covent Garden this past June was in order (and on our itinerary). We have a vibrant young couple from Dubai to thank for capturing our souvenir photograph at the florally festive market entrance.

Covent Garden is a centrally located shopping center offering visitors a great place to meet, shop, eat, and enjoy regularly scheduled crafts and antiques markets.

Unfortunately for this pair of road-weary fleamarket travelers, we were unable to plan a layover that coincided with the regularly scheduled Monday antiques market day, but Mari and I enjoyed an afternoon admiring the handiwork of local crafters in the Apple Market. The jewelry, artwork, photography, and crafts were evidence of the enthusiastic creativity of the people of London.

We did time our midweek visit, however, to coincide with Londoners' favorite midday pastime and were thrilled to come across the Whittard of Chelsea Tea Bar on the lower level of the market building.

A seemingly endless variety of beautifully fragrant and neatly displayed teas greets you as you wind your way through the cafe to your cozy table.


There's simply something about afternoon tea that makes my day. It's not just the scones, sandwiches, and (in my case) carrot cake, either.


Ask Mari and she'll be the first to tell you I make a mean cucumber sandwich (my secret is jalapeno cream cheese) and tender raisin scone (thanks again to Tea Time), but I think it's the warmth of the tea and the perfume it spreads throughout your entire body as you savor each sip that is the lasting and restorative appeal of tea.


You can't rush tea. And you can't use a mug, either. You don't need to have a collection of tea accoutrement or a cabinet in which to display such recollected fleamarketed finds, but making the time to savor a seemingly simple sip of herbaceously fragrant tea is one of life's great pleasures.

The occasional
slice of carrot cake
don't hurt, either.

Explore the fastidiously well-organized site to plan your own visit and to sign up for an informative newsletter.
coventgarden.london


While our most recent London layover also failed to coincide with the bustling Saturday antiques marketplace on Portobello Road, we found quite a bustle midweek as well. Aside from sidewalk and street vendors, there are many old and new shops along Portobello Road whose exterior quaint coziness belies the actual depth of collectible density barely browsable inside.

It is practically impossible to turn around without knocking something over, so be on the alert!

A final London souvenir and tea collectible found its way into the remaining space in my backpack.

I think we probably have enough forks at home to feed the neighborhood, but my collector's gaze was immediately drawn to this beautifully displayed set of Sheffield dessert forks. Truth is I would have bought them if they hadn't been stamped and if they hadn't been displayed in the satin-lined box. Like our miniature "Michigan spoons" purchased a few years ago at a bucolic yard sale, our "tea forks" have become a fast favorite. The slightly wider tine on the left edge is perfect for breaking the surface of a frosted tea time treat and securing said delicate bite while it travels its sacrificial journey to my waiting palate.

Mari and I marked another first off our London travel list with a visit to the historic and legendary Selfridges department store. The original location on Oxford Street rivals any major department store not only with its size, but with its impressively intricate architecture. Whether you are a fan of the PBS series about the origins of this revolutionary century-old institution and the colorful American entrepreneur behind the name or just want to spend some time browsing in the beautiful Beaux-Arts buiding, Selfridges is a must.

I was especially thrilled to find a book department upstairs that was well-stocked with new and familiar titles as well as local favorites. I was also happy to spend time in the stationery department where I found a nice variety of pens to browse. Books and pens?! Thank you, Mr. Selfridge! The food hall on the lower level was also an inviting place for a pair of foodie travelers in need of some shopping sustenance and to plan our souvenir shopping strategy.

If you visit the site, you will not only find information to plan your own shopping visit, but you will be able to shop from the comfort of your cozy armchair as well.
selfridges.com/US/en

The final day of our London layover was also spent exploring another location new to us and one which appropriately closes my London blog series which began, if you recall, with reminisced memories of 1981's royal wedding and my sentimental attachment to Lady Diana Spencer who became not only a princess, but a leader and role model for countless admirers the world over.

Subsequent visits to London yielded a visit to the historic site of the 20-year-old's royal wedding to Prince Charles at St. Paul's Cathedral and also to Westminster Abbey where the Princess of Wales was buried just 16 years later. With our most recent visit in June, however, Mari and I celebrated a beautiful early summer afternoon walking through Hyde Park to visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Open now for over ten years, the memorial fittingly embraces the welcoming and nurturing spirit of a woman I have long admired.

The freely flowing fountain invites relaxation and reflection. On our weekday visit, we found families enjoying the summer sun while children and adults alike waded through the curved fountain paths winding their way along a cleverly designed oval path.

Often, checking off a location on a travel list or sticking a pin in our travel map comes with great pleasure and even pride, but sometimes a simple act of remembrance can bring with it even more longing and inspire future travels. Savoring Shakespeare's sage wisdom from the conclusion of The Tempest, I chose not to burden my remembrances, but was happy to conclude this summer's travels with a bright and sunny afternoon of quiet reflection at this very peaceful site in the midst of a busy world capital.
royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park/things-to-see-and-do/memorials,-fountains-and-statues/diana-memorial-fountain

I'd like to extend my moment of reflection to give thanks to my always adventurous and ever-supportive travel companion. I love this photo of Mari wading the gentle waters of the memorial fountain. I love her smile and the way the gently cool waters have left their mark on her jeans. The photo (and the stories behind it) are gentle reminders of why I love to travel.

We're spreading the love, exchanging cameras, and fleamarketing in Reykjavik next time.