London on a rainy day and E-Cigarettes

Wed, Aug 26, London:  Another nasty, rainy day.  Now I have the sinus thing—drainage and a scratchy throat.  On our way back from breakfast this morning we stopped at a pharmacy and bought some throat lozenges Not very effective, but better than nothing. We’re just laying low today.  At around 4:00 we’ll head out for Piccadilly to find a place to eat and then head to the theater.  The rain is supposed to let up by then.  We’ll take the subway there and probably get a taxi back—depending on the weather.

E-Cigarettes:  Right after we arrived in London, there were headlines on the front pages of the paper and items in the news about e-cigarettes.  Apparently, the National Health Service here says that e-cigarettes are 95% healthier than real cigarettes.  On one report they said that they should be issued for free (what?) to smokers. Another report said that doctors should prescribe them to smokers. Interesting…

The girls who wait on us at our favorite breakfast cafe.

There are two of these little sitting areas outside our hotel where you can sit and have a cigarette.  Mike is here every morning.  We do have a smoking room, which is a shocker.

The London Eye.  No, we did not.  Apparently, they bring in about 225,000 pounds a day on this thing.

They still have phone booths all over London.  Can't think of the last time I've seen one in the US.

These little narrow side streets.

One of the lions at Trafalgar Square.

Cute little eating establishment.

Later:  The show was great!  Full of the songs and amazing dance moves of Michael Jackson.  The athleticism and energy of the dancers was incredible.  I am so glad we were able to get tickets.  The guy who played Michael in his later years was really good.  They had everyone on their feet clapping and dancing—even Mike…well, clapping anyway.  My kind of show!  We had an overpriced dinner before the show at the Angus Steakhouse. It was really pricey and if you wanted a salad or bread with it, it was extra.  We ended up taking the subway to and from Piccadilly.  We had to transfer to another line once, but it was quick and easy.  An efficient way to get just about anywhere in this city.

On the tube.

Piccadilly Circus is aptly named--it is a circus.  It's London's version of Times Square in NYC.

Cute little theater.  Three balconies--one is way up there.  My sister and I were  in NYC years ago and decided to see a play.  She insisted on cheap tickets, so we ended up in the uppermost balcony.  You constantly felt like you would be pitched off the thing if you stood up.  She crawled out of the thing at the end of the play.  Marlo Thomas was the lead.

They call the seats "stalls" here.