The other side of the river

Friday night, my friend, Pat, and I set out to grab some dinner at a pub nearby, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.  This pub is quite old (rebuilt in 1666, after the great London Fire) and boasts of such previous patrons as Voltaire and Charles Dickens among others.  It's been open through the reign of fifteen monarchs, impressive to say the least.  it's no surprise then, with its famous past patronage and its wonderfully unique interior, that we arrived to find its twisting corridors and narrow stairwells packed full of cheerful Londoners enjoying a nice Friday out.  

After surveying the wonder that is the Cheshire, we decided to continue on, and proceeded to wander down random streets in search of another enticing eatery.  Eventually we happened upon another "olde" and famous pub called the George that the Cheshire Website had mentioned.  So we stopped in for a bite to eat and were plea

santly surprised by the warm and welcoming wooded interior that continued for two floors.  We found a nice seat by a stained glass window and were settling down with our cokes when we discovered they were not serving this evening due to "Pub Quiz Night"  We would have participated, but it was all music.  For those of you who know me well, I love to sing, but i haven't the slightest idea what songs are called . . . It was fun to watch such a popular London event, though.  Lots of fun and good merry competition, nothing to cut throat, at least not before we left! 

Upon finishing our cokes we wandered down some side streets stopping into what seemed an inumerable amount of small corner pubs, each with its own enchanting, cozy feel.  I was quite charmed by the comfortable elegance in several of the small back alley pubs we passed.  They inspired me, to do what, I haven't the slightest idea, but they inspired me.  They made me excited to be in Londontown for sure :)   After wandering for a while and failing to find food we stumbled upon the Thames (pronounces tems) from a small back alley I'd insisted we turn down.  Don't worry Mom, it was well lit, not shady, I promise! 

Needless to say, moments like this make me love London.  The Thames at night is a glorious sight to behold.  Lots of twinkling lights lining the carved stone railings and riverboats cruising lazily up and down the Thames with dapper diners dressed to the nines.  And me, little Laura, an American girl, wandering through the wonder of dow

ntown London.  What a lucky lady :) 

After wandering for a while, we began to come across benches.  Generally a normal thing to encounter while strolling down a riverside.  However, these benches, for no apparent reason, seemed to have no seats.  The first time we saw them we found it hysterical.  Heck, I liked it so much I took a picture, a very awkward picture of Pat trying to sit on said bench.  Once our giggling fits had passed we wandered on, only to discover that none of the following benches had seats either . . . ooooo, London.

As we wandered under the twinkling lights, beside the seatless benches I once again felt a smile reaching my eyes and warming my heart.  The very best kind of smile :)  Our wanderings took us over the Thames to a four story restaurant/pub along the river for a delicious dinner of Toad in the hole.  SOunds gross, looked kind of gross, tasted delicious :)  So there, amidst more merry Londoners on the ground floor of our four story restaurant on the Thames we finally found some dinner and actually quite enjoyed it before wandering back past the famous black friar station to our flats.

Another successful evening in England.  Sigh, wish you were all here! 

(again, pictures are on my picture sight picasaweb.google.com/lbodien9 )