Tea and a swim in Hyde Park

July 22nd
Since our arrival, Joanne and I have been treated like royalty in London. It helps when a true Londoner (apparently that is someone who dines regularly at Sea Shell's Fish and Chips in the Maryleborne District) takes the time to showcase his city to complete strangers from another country. On this note, we had the good fortune of being introduced to Nick through a colleague of mine. Special thanks to Colin for introducing us to cousin Nick! Imagine trying to find your way in a city of 10 million people when you are from a community with a population of 100,000...a daunting experience to say the least. However, thanks to Nick, we were made to feel right at home. Nick gave us a thorough orientation to London's public transportation system--including two multi-transit passes to get around town. He also provided us with a general overview of London's communities, points of interest, and he made himself available to answer any of our questions, such as..."Can I swim in the Thames?"

Day 1

• take in the street markets of Notting Hill
• enjoy the best fish and chips London has to offer (Sea Shells Fish and Chips)--reference the cabs queued up down the street
• enjoy a splendid evening with Nick, his partner Tony, and his nephew's young family

Day 2

• see London by bicycle. Nick took us for a bicycle ride through Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster and Trafalgar Square. People may think that I am crazy for swimming the "dangerous" Channel...not in comparison to riding a bicycle on the "wrong side of the road" between the buses and taxis weaving in and out of traffic through this busy thoroughfare! Seriously though, cycling is a great way to see London up close and personal. It is also affordable, healthy and you look cool doing it.
• kudos to the City of London for creating a thriving commuter cycling network, for opening up select streets to pedestrians on weekends, and for enticing the public to leave their cars at home...something that North American cities should aspire to
• later, we enjoyed live jazz at world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Day 3

• we ate breakfast in Hyde Park...at Princess Dianna's Memorial to be precise. We could have spent all day there. The park is a wonderful sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of London city life. A little later, Joanne went for a run while I swam 6 KM in the Hyde Park Lido--an outdoor 100m swim lane in the middle of the park. My shoulder is feeling very good after that workout.
• a tour of the Tower of London and a musical in London's West End followed