Treasure hunts in London

Look for this on the floor at the National Gallery

Early morning fog

Kate Middleton cocktails

Our man in Havana chess game

The door to the room where Edward VII took Lily Langtree

For his 30 th birthday my nephew organized a Treasure Hunt for his friends in London. They were divided into teams and wore fancy dress then they were given various tasks and clues . Some involved the members of the public and they caused a lot of amusement. The other day in London a few hidden treasures were pointed out to me which might be useful for anyone organizing such a game .

In Maiden Lane, a small street parallel to The Strand is a miniature  building with a statue of a maiden hidden in a recess . You have to bend down to look at her.

In a restaurant in the same street the barman showed us the door to the room where Edward VII took his mistress Lil Langtree.She was an actress and considered to be the Angelina Jolie of her day. He also pointed out a chess board covered with miniature whisky bottles instead of pieces. This is something to do with Graham Greene and his book Our man in Havana." I loved that book. You might like to stop here and have a Kate Middleton cocktail made with a violet liqueur if your budget allows, or pop in the pub next to the little maiden.Then  of course there is always the cockerel on the plinth in Trafalgar Square. It isn't hidden but is quite a sight. On the floor of the National Gallery there are numerous mosaics depicting a wide variety of scenes.A fitting end to your Treasure  Hunt could be the one that shows "Rest and Be thankful."

One day in London

 

  

One day in London and I feel I' ve travelled in time, lived a thousand lives, seen unexpected delights and discovered new treasures, felt the anguish and joy of millions of people  from all over the world. It has that effect on me., like Venice and Rome .

I discovered that the oldest pub in London is called The Mitre and was built in the sixteenth century. The oldest restaurant is called Rules in Maiden Lane and people have been dining there since 17 something. Even just that 's enough to to get your imagination going. I like to think about what they wore, what they ate, what there hopes and dreams were, what was going on in the world around them.

Then, standing in Trafgalgar square you see a group of French teenagers having the time of their lives wearing crowns from Burgher King, buskers performing incredible acts, a  demonstration with people chanting and waving flags, a French- looking cockerel staring at Nelson's back, a Scotsman playing bagpipes who is going to vote yes. In the backgound all the time, the reassuring sight of Big Ben and Westminster where you hope  important and wise decisions are being made for the common good....

Then an unexpected treat at the National Gallery. Two of Van Goghs' Sunflowers on show for free . This didn't mean everyone jostled and pushed to get a good look .First of all we queued patiently for a yellow ticket and then again for a red ticket. Wonderful - I 'll need another post for the sunflowers. All the while, all the languages of the world whispering near your ears. The reminder of the great plague with the bodies under St Martins in the fields, now a great coffee shop under there. Past, present, future. Old, young, rich, poor. A whole world in one day.