Miss Saigon

Saturday 2nd January 2016

After dinner at the Taro restaurant, we headed to the Prince Edward Theatre on Compton Street in Soho. We had last minute tickets for Miss Saigon. Given the tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean at the moment as Syrians flee the violence in Syria and the squalor of the refugee camps, this was quite an apt show to see. It was as much an education experience as it was entertainment.

Taro in Soho

Saturday 2nd January 2016

Taro is a Japanese noodle and sushi bar on Compton Street in Soho. We decided to have dinner there before going to a show. It was very busy and being in there felt a bit like being on a production line. Food was good and for London, competitively priced. The only drawback was one of us was served some time before the other.

Comptons and Molly Moggs

Saturday 2nd January 2016

After the National Gallery, we headed into Soho. Brief visits were made to Comptons and Molly Moggs, both gay pubs, and both very different. Comptons was crowded and quite dark. Molly Moggs was quiet and camp, though I have been in there when it is crowded (and still camp).

Visiting the National Gallery

Saturday 2nd January 2016

From the South Bank we headed to Trafalgar Square. More specifically, to the National Gallery.



This is a busy attraction but thankfully free to visit. It was very busy.



Lots of famous paintings, notably Constable's Hay Wain.

And how about Claude Monet's Water Lilies?

The Anchor, South Bank

Saturday 2nd January 2016

A visit to the South Bank took us first to the Anchor, an old, rambling pub not far from London Bridge, for lunch. It is easy to get lost in the inter-connecting rooms. I was a bit irritated by the arrangements for ordering food and drinks. There were two bars next to each other, One of them refused to serve me coffee as that was only available from the neighbouring bar. Why they couldn't just ask someone to pass them a coffee from that bar was beyond me. Anyway, we did eventually manage to order lunch. Food was reasonable though remember, this is London so London prices applied.

Back to the White Hart

Friday 1st January 2016

Back to the White hart in the Triangle in Crystal Palace on New Year's Day for lunch. Always worth a visit and not too crowded this time. We went for the shared dishes.

Where the Crystal Palace once stood

Friday 1st January 2016

After walking around the lake in Crystal Palace Park, we walked through the next half of the park, where once the Crystal Palace itself stood. The foundations and some of the walls of the building can still be seen but the rest of the building was totally destroyed by fire in December 1936. It is worth spending an hour or so exploring the site.

The Crystal Palace was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. You can see his statue near the stadium.