Greetings from London. I am staying at the Park Grande - Hyde Park. Not as posh as it sounds, but very nice. I have never stayed in this area. It has many beautiful residences.
The first church that I saw was the Saint James Parish Church. It was a good omen, but I assure you, there have been no saints in my background.
Art.
Art
Art?
Last night, I ate at the Sawyers Arms. It was three stories and packed to the gills.
I had this fun little perch with just one table. I enjoyed watching the people from above. I wondered if the bartender thought I couldn’t behave, so she put me in timeout. I was too tired after the long flight to act up.
For dinner, I chose the Duck Hash, a slow-cooked duck confit that was scrumptious. I am not crazy about duck, but I love duck confit. It is rare to get a true confit, but this was incredible. If you have never had it, imagine the best juicy pork roast on steroids - not gamey at all. The duck was accompanied by cubed potatoes, pan-fried with bacon and cabbage. It was served over an orange-and-black currant coulis and topped with a fried egg. The dish absolutely hit a home run. I am starting off well.
Today I wandered around and took in the neighborhood - a little more than I meant to. I wandered so far from my hotel that it took me more than an hour to get back.
This describes exactly how I felt when I got back to my room.
I decided to have Indian food for dinner. I think England has the best Indian food anywhere.
I chose Tandor Chicken Balti and rice. According to the menu, Balti dishes are cooked in a cast-iron Kashmiri pan with chopped ginger, garlic, ground Indian spices, including exotic herbs, creating a thicker, richer, more distinct flavor. Balti dishes can be prepared mild, medium, or hot according to individual preferences.” I love hot spicy food, but if you order it hot, you will need the fire department. I chose the medium. I also ordered the cheese naan (bread). You must have bread to soak up the savory gravy-like sauce. This dinner also hit a home run.
Tomorrow, I take the train to Chester, Wales, to start my hiking adventure.
Good night and God Bless.
