RANDOMOSITIES

You could seriously spend hours upon hours at the Spitalfields Markets. We cruised through it in half an hour, but even so, I managed to put a dent in my pocketbook with a new purse and a few souvenirs for my girls.

Another history-in-your-face moment: Walking past skyscrapers and looked down a little alley. Tucked away was a tiny brick house (like in the movie Up), so we investigated. Turns out it was the 1600's birthplace of Susanna Wesley (mother to Charles & John, founders of the Methodists).

As much as I'd love to live in England, London would probably be my last choice. My impression? A big, dirty city with pockets of super cool historical stuff.

TIMELINE

10:00 Hit the tube for day two of our London adventure. First stop is the Spitalfields Market.

11:30 Queue up for the Dennis Sever's Museum.

1:00 Leave the museum for lunch. Japanese this time. 

2:00 Stroll the old Victorian streets of Spitalfields.

3:00 Tour the Imperial War Museum.

5:00 Eat dinner at The George Inn, an old coaching inn.

6:30-8:00 Attend a Gospel service at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

THOUGHTS

My biggest time warp today was visiting the Dennis Severs Museum, a very unique place. The premise is that you're "in" the painting, not just looking at one. The sign on the front door claims that beyond the door dwells the 8th century silk master Mr. Gervais and family. As you enter, they leave. As you leave, they enter. Although you never actually see them, you share their world. It's a silent museum, meaning no talking, because they play sounds in the background as if it's 1800. Each room has it's own smells, and it's completely set up for the time period, down to real candlelight and coal burning in the hearth. I loved it.

I didn't, however, love the Imperial War Museum. Oh, it's okay, but I was hoping for a complete history of war, not just a focus on WWI up to contemporary times. Apparently middle-aged men love it, though, because the place was swarming with them.

For dinner we had a traditional beef pie at The George Inn. Yummo! And even though it sounds like we're porking out like little horkers, I can honestly say this is the first vacation where I'll be going home with looser pants than when I came. The amount of walking we've done is phenomenal.

We attended an evening Gospel service at Charles Spurgeon's church, which has been around since the 1600's (not the building, though). I expected straight-laced Brits with stoic expressions eyeing us as we walked in. Not so. Oh, they were pretty conservative in their suits and dresses, but very friendly. In fact, I doubt a visitor at Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis (my church) would've received a better welcome.