Day 9: Finally, the Lion King
I started the day by getting my nails done by a very fun manicurist at a salon here in Covent Garden just a short walk from our flat. It was lively in the salon this morning with lots of laughs and chatter. I am loving my Christmas color and it’s always fun to do something “normal” while traveling. On the way back I stopped at the EL&N bakery to grab a coffee and some square croissants I had read about on Instagram; lemon for me and chocolate for Jimm. We would give them a 5 out of 5, they were pretty scrumptious! I finished writing out my Christmas cards and we headed for a walk about down The Strand to check out a couple of Harry Potter wizard theme stores we saw during our London Christmas Lights tour yesterday. Then it was off to the Churchill War Rooms.
We were fascinated by the Churchill War Rooms. The museum contains the Cabinet War Rooms, a historic underground complex that was the British command centre throughout World War II. Located beneath the streets of Westminster, the complex includes a network of fortified rooms and corridors where key decisions were made during the war. These preserved rooms include the Map Room (fascinating!), where military strategies were coordinated, and Churchill's personal office-bedroom, that contains his wartime desk and communications equipment which he used to make speeches and address the British people. One of the famous speeches made there is referred to as the “This is not the end” speech. On November 10, 1942 after Allied forces began achieving significant victories, he famously said: "Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
On the way back, we walked by Trafalgar Square to get a picture of the Christmas Tree. An interesting fact is after the Second World War, Norway decided that one way to thank its British allies for everything they did for them during the war was with a very special annual gift – a giant Christmas tree! This year, the tree is approximately 20 meters high, around 60 years old. It is a Norwegian spruce from Grefsenkleiva, in Oslo's Forest. It is considered the 'nation's Christmas Tree' and is a symbol of enduring friendship and international cooperation with Norway. With so much family in Norway, it was fun to see learn about this special tradition.
In the evening, we headed out to dinner at restaurant called Joe Allen and a show at the Lyceum Theatre. We finally saw the theatrical version of Disney’s The Lion King. A show we have wanted to see for years and just never got around to booking. It is now in its 25th year at the Lyceum. It did not disappoint! What an amazing show. The costumes and the sets were incredible. I was only able to get a few photos of at the end and they do not do it justice. The woman who played Rafiki really stole the show. She was so talented and hilarious. We absolutely loved the show and would highly recommend it to anyone who has not seen it.
Tomorrow we head to Edinburgh, Scotland for an overnight trip, so I will do a two-day post when we return. I can’t believe we only have one week left before we leave England to return to the States.