London Continued...

On Sunday morning we jumped off at the South Kensington tube station to visit the Natural History Museum (free entrance at all public museums in London).  We checked out the Dinosaur Gallery and the Mammal Gallery with its huge blue whale model (the length of three buses). 

Before our trip I had told the girls that I wanted to treat them to 3 English treats that were my favourites when I lived there as a kid.  Here they are about to try the Double Decker chocolate bar which received 2 thumbs up.  Tasted just the same, although I think the original red wrapper was more fitting. 

We were so lucky to have such pleasant weather.  Here the girls are playing at the Diana Memorial Playground located in Kensington Gardens. 

A must do on my list was to sit down for a "proper tea".  Scones with jam and clotted cream are my all time favourite treat that I hadn't had in decades, so I wasn't going to let this chance to indulge pass me by.  Must admit that that I had to sweet talk Grace into the idea as she was voting instead for an ice cream, but a taste of the delicate cucumber and soft cheese sandwich strips on white bread with no crusts (Grandma style!), and some of the clotted cream, and the ice cream was quickly forgotten.  That's my girl!

A close up of my high tea at "The Orangery" at Kensington Palace.  When I look at this picture the word "perfection" comes to mind... must be my English roots...

 As much as we love living amongst the French language and hearing it spoken all the time, I think we've been underestimating how tiring it can be.  It hit us in London with how at ease we felt hearing English so regularly.  A much needed break for these 2 middle aged brains!  Of course, it also helps that so much about the city seems familiar to me even after all these years.

The London Eye, a 135 metre ferriswheel allowing for expansive views of the city, was voted the top attraction by Grace and Lily.  Being wary of heights I was a bit nervous, but I found it a piece of cake in comparison with the Eiffel Tower elevator.

A trip down the Thames and great views of the Tower of London and London Bridge.

Great photo, Lily. 

 Grace and Lily finally got their ice cream here; British style. Soft vanilla ice cream with a Flake chocolate bar sticking out.  Usually, Lily likes her ice-cream straight up.  In France, they tend to stick a wafer or thin cookie in the ice cream  much to Lily's disappointment.  She always quickly removes it and hands it to Grace to eat so she can concentrate on the ice cream in a bowl, no cone needed, thank-you.   But, a flakey, milk chocolate stick?  Ice cream and chocolate, her favourite foods in the world (with red peppers a distant third) in one go?    I think she felt it had been invented just for her.  

Our last stop of the trip was Harrods, the famous (but not as famous as the Mona Lisa Grace decided) London department store.  I was on the lookout everyday for a sweet shop like the one I would pass on the way to Hainault High down Manford Way (remember Lois and Brian?).  I told the girls I was looking for Kola Kubes, Kop Kops and any sort of white chocolate treat.  Unfotunately, we didn't have any luck and settled for a white chocolate lolly from Harrods.

So, you can imagine our delight and surprise on spying a "Mr. Humbug's Sweets" store at the Stansted airport, with its ceiling to floor canisters of sweets.  Kop Kops, yes! Kola Kubes, yes! Fish and Chips, yes!  Certainly it was an experience for the girls to see their Mom so excited about candy.