Maria bids Adieu

(Pre-script: I wrote the below a full 5 days ago - I am getting bad about these posts.)

Hard to believe it's been a week since my last post! It's been a whirlwind for sure.

Tuesday of last week, Maria & I went to the National Gallery, but on our way we stopped at TKTS in Leicester Square to see what they had. (I believe NYC has a TKTS for discount Broadway shows tickets as well.) We were able to get great tickets for a show that evening (details will follow.) Then it was on to the National Gallery just to peruse through a few rooms that Maria selected (you could peruse rooms for an entire week there and still not see it all) then it was a late lunch in the cafe and back home for a rest - all the travel & touring was beginning to wear on poor Pi. So, we went home to regroup, collected Kyle, and headed to the Prince Edward Theatre to see "Jersey Boys". We had fantastic seats for an absolutely fantastic show! With the exception of one chap who just couldn't seem to lose the Welsh accent, you would never know that these actors weren't from Hoboken. During the intermission, I got chatting with the bartender telling her how much I enjoyed the show, and I observed that I couldn't imagine how it could be any better in NY. She told me that she actually hears from a lot of Americans who have seen both versions that the West End version is better... what a compliment. And a challenge for the actually Joisy Boys who might take it to heart.

Afterwards, we decided to see if we could pull another DHP moment, and sought out the stage door. While doing so we met a wonderful couple from Los Angeles, Stu & Karen, who were doing the same thing and we had a lovely time chatting with them. It was through Karen's tenacity that we were able to figure out that we were in the wrong place, and scooted back to the front of the theatre just in time to see 3 of the 4 main actors come out. Extremely sweet guys - and so young! Maria & I laughed later that it probably makes their night when 2 middle aged American women gush about how fabulous they are and how brilliant their accents were. "Tee hee hee..." You can hear us now, can't you? That was certainly the one moment of the evening when Kyle wishes he'd stayed behind to use the loo or something. The lovely guy who played Franki Valli recommended a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner after the show and it was a great find - one I would definitely return to when going to see another show (Almalfi on Old Compton St. - Cannelloni almost as good as Old Ebbit's, and that is high praise, believe me.) As the Four Seasons themselves sang earlier in the evening, "Oh what a night!"

Maria's last day came much too quickly. We headed back to Covent Garden so that she could pick up a few things she'd spied earlier, then Jenny met up with us for lunch. Then we all headed to Knightsbridge and walked up to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The day turned out rather well for a walk in the park. I got my first glimpse up close of the Royal Albert Hall; across from it in the park is the Albert Memorial - good Lord, the woman spared no expense in tribute to her late husband! Before getting back on the tube, we did a quick walk through Harrod's - you can't be so close and not go in - and then it was time to head home. Kyle made a lovely Asian stir fry for us for dinner which was delish.

Early Thursday, I rode on the tube with Maria as far as Victoria Station, where she got on board the Gatwick Express headed for the airport. It was only 7:45 am when I got back to the flat, so it was back to bed for me, to sleep off all the excitement of the last several days. Maria says she had a good time, but no better time than I had having her here. I think she's already making plans for what she wants to see next summer... :-) That's one sister down, 5 to go. Come on girls! You'll have a blast! (Yes, Mart - you can come too...)

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