-Abbey Road - "COME TOGETHER, RIGHT NOW, OVER ME" |
 Big Ben |  Parliament |
By the time we reached the river our teeth were chattering so we knew we needed a different plan. After regrouping, I talked Michael into taking the Tube out to see Abbey Road. Abbey Road...yep, that's right. Go ahead...judge me. I wanted to see the famous zebra-striped crosswalk in front of Abbey Road Studios that John, Paul, George & Ringo had walked across when they recorded the album by the same name many years earlier.
The easiest way to get to Abbey Road is by taking the Jubilee Line train to St John's Wood Station on the London Underground (Tube.) When you exit the station, cross over the main road immediately in front of the station. There is a flat and comfortable 5 minute walk along Grove End Road (lovely neighborhood) which will bring you to the junction with Abbey Road. Hang a right and keeping walking until you see either people doing goofy things in a crosswalk or you reach Abbey Road Studios. It's hard to miss.
The easiest way to get to Abbey Road is by taking the Jubilee Line train to St John's Wood Station on the London Underground (Tube.) When you exit the station, cross over the main road immediately in front of the station. There is a flat and comfortable 5 minute walk along Grove End Road (lovely neighborhood) which will bring you to the junction with Abbey Road. Hang a right and keeping walking until you see either people doing goofy things in a crosswalk or you reach Abbey Road Studios. It's hard to miss.
I will cherish this experience forever because it was corny, sweet and something that my 13 year old self would never have believed could be possible to have done. A big surprise and special joy for me was that there were so many young people getting into the act. Of course I expected most of the people to be my age, but it was particularly fun to see the people in their 20's and 30's having such a great time.
Traffic patiently (and not so patiently) waited on either side of the crosswalk while people danced or even reenacted the famous foursome's original style while crossing the zebra stripes. Hilariously, people didn't hesitate to hand over their cameras and backpacks to complete strangers and ask them to take their photos. Everyone seemed to enjoy each other's version as well as doing it themselves. People were also quite courteous allowing each individual to interpret their version photographically.
It was fun, fun, fun! And even Michael who had initially rolled his eyes when I told him what I wanted to do seemed to enjoy the experience.
Traffic patiently (and not so patiently) waited on either side of the crosswalk while people danced or even reenacted the famous foursome's original style while crossing the zebra stripes. Hilariously, people didn't hesitate to hand over their cameras and backpacks to complete strangers and ask them to take their photos. Everyone seemed to enjoy each other's version as well as doing it themselves. People were also quite courteous allowing each individual to interpret their version photographically.
It was fun, fun, fun! And even Michael who had initially rolled his eyes when I told him what I wanted to do seemed to enjoy the experience.
Goofy
Goofier
Goofiest
Here are some other fun photos from the experience. As you will see I was even able to grab a photo of Michael in the crossing!
An earworm, in case you don't know, is like listening to a radio station that plays the same song over and over. Only this radio station is one you can't turn off inside your own head! It's maddening but lots of wine mitigates the effect! :-)
Outside Abbey Road Studios which was gated with wrought iron fencing sitting on a white stucco wall, people had written their names, dates and favorite Beatles lyrics in markers. Pretty cool experience.
**Interesting Tidbit - If you decide to go to Abbey Road and have your photo taken, consider uploading your photo to http://www.abbeyroad.com/crossing
Pressing my luck, Michael agreed to stop off at Nottinghill on our way back into the city centre area since he still had about an hour before his business meeting. Having walked across Abbey Road about 10 times, we headed back down Grove End Road to St. John's Wood Station and jumped onto the tube to Nottinghill Gate Station.
I was expecting the town to be quaint and small but in fact it's a bustling little city that didn't bear much resemblance to anything that I saw in the movie except for the beautiful gated but private parks requiring a key for entrance. Unfortunately we were unable to explore very much before having to get back on the train and head into the city but the city is best known for a large Carnival every August.
Here is more information if you think you might like to check it out: http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/special-events/10-tips-for-notting-hill-carnival
Arriving back at Picadilly Station, I decided to check out the area near the hotel. Originally I had wanted to go to Harrod's, but learned that it was at least a few miles away. I didn't think I would get back in time to meet Michael at 5:30pm.
Located directly behind the Sofitel was Her Majesty's Theatre that had been purchased by Andrew Lloyd Weber's (The Really Useful Theatre Group) in 2000 and was where the Phantom of the Opera had been playing since 1986! I popped in and was told there were seats available for that evening's performance.
Coincidentally, this is Cameron McIntosh's production that will soon be touring in the U.S.! Although we had tried to obtain seats for the both Costa Mesa and Los Angeles performances good seats were sold out by the time we checked into it.
Coincidentally, this is Cameron McIntosh's production that will soon be touring in the U.S.! Although we had tried to obtain seats for the both Costa Mesa and Los Angeles performances good seats were sold out by the time we checked into it.
When Michael returned to the hotel around 5:30pm we headed over to the theatre to see if tickets were still available. We purchased two seats in the Royal section (indeed) one row back on the balcony, dead center. We cancelled our dinner reservations at Benares (more Indian food) and dined at a little Italian eatery across the street from the theatre. I'm sorry I didn't note their name. It was excellent service and good food at a reasonable cost.
After the play we decided to have a drink at the St. James Bar in our hotel to see if we could get rid of the earworm from the play. Here is the earworm for your enjoyment:
"All I Ask of You"
"Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you, now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you"
After the play we decided to have a drink at the St. James Bar in our hotel to see if we could get rid of the earworm from the play. Here is the earworm for your enjoyment:
"All I Ask of You"
"Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you, now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you"
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