[Worldtrippers home] [2025 Crystal-Viking]
We are back in London! Actually, we are back in Peckham, a suburb south of Central London. We have been staying with our friends Suzy-Jane and Ken. We have enjoyed time at their house, and we have gone into London’s West End twice to see a couple of plays.
On May 17, we went to the Fortune Theatre to see “Operation: Mincemeat.” Back during WWII, the Allies planned to invade Sicily. In order to draw the Axis away, the Allies created an elaborate deception to make the enemy believe they were attacking Sardinia instead. We had no idea how anyone could make this into a musical play, let alone a comedy. Yet we had read extremely positive reviews of the play. It’s almost impossible to get a ticket on New York’s Broadway, so we jumped at the chance to see it in London. We enjoyed it immensely.
May 17 was a perfect storm day in London. It was the day of the Men’s Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) finals at Wembley Stadium between Manchester City and Crystal Palace. The city was covered with rabid football fans… and garbage.
In addition, because it was Saturday, there were weekly demonstrations both for and against the Gaza War. The huge demonstrations were peaceful, but the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine factions were separated by a small set of barricades… and dozens and dozens of police officers.
(Saturday night was also the final of the “Eurovision” song contest… but that’s another story.)
On May 18, we went to the Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the old Shakespearean theatre. Suzy-Jane had recommended their production of “Romeo and Juliet” … transposed to the American Old West. The entire play was presented intact (it is often cut or abridged), and was also thoroughly enjoyable. We thought several of the minor characters – including the Nurse, the Capulet Servant and Mercutio – stole the show.
Back in Peckham, Suzy-Jane treated us to her vegetarian home cooking, including a sugar-laden cake she calls “heart attack on a plate.” In turn, we treated her to dinner out at Il Giardino, a local Italian restaurant. Gail had a pasta dish called “Tagliatelle Fiori” that she proclaimed the best meal she has had in several years.
