Thursday, March 20, 2003

The good spring weather continues -- which is incredible. This many days of clear, sunny skies is almost unbelievable in London -- like snow in Florida.

After work, I took the bus down to the South Bank of the Thames, where I combined two of my favorite things -- a pub dinner and the Thames. I enjoyed a nice dinner -- Lancashire hot pot -- a rich lamb stew topped with sliced potatoes -- accompanied by cabbage, carrots, squash and peas. The pub -- the Founder's Arms -- sits by the Thames and has a great view of St. Paul's Cathedral. Like any good pub after work, it was filled with the roar of amiable chatter.

The pub is a Young's pub, which serves beer brewed by Young's, one of London's two brewers (the other is Fuller's). Young's beer is great and their pubs tend to have great food. My friend and colleague, Keith, tipped me off to Young's, for which I shall always be grateful.

After dinner, I walked to the Tate Modern nearby and took in an exhibition of the works of Max Beckman, a German artist who gained fame shortly before World War I and was forced to leave his homeland because the Nazis deemed him "degenerate." An interesting show. Beckman's style is unique. His themes include torture, nationalism and myth. Some have a nightmarish quality.

Monday, March 17, 2003

Another beautiful day. And a tip for enjoying one -- Gray's Inn gardens, a nice patch of green dotted with benches and perfect for a picnic, is open from noon to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays. I had lunch there today. Wonderful.

Gray's Inn, like Lincoln's Inn, is home to many of London's lawyers. Both places are fun to walk through.