After another great breakfast (the only other time I had eaten beans for breakfast was at the camp) we checked out and with bags on headed for a day with several fixed time events, including the Tut Exhibit and Les Miserables. The weather had deteriorated to what local media described as one of the fiercest storms of the winter. Lacking snow and sub zero temperatures, we thought it exaggerated. Regardless, the day would lend itself much more comfortably to indoor activities.

• Globe Theatre - Firstly, we needed to complete one last bit of homework we couldn't accomplish from Canada. I had located online an opportunity to secure tickets for a showing of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at the New Globe Theatre on the South Bank. However, the tickets failed to arrive before our departure and we did not have a seat confirmation number. Since we were scheduled to visit the Tate Modern (just next door) that morning I went to secure tickets, or at least a confirmation of seats as this was planned during our last night in London. Upon arrival I had full access to box office staff and within a few minutes we had the information required and were ready to roll for the Friday Night show. With cheers all round, we boogied to Tate Modern.
• Tate Modern Gallery - Modern Art has always been a bit of a torment for me, a real whirlpool as my Scottish ancestry tangles and spins with my Irish sense of fun!!! The Tate didn't disappoint, as those old feelings once again boiled to the surface. Arriving early, we were very free to roam the premises almost unencumbered. From Warhol's Hamburger to Jane inquiring about the huge crack in the cement floor (part of a work/exhibit) we light-heartedly flew about the premises like bumblebees. Several works of amazing color by a South African artist were among our favorites. Oh... and we can't forget "hamburger" (a la Inspecteur Clouseau).
• The 02 - Tutankhamen Exhibit - Being scheduled by timed entry for 12:30pm, we tubed across London under Canary Wharf to North Greenwich, location of the 02 for the Tutankhamen Exhibit. The 02 is quite the building, a kind of outdoor "tent like" structure with a rink, mall, stadium, etc. We quickly entered the queue and made our way through the line to the exhibit. The exhibit was very well done, with an opening video, an introduction to Egyptian life and Tutankhamen's family, then an examination of the boy king himself and artifacts from his tomb. The displays in the exhibit were very well done... and the amazingly preserved items from the tomb were easy to observe. Despite some extra bustle (a couple of childrens groups which entered prior to our group) the experience was informative and enjoyable. The entire trip through, including line-up, took us about two hours. We departed, pleased with the time spent, to make our way back to city centre.
• Thames Clipper - After waiting about 10 minutes near a jostled riverside dock, sure enough a river boat arrived to take us via Thames back into central London. It was great fun, as the near empty vessel plowed its way by riverside attractions. An added bonus was our travel cards gave us a 33% discount on the ride. We took quite a few pictures from the open back area and enjoyed dropping the packs and taking in the view. As we made our way back and forth across the river, it was easier to appreciate the size of the Thames, which is rather forgettable on a map. We disembarked at Embankment Station and made switches on the tube to King's Cross underground near our next nights accommodation. On the way Jane and I both had a great stop in a Lebanese Diner for a snack similar to our donairs. Bellies warmed, we headed in the general direction, only to select a random street and look across to see the hotel at its end. A fluke, but very easy to find.
• Accommodations - Travelodge London Kings Cross Royal Scot - Selected solely on it's combination of proximity to St. Pancras International Station and price, we landed at a busy front desk only to be quickly processed, with card in hand, and heading for our room in minutes. The goal was to get rid of the bags and cleaned up a bit for Les Mis. After an hour, and that accomplished, we headed back for King's Cross and took the tube to Leicester Square. With time in hand prior to the evening show, we explored the brightly lit West End streets on foot and roamed the Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and adjoining streets, as well as a much deserved respite spent sipping Guinness at a pub near Queen's Theatre. Guinness on tap could grow on me!!!
• Chinatown - In our travels we fumbled into the Soho Chinatown District. Open markets and restaurants lined the brightly colored streets in the area. It was quite unlike our Manhattan experience, a more subdued and reserved, tourist oriented version. The New York visit was raw and over the top. Perhaps a daytime visit would have been more comparable. Fun though... always interesting when you have such contrasting cultures co-habitating in such proximity.
• Broadway London - Les Miserables - We stopped in at 6:30 to visit the Box Office and retrieve our tickets... second row (B), centre, in the stalls. To prepare ourselves we had taken the time to view a Liam Neeson take on Jean Valjean before we headed to London... bit of research never hurts. We arrived early at the theatre and settled in for our first musical in the west end (my only other experience was Lion King in New York). The Queen's filled quickly with patrons of all sort in attendance. The rest is a blur... we were very close to front and the focus, for the next three hours, was the actors, the story, the music and the setting. I was very much drawn into the play, throwing any critical eye out the window and being totally sucked into the ambience. I was continually amazed/surprised by the sets, and how they transformed from scene to scene to create Jean Valjean's Paris. This part of the trip I filed under the category "don't miss"!!! The two tickets were about $150 Canadian and we didn't regret a cent of it. We filed out and caught the subway back to King's Cross, picked up a snack and returned to the Royal Scot for bed and an early start... chunnel connections to Paris.