Ag dul go Londain aríst, cuid amháin

D'imigh muid go Cathair na hÁingeal go dtí Londain an chéad Dé Máirt i mí na Nollaig luath. Fhág Léna agus mé le linn na h-óiche. Bhí Léna ansuid le linn samhraidh seo caite, ach ní raibh mé ansin ach uair amháin (nó níos lú!) sa deich mbliana chomh fásta: beagán i Meitheamh-Iúil 1979, 1989 agus 2003 mar i gcéanna.

D'fhán muid i gKensington Thios ina h-Óstán de Blacam. Is áit iontach, agus fuair muid úasghrádú chun seomra mór i stíl na Fraince. Bhí maith linn a léamh dhá nó trí nuachtán (íomlán ar an bháis na Mandela agus an triail na Nigella Lawson) áitiuilaí go brea gach maidin le bricfeasta ann, fós.

Thosaigh muid ár tseachtaine seisean féin Dé Ceadaoin leis cuairt go Músaem na Londain ag an balla Rómhánach. Tá sé ag dul chun cinn ó amannaí neoiliteach go Céilteach go Rómánach go meanaoiseach go nAthbheochana. Ansin, théann tú go síos go dtí an t-úrlar thíos a fheiceáil an ré nua-aimseartha dtí an lá inniu.

Chónaic mé ar léarscáil na Músaem na Ord Naomh Eoin. D'fhóglaim muid faoi na Ord i gclós an-stairiúl air i gClerkenwell ó meanaoiseach go anois mar sheirbhis otharchairr. Ith muid dinnéar Mharocó blasta i tStráide Grégis, Soho, ag Maison Touareg.

Ar deireadh, bhreatnaigh muid drámaíocht "Mojo" ag Amharclann Harold Pinter in aice leis Cearnach Leicester, iomlán de carnabhail geal. Bhí an-tuirseach, ar ndóigh. Ní raibh mé a thuiscint go leor de.

Going to London again, part one.

We went from Los Angeles to London early in December. Layne and I left during the night. Layne had been over there during this past summer, but I had not been there but once (or less!) decade as an adult: a bit in June-July 1979, the same 1989 and 2003.

We stayed in South Kensington at Blake's Hotel. It's a wonderful place, and we got an upgrade to a big room in French style. We liked reading two or three fine local newspapers at breakfast there, too.

We started our week itself on Wednesday with a visit to the London Museum at the Roman Wall. It goes from neolithic times to Celtic to Roman to medieval to the Renaissance. Then, you go down to the first floor to see the early modern times to the present.

I saw on a map The Museum of the Order of St. John. We learned about the Order in its very historic courtyard in Clerkenwell from medieval times to now as an ambulance service. We ate a tasty Moroccan dinner in Greek Street, Soho, at Maison Touareg.

Finally, we saw the drama "Mojo" at the Harold Pinter Theatre near Leicester Square, full of a bright carnival. I was very tired, however. I didn't understand much of it. (Grianghraf/Photo: St John's Gate at night/Geata Naomh Eoin i n-óiche)