Wednesday May 16th -- Visit with Jim

Our friend Jim is a specialist in Olympics broadcasting.  So, making a guess that he might be in London at some point during our visit, I'd emailed him.  Turns out that he would be -- so we got together for dinner. 

Now, I've known Jim since 6th or 7th grade and Maxine's known him for over 25 years, so he's an old friend and we've seen him any number of times.  When we were in Paris in 2006 he came over for the day and he and I spent it wandering the streets of the city and talking.  Now again in a foreign city...  We went out for Indian food. And later to the Goat Tavern for a few beers and ciders (I samples Strongbow cider, another cider, Jaipur IPA, and Guinness).  Great conversation and a good evening.  And a marker on life, meaning a chance to reflect on how life has progressed from our childhood together in New Jersey a long time ago...

Earlier in the day Maxine and I did separate explorations.  She went to see the Geffrye Museum and also to Shoreditch.  I started with 1 1/2 hours at the National Gallery (impressive), then lunch at home, then over to the Tate Modern.  The Tate has an impressive cafe on their top floor.  For the price of a cup of coffee, you have a fantastic view over half of London.  I brought my iPad, figuring I'd read while looking out at London.  Ended up talking to a Dutch art historian for an hour debating the meaning of art (she was there for the Damian Hirsch exhibit since she'd known him in the 90's).  After she left (gave up trying to convince me?), I did enjoy a Innis & Ginn Oak Aged Scottish Ale (the cafe has an excellent bottled beer selection) while staring out at London.

Some random notes:  Maxine and I feel comfortable enough in the city at this point that we've been able to give directions to people when they ask.  Helped an older lady by carrying her luggage down the stairs so she could get to her tube.  The Tate has 8megabit free wifi service, which is better than I can buy as DSL in LA.  It's nice to be comfortable enough here that we think of transport as our local bus (74,14, 414, C1) and our local tube station (South Kensington).  Part of that feeling of expanding competencies.  But, of course, London is an easy city...