Speaker's Corner

Wow, what a day of walking we had today.  Our plan was to go to Speaker's Corner.  It is a spot where people go to speak about whatever they like on the corner of Hyde Park.  Yesterday the Australian woman we met told us it is within walking distance of where we are staying.  I guess it is if we consider that "walking distance" is open to interpretation.  Along the way we got lost and asked a woman for directions who said "You're walking to Hyde Park?  That's quite a distance.  It's at least a half hour's walk.  But...go that way, turn left at your first stop then head right then blah, blah, blah."  We headed in that direction (whatever direction that was).  We  got confused again and asked a couple who said, "You're walking to Hyde Park?  That's quite a distance.  It's at least a half hour's walk.  Then it is another half hour just to walk across the park. Well, if you go through Holland Park and then take a left down this little alley then head blah, blah, blah.  We're going to Holland Park."  I said, "Oh, then we will follow you.  Don't be afraid."  We followed them and then when we got to Holland Park they gave us more directions that sounded mostly like "blah, blah, blah."  We finally found our way to the park and they were right, it really was at least a half hour's walk across the park.  On the way we found a fellow American who was headed there so we walked with her. Yes, we even needed directions through the park.  When I tell you this is the largest park I have ever been in I am not exaggerating.  It is 625 acres.   Technically it is two different parks, but they are connected, so who cares about technicalities when you are trying to walk across it/them.

You might be wondering how on earth two adults could get so lost in a city.  Here is a map of London... Anyone would get lost.

Don't be confused by the fork and knife, this is not a plate of spaghetti, this is a map of London. 

While walking through the park we came across a gift from the Norwegian people to the English.  Now, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but this gift did seem a bit silly, especially to the people who can claim Stonehenge as their own. 

It says "This stone was erected by the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Norwegian Merchant Fleet in the year 1978.  We thank the British people for friendship and hospitality during the Second World War.  You gave us a safe haven in our common struggle for freedom and peace."

A rock?  Seriously?  Of all of the gifts to give...a rock?  How do you think that conversation went?

"What should we give them?" 

"I don't know, what do we have that they don't?" 

"Fish?"

"No, they have plenty of that and after just a couple of days it will start to stink anyway." 

"Ooh, I've got it... a rock.  Not just any rock though, a giant rock."

"A giant rock?  Where will we get one of those?"

"I've got one in my yard the wife's been nagging me to get rid of.  We can give it to them.  We'll even engrave it for them."

Speaker's corner was great.  There were about seven or eight men, all standing on step ladders, and shouting about whatever they wanted.  Some were religious and they turned into debates about God, vs. Allah, vs. atheism.  Quite a few were about the riots.  We stayed for a while listening to one man in particular talk about the hypocrisy of the prime minister and the mayor of London who both admitted to rioting and setting things on fire while they were in university.  After the hour's walk (at least) and the hour standing around listening to the various speakers a good American cup of coffee was in order.  Of course that was  not going to happen so I settled on something called a "white Americano".  Then it was time to head back home.

Here's a picture of the crowd...

When we arrived home we got directions to a steak house in another neighbourhood that we promised to take Jacob to for his birthday.  We took two buses and walked, asked some police for directions, and finally found the place. We enjoyed our  meal and got lots of funny looks from people who were trying to figure out "if they were all ours".  In America people simply ask, here they try not to appear as if they are staring and just wonder.  We quietly sang Happy Birthday to Jacob.

On the way out I approached one of the couples who kept trying not to stare and told them, "Yes, they are all ours."  Then they told me of their own family planning ideas.  I didn't have the heart to tell them that six kids is not family planning, but rather lack of family planning. 

On our way back we caught the wrong bus, but it was okay because the people on the bus were helpful and friendly and where they suggested we get off was well within walking distance of the house.  

There is a continued heavy police presence all over the city, and very little continued concern of more rioting.  I am sure it's all over.  (Unless one of you lets this email out).