AVOID THESE OBSTACLES FOR STREET SMART SAFETY

Avoid these stops if you’re having a good day and want it to continue.

It’s probably just me, but safety seems like a good idea in London.

The locals have their own list, I’m sure, but this is part of a day with a husband and wife on their own.

A nice baby boomer couple, (us), got up early to make it to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard.

Wife had seen it as a little girl and figured her ex-Army husband would enjoy the pageantry.

I didn’t kick because she was re-living a moment she’d had with her mom.

Now with me.

We caught a cab, got dropped off in front, and waited.

And waited. And waited.

The Changing of the Guard was scheduled for 11:00, and if there’s anything England is famous for it’s the correct time.

Except 11:00 came around, then 11:05, 11:10, 11:15.

We continued waiting beside a couple of old ladies from Texas.

The whole area was full of people waiting for the Changing of the Guard, then it dawned on everyone:

No Changing of the Guard for any of us.

But there was a steady drumbeat echoing across the crowd and some of them drifted toward it.

Which brings me to the first Avoid These Obstacles moment:

If you are in a crowd waiting for a military moment to happen and hear a drum beat like cadence to march by, go the other direction or you might find yourself conscripted into the service.

But that never happens. Right?

 

Avoid These Obstacles #2

After checking the schedule and being convinced of no guards changing today we headed off in the direction of our next stop with two hours to spare.

Since it was King James Park off the Mall above, we stopped for a cup of tea and a toilet break, except the the ladies’ line was huge and no line for men, which seems common everywhere.

So onward we went to the next lady’s room where it cost 20P to take one pee.

I waited while the wife went into her side, holding two cups of tea while watching the men’s side.

Seven women went in and out of the lady’s side, none in the men’s.

Avoid These Obstacles #2:

Never go into a bathroom no one uses. What’s going on in there? What’s not going on in there?

If you can wait, then wait.

Besides, our next stop was an appoint with the Churchill War Rooms and they surely had a toilet, or chamber pot.

 

#3 Obstacle

The underground War Rooms were near the nerve center of English government, #10 Downing Street and the rest.

The handheld guide told of the hot stuffy atmosphere on a day that included a hot stuffy atmosphere in narrow crowded hallways for added realism.

After three hours of Churchill, we walked on the park side of the street opposite one of the government entrances that was blocked, gated, and guarded by two soldiers with machine guns.

Like the beat of martial drum, don’t cross the street for a better look at guys with machine guns.

They’re on the job with specific instructions you don’t know anything about.

Since they are heavily armed, they’re not there for entertainment, so stay on your side of the street.

Are you feeling street smart yet?

Follow polite notices for best results.

 

#4

After you make it back to your home base you may want to stop inside for a beer?

But what about dinner?

Does Indian food sound good? When doesn’t it?

So we walked around the corner to a commercial street with restaurants and grocery stores from around the world.

Two Indian restaurants sat opposite each other.

One had blacked out windows and business advertising; the other had clear windows, a menu, with tables in view.

Instead of mystery at the front door, it had a ‘walk in and sit down’ look to it, which we did.

#4 Obstacle to avoid: a restaurant with poor messaging.

I watched other people stop across the street, then come in where we were.

I asked the waiter if they had traffic from across the street and he said yes, “But they are very good.”

 

In review, go away from the drumbeat, away from the machine guns, away from a sketchy toilet, and away from a mysterious restaurant.

Did I share my list with my wife? I did.

Was she compliant and thankful?

She was not. 

Did it matter one way of the other?

Nope. But it might one day, so stay dour my friends.