June 28, 2019: London England--The National Gallery

This is the part of our trip that's mostly lazy and fun for me and Mike, since he has no conferences and only one or two meetings with the Atomic Weapons guys in Leeds next week.

June 28th: After our flight from Germany, we purchased Oyster cards in the subway and took the train to get to our hotel. We spend that morning walking around and buying theater tickets. We weren't supposed to check into our hotel until the afternoon, so we had time to kill. 

We saw the new movie, "Yesterday," starring Lilly James. It was SO GOOD! We think it's the best film we've seen all year. I bought us a soda, fries, and popcorn at the concession stand. 

After the movie, we walked around a bit and then returned to the hotel to check in, put our bags in our room, and freshen up. We ate a decent, quick dinner at KFC and headed to the Gilian Lynne Theatre to see "School of Rock--the Musical." It was really great, and we especially liked the kids in it.

During the Intermission, I thought of buying a couple of tiny Haagen Dazs Ice Creams from the vendor, when I discovered that my little wallet was missing from my bag. I couldn't believe it was gone. It had my drivers license, two major credit cards, and all the English pounds we had just taken out for this leg of our trip!

The last place I remembered using my credit card was at the movie theater earlier in the day, so I couldn't wait to go back and find out if it was found. So after the musical was over, we rushed back to the Odeon Theater. We talked to the staff, who looked and said that my wallet was not in their Lost and Found and that no one had found it while cleaning up after our movie.

We waited until the last show was over so we could search the theater and seats where we had sat. To my great disappointment, we found no wallet. I felt so sick about it all night. No one had turned it in. I was still hoping that I'd be able to get my wallet back somehow. Perhaps I left it in our hotel room on the desk. Or maybe someone will turn it in by tomorrow, but that would take a miracle.

I had been praying a LOT that I would find my wallet as we hurried back to our hotel room. And I was extremely sad when it wasn't there. But I still prayed for a miracle and had a restless night's sleep over losing my wallet. And Poor Mike had to cancel my credit cards that night, and it was so late. He was so tired. 

Mike was so understanding, non-judgmental, and empathetic about the whole thing. He said that whoever found my wallet probably needed the money more than we did. I should have given him half the cash at least. I'm going to be a lot more careful and vigilant with my wallet next time! Something like this can really ruin a perfectly nice trip.

One of the pubs where we were going to have fish & chips but didn't

Many buildings like this one are being renovated

One of many street musicians in London

A big splash pad and sitting area

This is the movie theater where I lost my wallet


BEST movie we've seen all year, and it was filmed in England and in the U.S.

The Coca Cola London Eye can be seen in the background

Mike decided we needed some culture while in London
I especially liked the Biblical paintings in the National Gallery

  

These amazing paintings are actually chalk drawings on the sidewalk

  

Buildings and buses everywhere

I LOVE these colorful hanging baskets all over the city

See, Mike Hobbs really is English!

      

The views from our 19th floor windows

We had a quick bite to eat at this KFC before heading
off to see the show at the Gillian Lynne Theater

 "School of Rock" was great. We especially loved the talented kids.

The opening stage set

Before the seats were filled and the show began

These shots were taken at the end of the show when cameras were allowed