In the two years that the Barefoot Blogger has lived in France, I’ve returned to the US at the holiday time to visit with family and friends. The first trip back I experienced Paris with its festive lights and Santa’s village strewn along the Champs-Élysées. This year it was London.
The infatuation with seeing London at Christmas was tied to my earnest belief that Charles Dickens characters would be on every street corner. I was so certain the city would be overrun with Tiny Tims and Bob Cratchits that I didn’t sign up for Dickens Tours or stage plays of “A Christmas Carol.” It would be a waste of time and money.
Tiny Tim and Scrooge
Foolish me.
Marleybone Station, London
Yes, there was “Marylebone” Station.
Borough Market had a Scrooge lookalike …
Burroughs Market
A “sort of” Dickensian figure was at South Bank — a street musician with a fire-breathing tuba.
London
Friends Hilda and Ian even joined in the search and gave it more that a jolly good try.
The Embankment.
The Strand
Covent Garden.
White Chapel.
London White Chapel
We looked in every inn, pub and wine bar we could find that hinted Dickens had been there.
Through the bars at Embankment we searched.
Underground trains.
London underground
We even looked from the Shard’s 31st floor bar to get a bird’s-eye view.
Shard’s 32nd Floor Bar
Day Two was no better.
Although there was a giant Santa that could have passed for one of Scrooge’s nightmare apparitions.
Trafalgar Square Santa
If Yoda alongside him hadn’t spoiled the effect.
Trafalgar Square
There was no little boy with a big fat goose in front of Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace Christmas 2015
Not even Dickens ornaments at the Queen’s Gallery Shop.
Was I disappointed? Admittedly yes. That is, if a Dickens experience was all I was getting out of the London visit.
Yet the memories I will keep are the days with friends in a city that never disappoints.
A full English breakfast that took me back in time.
Full English Breakfast
Roasting chestnuts over an open fire.
Even without Dickens, the holiday message in London rang loud and clear:
“God bless us every one.”
Categories: Blog
Merry Christmas Debby…I so enjoy your travels!!
Marge Kennedy
Would love to see you both. Merry Christmas to you!
It is great to see you are still out there having adventures. Jan and Denis from the the Nepal trip
So glad to hear from you. It’s hard to believe we were all in Nepal last year. So glad we were there before the earthquake. Hope you’re still traveling and having fun. Happy holiday!
My first trip to London was in Dec. 1973, and I bought Christmas decorations at Harrods…which I still use. Christmas and London will always be special.
How long will you be in the US?
I brought back a Christmas pudding which we flambé-ed tonight. Andrew thought it was fab! I’m here til the new baby girl arrives in the spring..so til june 1. Hope you’re on your way to France by then!
Wonderful! I’d like a copy of the photo of you and the puppy roasting chestnuts.
Done! It’s taken at my friend Hilda’s outside London. Dogs were wonderful!
WONDERFUL!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Thank you! Looking forward to 2016 with you guys! Happy Holiday!
Nous vous souhaitons un joyeux noël où que vous soyez. Ken and Josie Scupp
Merci! Et toi!