Shoes, Liberty, and Happiness for us.
Our late start today meant that what was supposed to be an early breakfast turned out to be a lazy stroll through an unusually sunny St. James Park and a lot of toast boxes for all. After breakfast, we went our separate ways and Adam and I, mostly me, got to take A & A to our favorite shopping places. We found quintessentially British shoes at Liberty, the best department store in London. Adam and Alan lucked out at the twice yearly sale, while sadly the Oxfords I had to have had just arrived yesterday. Ashley has yet to find the perfect shoes, but there’s still time. We explored Carnaby Street and they even let me drag them to Vivienne Westwood’s shop for a bit. How can plaid and corsets look so great with boots?
Instead of lunch we met for tea at Fortnum & Mason’s, a food hall that puts Harrods to shame and is commissioned by the queen. After our tiny crustless sandwiches, violet frosted sponge cakes and scones, we ventured down the velvet stairs through floors with hats for Ascot, fans for coronations, pipes and driving gloves for gentlemen, and finally, most spectacularly, the chocolate shop. I’d tell you about the leather hippo and the Union Jack motorcycle helmet, but Adam’s all tuckered out from shopping and we need to take naps before dinner.