Okay, slept 10 hours after the hospital fiasco followed up by a lovely day exploring London. Roamed around the National Gallery with the rented headsets, strolled through Leicester Square, had lunch on an outdoor patio (bundled up) at All Bar One. Seemed rather touristy at first but the food was very good. The menu was a tapas set up. The first two things I ordered were not available but decided instead on the Asian Chop Salad and loved it. Ro had salmon kebabs with roasted beets and moaned and groaned through the whole meal. Wait, maybe that was me. Thoroughly enjoyed this meal and the prices were very reasonable! Portions not very large but that is the way I like it.

Strolled along Oxford Street and then back down New and Old Bond Streets and home. Had early dinner plans to meet my childhood friend from Dubai, Sophie. We met at Zuma for drinks and dinner. All I can say is it is a MUST! Fantastic bar to hang out in if you like to people watch. And the food a real WOW! Fresh, grilled or raw and delicious. Zuma was recommended by a friend who had been in London last summer and it happened to be Sophie’s favorite local restaurant as well. Don’t miss it. Not a bargain but worth the splurge!

Had a great time catching up with Sophie. Amazing how easy it was to pick up where we had left off! People really do not change.

We find out where the nearest hospital is and jump in the cab. Four hours and many tests later we head back to the apartment very much relieved and starving! Hubby is strong and healthy as a horse. I go to bed praying that the rest of this trip gets better.

BTW, the public hospital, St. Mary’s in Paddington was excellent. They took us in right away and did every imaginable test. The doctors and nurses were fantastic. And when I tried to settle the bill, which back in the US would have been in the thousands, they told us it was absolutely FREE! You can’t imagine how uncomfortable I felt leaving there not paying for their services. Thank you England!!!

OOOOh, gorgeous day in London! Sunshine. Staying at a very swanky apt, sorry FLAT, thanks to my dear friends the Gutterman’s. Thanks Scott and Kathy …….and Quintess! Arrived at five am completely “knackered” as the British would say. Little refresher nap and off to explore.

Happy to see my honey after a whole week, we roamed the streets around St. James’s Square. The London Cabbie kindly but clearly corrected me when I told him I was staying at St. James Street. Apparently it is St. James’s Street. Notice the difference……….this chap James obviously had ownership of the place!

Stopped for lunch at Franco’s on Jermyn Street. Lucky pick, as the food was top notch, excellent service and bit of a scene. I always enjoy a scene. The lobster linguine was almost as good as the carpaccio with asparagus salad and shaved pecorino!

Shopping? Of course, but suffice it to say I hit the typical spots, Harrod’s, Harvey Nichols, etc. When I find some really unusual spots I will definitely fill you in.

Dinner plans tonight with an old friend Sophie, my BFF from age 12! Zuma’s is her favorite spot and I have been advised to go there by others so will dish tomorrow.

Actually, Ro told me to make it sound as dire a situation as possible and look sad so that they would be sure to give me a new Passport ASAP. As it turned out, that Monday morning as I was getting ready to head to the embassy, I realized I couldn’t find my Visa card. I turned my purse inside out three times to no avail. I HAD lost my Visa card. Not only was my passport expired BUT now I had NO credit card. Could anything else go wrong????

I left it in the restaurant, Locanda, Sunday night I guessed. It was up on Capitol Hill and I had al dente, homemade spaghetti with fresh peas, procuitto, and pecorino cheese. Mmmmmmm! They were small, casual, very good service and empty (though it was only 5:30 pm).

But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, my credit card. I knew they were closed on Mondays and most of the day Tuesday and that I had no other credit cards and NO bank card. I had brought a decent amount of cash but had been depending on joining Ro in Spain, he had liquidity!!! Basically without it I was screwed.

So when the consul walked in to the embassy, I approached her to explain my passport sob story and BURST OUT CRYING. No need to act. I was a pitiful mess. Thankfully I had a temporary passport the next day by 9:30 am. This consulate was a savior!

Word to the wise, travel with more than one credit card, maybe keep the other in a separate bag. Cash is a MUST!!!