TUESDAY IN LONDON (CONTINUED) (July 30, 2013)

We had a reservation at the Dorchester at 2:30 for tea.  The hotel is GORGEOUS!  We walked into the lobby and the lobby is one long reception area with the largest flower arrangements I have ever seen -- probably over 12 feet high.  Tea is actually served in a sectioned off part of this enormous lobby.  We were seated at a very intimate table where I sat on a sofa and David had a club chair.  Very comfy!  First they served a glass of delicious champagne.  Then we decided on a black tea (the Dorchester blend) and they brought us a pot of tea.  They began service with sandwiches.  Cucumber, Cream cheese and watercress, Swiss cheese on wheat bread with walnuts and egg salad.  They were finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off of them.  I want someone to cut the crusts off my bread all the time!  We had one of each and I think David had a few extras. Then our waiter brought us a plain scone and a raisin scone with butter and strawberry jam and raspberry jam. Excellent!  Next was a beautiful plate of sweets.  Passion fruit tart, some kind of chocolate mousse thing, and two or three other sweets.  We were so full by then that we just split the desserts and shared them.  They kept offering us more but we couldn't eat them.  It was a very nice experience and we were stuffed full.  I think we were there about two hours and just enjoyed it.

We finally had to leave and we walked back to our hotel to await our next event.  We had tickets to see Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre.  It is a lovely theatre built in 1897!  We had very good seats . . . David even had an aisle seat so he was happy.  I had seen it before but although David had heard the music, he had not seen the opera.  It was a wonderful production with nice sets and gorgeous voices.  The lead soprano, in particular, had an amazing voice.  We both loved it.  My only complaint is that they sat people after the opera began.  I remember when if you were late to the theatre in London you did not get to sit in your seat until the Intermission.  It was very distracting and I didn't like it one bit!  We walked home after it ended still humming the music!  

We were not very hungry after the opera but we wanted a little something.  We ended up going to the local market and buying white cheddar cheese and crackers and called that dinner.  It was sufficient and budget-friendly!

What a fabulous day we had!  Although it started out raining, it cleared up in the afternoon and it was perfect for walking to all of the things we had planned.  We went to bed looking forward to seeing Noel, our friend from Dublin, who arrived here this morning.  I am too tired to write anymore so tomorrow morning I will write about today, Wednesday, in London.  

Goodnight everyone!  xoxoxo