Parking it in London

London can be frenetic, crowded, smelly, dirty and exhausting.  That was true a thousand years ago and is still true today.  What is one to do?  Go to the park!

This is really exists in Regent's Park.

We've been walking around London for just three days, and I have lost count of the number of parks we have been through. Thank goodness! The green space is a haven of peace in the middle of a stone and concrete urban jungle.  We have passed at least two parks that are private--iron fences and padlocked gates ensure that only the residents of the posh adjoining houses gain entry.  But, the vast majority are open to all and, in contrast to parks in the States, are very well used by all ages and socio-economic statuses.  We've lunched in parks along-side gaggles of men in suits and women carrying Coach handbags.  Parks are filled with school children on field trips and retired people doing tai chi.  We are constantly amazed, as a group, both at the loveliness of the park and at the number of Londoners just hanging out there.

Willow tree overhanging a reflecting pool.

Children practicing cricket on the "pitch".

Regent's Park is home to the London zoo,

Elephant topiary. 

My lovely flatmates in the Rose Garden.  Hillary, me, Melissa, Keila, and Katie.

Our day today was mostly spent inside Regent's Park--it's huge (over 400 acres)--we were marveled at the extensive rose gardens with their intense perfume.  Then heard a marching band perform as we walked to Primrose Hill, which looks out over London and is the sight where Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael to fly kites in the book.  We ate our picnic lunch (as we do as a group most days when we are out sight-seeing) and then tried to get the kites we carefully brought from the States up into the air.  It wasn't quite breezy enough to do it without running full speed downhill! We headed out of the park and through a residential neighborhood to re-created our own photo of the famous cover of the Beatles Abbey Road album!

Not Four, but still looking pretty Fab!