So, some time ago, when I was looking on Meetup for something to do today, I spied a treasure hunt - with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Based around the Tube as it was supposed to be, I thought it looked interesting, and also thought that Helen might enjoy it. She agreed, and I booked for us both. And over the last couple of days, we agreed to eat beforehand, and that there weren't enough reasonably priced options near the starting point, at Green Park, so we'd eat near Waterloo, since that was where her train would pull in.
I left work a bit early, and she caught an early-ish train, so that we wouldn't have to rush. (I didn't leave quite early enough to walk, mind, so was on the Tube again - but it was an unpleasantly drizzly evening anyway.) And when we met, we decided on somewhere we'd eaten before, and knew to be good - Azzurro is a short walk from the station entrance. The front door is unprepossessing, but inside, a huge, brick-lined space wends its way to the back, and at around 5pm was quite empty. We were sat near the kitchen at the back.
Starters came rapidly - and for sure, the garlic bread was delicious - but the drinks hadn't arrived by the time we'd finished our starters, and when we asked, the server looked slightly stunned! Rather as though she hadn't remembered us ordering any. She had some story about the computer not being turned on.. uh-huh. Well, they arrived shortly after that, the mains arrived promptly (again, my steak was lovely), and dessert menus were quite swiftly followed by desserts. We were quite stuffed by the time we left, and made good time to Green Park, on the Jubilee Line.
Instructions were to meet at the sandstone wall, at the top of the steps, at the park exit. Now, I passed this yesterday on the bus, and had a good look, so was fairly clear on where I thought they meant. Well, we waited there.. there were crowds of people: a lot of foreign-sounding people waiting for a London by Night bus, a fellow looking for his friend, an elderly couple, an apparently homeless person, sleeping on one of the seats. No-one that we could see with a Meetup sign, as had been promised: no-one that seemed to be looking for someone over by the low wall: no-one, in short, that looked like he might be our guide! I left several messages, including my phone number, on the event page. I messaged the group organiser. I still haven't received a response. I have now requested a refund - hopefully, that'll get a response! I don't think I'll be booking that again.
Undaunted, we thought about what else to do. Helen's suggestion was that we weren't far from Ripley's Believe It or Not - now, that's somewhere I've often passed, but never before visited! so off we went. I checked my inbox for offers, but sadly they all seemed to have expired.. and although there's a cheap online offer, it's only valid for advance bookings. So we ended up paying full whack - never mind, this was an emergency!
Going in, we got a checklist of things to see, a pencil, a list of questions to get answered.. the attraction is very well catered for kids. You start by taking the lift to the 5th floor, then work your way down. And the place is absolutely jam-packed with jaw-dropping exhibits. The highlight of the top floor has to be the animatronic T-Rex! But don't miss the more intricate wonders..
More photos here.
There's a hall of mirrors, a series of exhibits of people with unusual characteristics, historical artefacts, things from Alice in Wonderland. A most fabulous mirror maze, where you're advised to walk slowly and keep your hands out in front of you to avoid bumping into that straight corridor you see ahead of you! Some attractions have detours around them for the faint-of-heart - like the dungeon, which demonstrates instruments of torture, and leads into a horror section. Or like the truly awesome "black hole", a short tunnel you can walk through, where you're well advised to hold onto the railings as the walls rotate around you!
It might be a high entry price, but this is a truly worthwhile attraction. Several sections are dedicated to different themes, such as underwater, outer space, and so on - and even the emergency exits are decorated to match the theme! Open till midnight (last entry 10:30pm). Highly recommended - and a great idea of Helen's! (Oh, and at least under-4s are free - and one was squalling his way around near us.) At one point, one of the workers pretty much forces you to get your photo taken - the range of photos is incorporated, by the time you come out, into rather a cool travel journal! or you can just buy the photos themselves, for half the price. The best purchase there, really - the gift shop, although it has some quirky items, isn't really up to much.
And so she headed home, early enough, and I to blog. Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day! Instead, for Monday, I've booked The Ferryman, with London Dramatic Arts (LDAM), at the Royal Court. We passed it last night, in fact - the film buff from that event is headed there too, tomorrow I think.
On Tuesday, London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction? One I'm unlikely to cancel.
On Wednesday, London Literary Walks is off around Gloucester Road.
Next Thursday, Let's Do London - for less! is off on its last scheduled trip to the opera house - the occasion is Mayerling, my favourite ballet, and is sold out by now, I see. We have tickets in both slips and amphitheatre, as usual. The clock is counting down on remaining Meetups for this most excellent group - we're already feeling the pinch of its events being scheduled less frequently. There isn't another group out there like this man's.
On 5 May, I'd bought a ticket to Nell Gwynn, at the Globe - then it turned out that LDAM is going on the same night! (Buy Your Own Ticket.) As the organiser said, it must be fate.. it'll certainly be nice to have company. Odd venue for them, though - I know the organiser doesn't like it.
And on 6 May, I'm joining the London European Club for a classical concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Oh joy, they're playing Beethoven's 9th..
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