July 11 Thurs {1974}
Weather still coolish and cloudy - looks like rain but not. Feeling under the weather, throat a little sore + tired - feels like mild virus. Remember lot of coughing at last day of meeting. At least diarrhea hasn't really hit me badly - yet.
First order of the day was to pick up Ichida book at Stanley Gibbons. Salesman showed me Woodwards' two volumes in case - beautiful set, signed, gold lettering but too expensive - really more of an investment. Tried to pressure me, but genteely. Gibbons doesn't take AMEX, had to pop down and change traveler's checks - $215!!
Walked up St. Martin's lane to Soo to see Berwick St. Market. Lots of sex shops and strip teases but no girly photos in front - just signs - all very tame (?) Very colorful market - about 2-3 blocks of fruits, vegetables, etc. lining Berwick Street.
Shaftsbury street - souvenir shop window lined with naked girly items, playing cards, 8mm films (Monique - big brunette; old June Palmer, etc) - men stopping to look, tourists.
Up Romilly St., past Kettmer's restraunt, discovered Soho square - pleasant bit of greenery. Stopped to rest - older man showing beautiful brunette girl a portfolio of paintings (?) Lots of pigeons, males strutting for hens. Couple sat down, ate fresh strawberries - this must be the season.
Walked on to Oxford St - back to bedlam of tourists and traffic - exhaust fumes were too much. Up Tottenham Court Road - discount stores, sex shop, bustle of tourists, etc. Eventually found my way to north end of British museum.
Museum too big and I was too tired so I just looked at some egyptian antiquities and the Rosetta Stone. Saw mummies, sarcophagi as Fred W. had mentioned. Assyrian sculpture - huge lion bodies with human heads, "square" beards; wall reliefs from Ur of Chaldeans; real papyrus; sculptures of RA, Isis, Horus - all fascinating. British are history's most notorious souvenir hunters. Restaurant not ready yet - only coffee from a machine. Lots of tourists - especially hoardes of kids with cameras who couldn't care less, but some really nice looking girls in tight-ass slacks. (very "cheeky")
Caught #73 bus on Oxford St.. Whole stree from Tottenham Court to Marble arch is solid mass of people - mostly tourists. John Lewis store near Oxford Circus. Two women on bus - one older, one quite young - young one carrying cane, turned out to have very bad limp when got off bus - crippled?
Felt like a packhorse walking; raincoat, umbrella, movie camera in one pocket weighing me down, carrying books, etc.
British say "super" - (soopuh) to mean great.
Last (?) London dinner at Trattoo Italian restaurant. Expensive (£5 >= $12) but quite good. Had a lot to eat - pate de fegatini, zuppa di verdura, petto di pollo sorpressa, strawberries, coffee and mineral water. Chicken had a thin crust - butter sauce gushed out when cut - delicious, very light! Small one room with ~12 tables close together with another 5 tables on balcony. Overhead skylight like an outdoor garden, mirrored wall behind a lattice gave the impression of much larger space. Service was good, animated maitre-de, apparently a lot of regular customers. Elegantly looking, probably well-off, clientele - very english types.
Ancient egyptian and Ur of Chaldea in museum reminded me of Scrooge McDuck comic books.
Woodward volumes at Gibbons were both contained in a single case - large gooks, oversized. Beautiful but serveral $1,000 is out of sight for me!
I thought that the movie film I bought was too expensive! - processing is included - hope I can use it at home.
Bought a Mayfair magazine - about equivalent to Playboy, similar format and female exposure.
First order of the day was to pick up Ichida book at Stanley Gibbons. Salesman showed me Woodwards' two volumes in case - beautiful set, signed, gold lettering but too expensive - really more of an investment. Tried to pressure me, but genteely. Gibbons doesn't take AMEX, had to pop down and change traveler's checks - $215!!
Walked up St. Martin's lane to Soo to see Berwick St. Market. Lots of sex shops and strip teases but no girly photos in front - just signs - all very tame (?) Very colorful market - about 2-3 blocks of fruits, vegetables, etc. lining Berwick Street.
Shaftsbury street - souvenir shop window lined with naked girly items, playing cards, 8mm films (Monique - big brunette; old June Palmer, etc) - men stopping to look, tourists.
Up Romilly St., past Kettmer's restraunt, discovered Soho square - pleasant bit of greenery. Stopped to rest - older man showing beautiful brunette girl a portfolio of paintings (?) Lots of pigeons, males strutting for hens. Couple sat down, ate fresh strawberries - this must be the season.
Walked on to Oxford St - back to bedlam of tourists and traffic - exhaust fumes were too much. Up Tottenham Court Road - discount stores, sex shop, bustle of tourists, etc. Eventually found my way to north end of British museum.
Museum too big and I was too tired so I just looked at some egyptian antiquities and the Rosetta Stone. Saw mummies, sarcophagi as Fred W. had mentioned. Assyrian sculpture - huge lion bodies with human heads, "square" beards; wall reliefs from Ur of Chaldeans; real papyrus; sculptures of RA, Isis, Horus - all fascinating. British are history's most notorious souvenir hunters. Restaurant not ready yet - only coffee from a machine. Lots of tourists - especially hoardes of kids with cameras who couldn't care less, but some really nice looking girls in tight-ass slacks. (very "cheeky")
Caught #73 bus on Oxford St.. Whole stree from Tottenham Court to Marble arch is solid mass of people - mostly tourists. John Lewis store near Oxford Circus. Two women on bus - one older, one quite young - young one carrying cane, turned out to have very bad limp when got off bus - crippled?
Felt like a packhorse walking; raincoat, umbrella, movie camera in one pocket weighing me down, carrying books, etc.
British say "super" - (soopuh) to mean great.
Last (?) London dinner at Trattoo Italian restaurant. Expensive (£5 >= $12) but quite good. Had a lot to eat - pate de fegatini, zuppa di verdura, petto di pollo sorpressa, strawberries, coffee and mineral water. Chicken had a thin crust - butter sauce gushed out when cut - delicious, very light! Small one room with ~12 tables close together with another 5 tables on balcony. Overhead skylight like an outdoor garden, mirrored wall behind a lattice gave the impression of much larger space. Service was good, animated maitre-de, apparently a lot of regular customers. Elegantly looking, probably well-off, clientele - very english types.
Ancient egyptian and Ur of Chaldea in museum reminded me of Scrooge McDuck comic books.
Woodward volumes at Gibbons were both contained in a single case - large gooks, oversized. Beautiful but serveral $1,000 is out of sight for me!
I thought that the movie film I bought was too expensive! - processing is included - hope I can use it at home.
Bought a Mayfair magazine - about equivalent to Playboy, similar format and female exposure.