It's COLD this morning! I woke up to frost on the rooftops and cars and low dark skies. Big flakes have just started coming down. I've been here 5 weeks now. I'll be heading back to Italy sometime the first week of February if nothing changes. A test 48 hours before leaving and within 48 upon arrival. Two weeks of quarantine. Gah! I've had a couple of interesting walks since last I wrote. Last week we took a cab up to Alexandra Palace north of the city. Ally Pally as it's affectionately known, is a huge arts/educational venue used for everything from concerts to circuses. It was built in the late 1800's and sits ontop of a hill surrounded by parkland with an incredible view of London to the south.

The "palace" is Victorian with enormous glass domes and all sorts of wings sticking out all over the place.

The little town center below the palace is called Crouch End. Something right out of Harry Potter.

A few days later I walked up to Highgate cemetery, resting place of George Elliot and many other famous folk. I just read a book set in and around Highgate and it stoked my interest. The cemetery is walled and gated and entrance costs a small fee to keep the place up. I went with the intention of finally going in and seeing the architecture and the famously interred behind those gates I've passed many times before. Alas I didn't bother to check opening times and arrived 40 minutes early and I hadn't bothered to book a time like requested on their sign and website (which I hadn't looked at..), so I went to the adjacent park and waited and walked around a bit and peeked at gardens and returned at 1 sharp. An official looking man was exiting just as I got there so I asked if I could enter without a reservation. He pointed to the BIG sign on the gate with the hours (which I hadn't checked), and the website for booking (which I hadn't looked at), and the days it was closed. Tuesdays. It was Tuesday. Of course it was Tuesday. So I will book a time for next week and go back. Igit. Yesterday we took another long walk around Notting Hill and back. We passed the Russian embassy where there were protests going on and a lot of police presence. We passed a couple cops who had cornered a guy with a bike and a big backpack. I thought bomb and we skedaddled off quickly. I had an obligatory pic taken at Abbey Road, humiliating G with my touristy ways.

Now we're off for a walk in the snow. xxoo me