It’s Elementary! London is Afoot!

“Watson, sugar free candy is a hoax perpetuated by Norwegian politicians.  Also, it tastes terrible.”

As you probably guessed, today was all about Sherlock Holmes.  My love for Holmes began when I read “The Hound of the Bakervilles” in 7^th grade.  For my birthday in 8^th grade my parents got me the entire works of Arthur Conan Doyle.  I have read that book a dozen times since.  My love for everything Holmes led me to write three Holmes stage plays (all produced—and one with a revival).  We’ve done three Holmes related episodes of Rabbit Ears* with a fourth on the way, and I’ve finished a Holmes novel that my editor appears to be happy with.

In short, I love Sherlock Holmes.  I started the day with my new friend Anna, as we took a long journey out to just take a picture of the outside doorway of the new Sherlock series.  Who other than a die hard would do that?  Then I went off by myself to attend the Sherlock Holmes museum at 221B Baker Street.

At the museum, I got my ticket and then waited in line for almost 2 hours to get in.  At Disneyland, the Peter Pan ride inexplicably always has a long line…but I think I figured it out:  It takes place in London.  However, once inside it was great!  Although they had to recreate it because the real Sherlock Holmes (who only used the pen name Doyle) didn’t actually live at 221B Baker Street, they did a great job. **

They had both Holmes and Watson’s bedrooms on display, as well as the famous study with all of the famous props (the skull, the slipper with tobacco inside, the VR fired on the wall, etc).  They also had rooms that reenacted famous cases with wax figures (Red Headed League, The Man with the Twisted Lip, etc).  Of course, every good museum ends with a gift shop, and I got a Sherlock Holmes bust for my desk to always remind me that “once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”  A concept I actually have all the time while working.  Outside the museum as also a great statue of Holmes.  I passed by a couple from India arguing whether or not he was a fictional character.

I also went to eat at the Sherlock Holmes pub, but the waiting list (even for 1) was too long for me, but they did let me look around and it was pretty neat.  On all the walls they had pictures of famous Holmes and Watson duos (including my favorite – Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke).   Walking by the pub, I stumbled onto Trafalgar Square—crazy bit of luck!  Some great statues, a cool looking museum (which I wish I had time to visit) and some international bicycle race they were filming for tv.

They also had a cool Beatles shop down on Baker Street, but I either didn’t want to buy something cheap and tacky, or didn’t want to spend the money on some things I thought were really cool (I’m not THAT much of a Beatles fan, after all).

And that is only half my day today.  But the rest will have to wait for another blog.  Until then….

Jeff:  August 13^th, 2017

*Not so subtle plug for my television show!  But we really do have 3 (soon to be 4) Holmes episodes!

**OF COURSE I know Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character.