London Trip...Day ONE!!!

Actually, it's day 1/2...as we didn't get to Heathrow until noon, and didn't get to our hotel until around 2:30!  We were EXHAUSTED by the time we got there, but DID get business class on the way over (standby travel STRESSES ME OUT, but it DOES have it's perks!).  We were on one of the planes that has the seats that recline completely.  We managed to get SOME sleep, so weren't as tired as usual.

As always, even though we only had "half" a day to start, we managed to cram a TON of stuff into the remainder of the day...!  We arrived at the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes (on Baker Street...OF COURSE!), dropped off our stuff, took "wake up" showers, changed into clean clothes, and rode the tube to Waterloo station to take a ride on the London Eye. 

We had to go through an AWESOME graffiti covered tunnel to get there...



Duane didn't think it was QUITE as cool...(and it DID smell like urine...).

I LOVE the London Eye!  It's COMPLETELY touristy, but offers such a COOL view of the city.  The only drawback this time was that it was REALLY, REALLY, REALLY crowded in London (compared to our trip 10 years ago).  Must have been a European holiday, or something...

After the 25 minute "spin" around the Eye, we headed across the bridge to walk around the perimeter of the Houses of Parliament (for a better view of Big Ben)...

and Westminster Abby.

After Westminster Abby, we headed to Downing Street (to take a peek at #10), explored the area for a bit...

then took the tube back to our hotel.

After dropping off the souvenirs that we found, we headed out into the neighborhood to find a place to eat dinner.  We found a LOVELY Italian place called Strada a few doors down from the hotel. 

Here's a picture of Duane (looking a little bleary-eyed...LOL!) with the appetizer that we HAD to try...beef and pork stuffed, breaded, deep-fried olives (think Scotch eggs with an olive instead of an egg!)...YUM!

After dinner, we explored the neighborhood, and found an AWESOME market called Waitrose, in which we found all SORTS of goodies (Bonne Maman Coconut Sponge Cakes, Chocolate Orange Kit Kats, chocolate dipped macaroons...yum!).  We also found a Tesco that had baked chicken potato chips, and, my PERSONAL NEW SAVORY DELIGHT...bacon potato chips!!!!!!

After stocking up on junk food, we walked back to the hotel, took a few photos of the gorgeous night lighting...

then COLLAPSED into bed after our LOOOOOOONG day!

To be continued...