London!!!

It's been awhile, but Duane and I were FINALLY able to get on a flight to London!  It's getting harder and harder to fly "standby", due to changes in policies at Delta, and our retiree position moving lower and lower down the "totem pole", and, as hasn't been the case since a flight to Paris about seven years ago, we had to be content in coach...(so irritating, after experiencing business class, but at least we got on the flight!).

We flew out on Friday night at 10:00, and arrived in London on Saturday around 12:30 p.m.  We weren't able to sleep at all in the clunky, narrow, uncomfortable seats of economy, so were REALLY tired when we got there.  Oh well...it WAS London, after all!  I LOVE London.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.  I LOVE the history.  I LOVE the architecture.  I LOVE the hustle and bustle.  I LOVE the excitement.  I LOVE the history...(twice)!  I LOVE everything about it.

We took the tube into London, checked into our hotel (the Park City Hotel), showered and changed clothes, then headed to Sainsbury's to buy snacks and British delicacies (including Gooseberry Fool, and, my London favorite, Kopparberg Pear Cider), as well as chocolates, crisps, and some lovely biscuits.

After taking our goodies back to the hotel, we headed to a part of town we hadn't been to since our first trip (about 15 years ago)...the Monument stop near the Tower of London.  I had seen a post on Pinterest...something like "21 Things Off the Beaten Path"...and we decided to try and find St. Dunstan's in the East...a church that was bombed in WW2, and which had been converted into a small park.  Very serene.  Very hidden.  Very "un-touristy".  Very cool!

After exploring the park, we headed to the Tower of London, and walked around the perimeter for awhile.  We hadn't been to the Tower of London since our first trip, and it was fun to be back in that part of the city.  We walked ACROSS Tower Bridge, which we've never done before, and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon.

 

 

After the bridge, we stopped at Waitrose Grocers to pick up a few more things, ate "tapas" at our hotel (crackers, cheese, olives), then took a walk in the neighborhood in which our hotel was located.  It must have been a very conservative, cautious neighborhood, because, as we were walking, a neighborhood security car appeared and kept an eye on us as we explored.  It eventually parked on a corner, in plain view, and stayed there until we cut through a narrow lane, and made our way back to our hotel...strange...!!!

We were in bed by 8:30, and fell asleep almost immediately...a busy, yet "typical-for-us", first day!!!

Sunday, we slept until 9:30 (after a brief "wake up" around 2:00 a.m.), got ready, and headed to the British Museum.  I had seen posts from friends on Facebook about an exhibit called "Sunken Cities:  Egypt's Lost Worlds", so we got tickets and learned about Alexandria and it's demise...very cool!

 After exploring a few other galleries, a run through the gift shop, (and seeing one of my FAVORITE displays...Lindow Man (the peat bog bodies absolutely FASCINATE ME!))...

...we headed across the street for lunch at the Museum Tavern.  Duane had fish and chips, and I had my favorite steak and ale pie (with a Pimm's cup)!!

We then tried to find the Leadenhall Market (used in some Diagon Alley scenes in "Harry Potter", and, apparently a thriving busy market...on any other day EXCEPT for Sunday), and looked around...although everything was closed.

After the market, we headed to the "walkie talkie" building (the structure that melted the car).  We THOUGHT about going to the sky garden, but...apparently..it's a reservation system...and we didn't have one...

...so took the tube to the Westminster station, and walked around the Big Ben/Houses of Parliament/London Eye area for awhile.  This area, really, is my "ideal London" location...iconic tourist attractions (the London Eye), and classic history (Westminster Abbey, Big Ben).  I think my FAVORITE part of the trip was sitting on a bench, looking at Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, simply contemplating being in London (one of my FAVORITE destinations)!

We also walked along the Thames, to take in the sights...

We went back to the hotel from there, headed out again for dinner at Ask Italian...a FABULOUS restaurant near the tube station, then further explored another part of the neighborhood (no security guards this time).  We ended up back at the hotel, and went to bed.

Monday morning, we got up, packed, got ready, and took the tube back to the airport.  Duane got business class, and I was stuck in economy comfort...which wasn't horrible, but I TRULY missed the amenities "up front".  Duane DID come back with a "build your own" ice cream sundae that he put together for me...he's a KEEPER!!

SO GLAD to finally get back to London, after a year and a half of, basically, no travel at all!!

Here's hoping YOU were able to make a quick getaway to a favorite spot recently too!!!!