Libby in London - Fourth Day

Last full day in London, city center. After a late night, we didn't roll out of bed until 9am! Tim had to be at the conference center for a magazine interview a little after 10, so we got ready and he headed on out. I met up with him at the conference center after his interview. Had a nice coffee/tea break with Ruud then on out for our bus tour of London.




We walked to Trafalgar Square and on the way saw so much more: Household Calvary, Horse Guards, #10 Downing Street, Cabinet Offices, Churchill Museum and War Rooms, Ministry of Defense and many monuments to various people and groups. Trafalagar Square itself was fascinating. Monuments, churches, cathedrals, oh my!





After walking around the square, we boarded our open-top tour bus. Yes, it's a little chilly, but not too much to ride at the top to get good pictures with less-obstructed views. On the ride from Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London, we saw/passed St. Paul's Cathedral, Charing Cross Station, Royal Courts of Justice, The Monument, crossed London Bridge (it didn't fall down) and Tower bridge and disembarked at the Tower of London. Tower of London was much larger than I thought it would be. All the pics I've seen show it as a smallish square tower structure. Nope. It's much more than that.

Here, we stopped for lunch, a little shopping the boarded a boat ride on the Thames. On this ride we saw/passed HMS Belfast, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London City School and the old London City School for Boys. We saw the Shard, the Gherkin, Tate Modern and many other buildings with spectacular architecture. Just passing the London Eye, we disembarked the boat ride and walked back to our hotel via St. James Park, which is absolutely beautiful and ends at Buckingham Palace. Lovely.

We then met Ruud for dinner at Quilon Southern Indian Cuisine. Fabulous meal and terrific way to end out our week here in London, city center. Tomorrow, we pick up the rental car and head to Dover then on to Oxford. It's hard to believe it's been a week already.

Libby in London - Third Day

I know that negative things can be considered blessings, or at least can turn to being blessings. It's difficult for me to reconcile good and bad, both as blessings. Today, as I sit enjoying a delicious Spinach and Goats Cheese Quiche at a cafe across from our hotel in London, it is easy to know that this is a blessing.

To be able to accompany my husband on this trip, and not only that, but to take our vacation over here in between his work assignments, is truly a wonderful opportunity and I'm grateful for it.

If there are adequate words to express my feelings, I don't know them.

I don't believe I've done anything to deserve this trip. I don't believe it is a reward of any kind. I do believe I'm blessed regardless my failings or good works.

Libby in London - Second Day

If you like architecture, you would love this city! It has old and new and they intertwine to make London beautiful.

Today, I visited Westminster Abbey and St. Margarets,
















took in the sights of the Houses of Parliament and walked across a bridge prior to Tim meeting up with me.









We both, then rode the London Eye together














and walked back to the hotel, stopping at the Abraham Lincoln statue in Parliament Square just across the street from Westminster Abbey.















The London Eye is quite higher than it looks, and although I was a bit nervous, it was fascinating and I'm so glad we did it. I'd read online that it's a waste of money and perhaps it is a bit overpriced, but the views (if you have a clear day) are spectacular, so it can be worth the price.

 Here's a shot of the street on our walk back. It doesn't look like it here, but London, even in the off season is busy, busy, busy. And crosswalk signs are ignored as often as they are obeyed. We've seen lots of close calls, but no accidents so far. Dinner tonight were Steak Pie for Tim and Chicken, Chardonnay and Pancetta Pie for me. Delicious. It's a good thing I'm keeping up with the walking!

First day in London for Tim

River Thames

 My day was a little different from Libby's. We had breakfast together, but then I went with Ruud on to the Queen Elizabeth II Convention Center, where we checked in and got our badges.

From there we kept walking. After all, we had a lot to talk over and we were close to some of the major attractions.

Along the way, we saw how close we were to the London Eye, and decided we could talk over our content at altitude just as well as we could at ground level inside conventional walls.

We saw the river Thames from a new perspective.

The Eye

Ruud and Myself, working hard at altitude.

The eye is higher than it might seem, and gives a wonderful view of the city. All of the pictures in this post are from (or near) the eye.

 I found the structure of the eye fairly fascinating, as you look at the center from the perspective of the bubbles. 

Flag Flying over the old City

One Rather Iconic Clock

Some "conventional' London architecture and double-deckers.

Afterward, Ruud and I stopped and had a beverage and a long talk (and filled in a lot of index cards with ideas) as we were distilling our thoughts for Thursday's talk. I am expecting the best of our ideas to end up in the talk, and we're winnowing down all the content that we'd originally intended.

Right now we have a good hook to hang the rest of the talk on, so I'm expecting good things to happen for us tomorrow as we (between sessions) finish fleshing it out.

We ended the day with Fish-n-Chips and dessert at the Blue Boar, a pub just down the road. It was as good as you might expect it to be. Dessert was sticky toffee.

That

Libby in London - First Full Day

It's Tuesday afternoon in London, UK. We woke this morning, got ready and had a lovely breakfast (included in the room rate) of so many choices: sausage, bacon, cold cuts, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs with spinach, many bread options including chocolate croissants, fruit, yoghurt, oatmeal with lots of toppings, and a cheese tray that would make your mouth water in anticipation.

After breakfast we viewed the Bee Terrace at the hotel (St. Ermins), where they maintain a beautiful hive area for their bees and they only use the honey they get from their own bees.

We then checked out and moved on to the hotel we'll be staying for the conference days, and bumped (almost literally) into a former co-worker of Tim's. We were permitted early access to our room and Tim and Ruud (pronounced rude with a rolling r) are out to discuss their talk for Thursday.

I spent some time unpacking and organizing the room. Ahhhh, normalcy. Anticipating a wonderful afternoon of walking around the Westminster and St. James areas and seeing Buckingham Palace and more....

By the time I started my walk, it had turned chilly (about 30 degrees here) and I hadn't taken my jacket, so I didn't go to as many places as I'd thought I would today.

It's okay, I have 3 more full days in London City Center. I did see Buckingham Palace and Queen Victoria Memorial statue (a round about around a statue).



There was a school group at the palace while I was there. When I was a child, it would have been the best thing ever if I'd gotten to see a palace on a field trip!

And I spotted the London Eye while walking. Probably won't ride it, we're told it's expensive and though the views can be nice, the weather usually doesn't cooperate.

Arrival - London!

We're actually here! It is no longer a dream or a plan, it is reality and though I'm tired from the trip and not enough sleep, my excitement is increased and I'm expecting wonderful days ahead.

The flight was smooth, slight turbulence on landing. Processed through customs easily and fairly quick. Private hire car (Jude as our driver) was waiting for us, and riding on the opposite side of the road didn't seem out-of-the-ordinary after the first minute or so.

After a little mix-up in directions, we arrived at our hotel and since it was early, we had to wait a little while in the lobby/lunge area before getting into our room. The hotel is beautiful, traditional and the service impeccable. The room is a little small, but so well appointed that it doesn't matter. My friend Bunny, would absolutely love this hotel!

48 Hours (and counting)

We have arrived in London, UK. But, let me back up just a little to Friday night to travel here.

Friday: most of the packing - done.

Saturday: breakfast, a little shopping, music practice, dinner and fellowship with friends and a little time with our oldest, John.

Sunday: practice, church service, lunch, cleaning, hair-cut (for Tim), loading up the car, good-bye with dear friends and meeting our ride at our church. Smooth ride, breeze-through check-in and security and we're on the plane. Disappointingly, our extra-cost more-room seats, did not provide more room and the storage for carry-ons has gotten a great deal smaller and it was quite the puzzle to store our (purposefully bought smaller) bags in them.

The flight was mostly smooth and we did doze on and off, but no restful sleep.

Note: the child of a friend has sent along one of his toys to travel with us. It's Mini-Minion (see below) and we are having fun showing him the pros and cons of travel. I hope his owner enjoys the pics and updates. Here he is traveling in style and comfort through O'Hare airport.