We Saw The Queen!!!!

So, we decided to tour Westminster Abbey today - which by the way, is an amazing place that just oozes with history.

There was a "royal" parade (guards, marching bands, etc.) going on when we got there and all the streets were blocked off.  Turns out that the Queen was opening Parliament today.  We missed her arrival, but she was departing at noon, and we got a very close up view and could see her in her carriage.  I snapped a picture with my Blackberry.

It was very exciting.

Then we continued the British tradition by having fish and chips for lunch and went to the National Portrait gallery.

Yesterday we took the train to Hampton Court Palace, one of Henry VIII's places.  It was really interesting and very beautiful.  There is such history in this country, it's just amazing.

Tonight we have a concert at Royal Albert Hall, and then tomorow it's home.  We've had a great time, but are ready to get home to Max and Nathan.

A Weekend in London

We've already experienced 4 seasons of weather in 48 hours in London.  There were incredible gales here yesterday - wind and rain that made Chicago look calm.  But then last night it cleared up, and today was warm and sunny, except for tonight when it got cold again.  Oh well, one doesn't come to London for the weather.

Yesterday we went to the Tate Modern Museum, which was great, and then walked across the Thames (through the gale) on the Millenium Bridge and went to St. Pauls Cathedral, which was amazing.  Such history there, and a really beautiful place.  The crypt was very interesting; lots of famous Britons are buried and commemorated there.

Last night we saw La Cage aux Folles, which was really great, and then went out for pizza after.

Today we took the train out to Reading to see Scott and Wendy, and spent the day with them and their 2 dogs: Harley and Roxy, English Springer Spaniel siblings, who are 1 1/2 years old.  They are adorable, and we took them for a long walk in a park.  It was so beauiful!  The afternoon light, the clouds, the trees and meadows, the small rivers, and the birds made it look like a landscape painting you see in a museum.  Really memorable.  Then Scott cooked us a "proper English Sunday Supper": roast beef, veggies, yorkshire pudding and bravy, and potatoes roasted in goose fat!  Yum!!!

Then we took the train home, and now it's time for bed.

Tomorrow it's time to do more touring in London - probably the Tower of London to start the day, and then we'll see.

This is a great city!  The people are so nice, and it is so easy to get around on the Underground.  Our hotel is a 2 minute walk from 2 different stations.

Cheers!

Cheers from London!!!

Arrived in London this afternoon.  The weather is wet, but warm, and it is supposed to dry out the next few days and stay unseasonably warm, so that should be nice.

Already miss Edinburgh.  It is such a nice city.  But really looking forward to exploring London.

Cheers!

Museums and a Castle

Today we went to 2 museums in Edinburgh, both modern, and both very interesting. They are a bit outisde the city, in a beautiful park, in incredible old, large mansions.

Then we toured the Edinburgh Castle, which has a fascinating and long history.  The royal jewels are there too, as well as a chapel built in the 1100's.  Very interesting.  There is also the very impressive Scottish National War Memorial, which was crowded due to today being Rememberance Day.  There was a 2-minute moment of silence at 1100 am to mark the 91st anniversary of the end of "The Great War."

We did a bunch more walking around, and had another wonderful dinner, followed by drinks in the drawing room, served by tonight's butler.

I could get used to living this way!!!

A Day in Edinburgh

Today we had our 4 hour walking tour of Edinburgh, complete with a coffee break at Starbucks, where they gladly accepted my Starbucks Card. 

The city is very big, old: castle, lots of churches, an array of famous peoples' houses, etc.  Our guide told us lots of interesting history, anecdotes, etc., to really give us a flavor of the city today and its history.

We also went to the National Gallery, which was very good too, and had lunch at the cafe there.

We certainly got a good workout in, as there is a BIG hill leading from our hotel to the city.

We had a typical Scottish breakfast at our hotel this morning.  I had kippers and fried eggs, juice, tea, and lots of toast served in an old-fashioned toast rack. I had to order a 2nd helping.  This was all served by our morning butler Ross in the elegant dining room.  It was delicious, and a great way to start the day.

The weather is cool and drizzly, but not bad.

Now it's time for our evening butler Paul to serve us tea and coffee in our room, before we head out for dinner.  Our room is huge, and the bathroom has a huge soaking tub on legs, which Mitch loves.

Tomorrow we are going to tour the castle itself, and go to the Modern Art Museum, plus just do some more walking around.  Haven't bought anything....yet.

Cheers!

How Can An Airline Not Know There's More Luggage on the Plane?

So we arrive in Edinburgh, proceed to baggage claim, and the luggage is already coming out!  Yipee!!  Unfortunately, after about half of it came out, the carousel stopped and then nothing.  We all mill around like a herd of bison that has lost its leader.  Finally some lady from British Air comes over and says, "We think that a container of luggage was left on your plane.  We're checking into it."  Then another 10 minutes passes with still no luggage, and then there's an announcement over the PA System, "We apologize for delay in getting your luggage.  We are working to recify the situation."  

"Rectify!?"  What's going on? 

Another 15 minutes passes and then another airline person comes by to tell us that indeed, they did leave a luggage container on our plane, and they called it back as it was getting ready to take off!!  It should only be about 10 minutes or so.  Sorry."

Finally, after over an hour from whem we first got to baggage claim, the missing luggage arrives.

Lots of questions arise, of course: 1) Don't the baggage handlers look to make sure all the luggage is out of the plane?  2) Isn't it some kind of security violation to have luggage - a lot of luggage - on an outbound plane with no matching passengers on that plane?  3) Didn't the outbound plane weigh more than it should?

It's amazing that with all the travel I do this is a first for this.....and the way it was handled you might think it was the first time BA had to handle passengers' luggage!