Hello all,
We have been trying to get on the blog for some time now and it is not happening at this point. So a quick overview of the trip so far. Arrived with no problems and found our way to our lovely hotel, the Wyndham at Chelsea Harbor. Our room is actually a suite very nice. We quickly discovered some minor problems which began a series of calls to the desk for: a clogged drain (man sent up, very workman like chap), hand cream, the maid to make up the hide-a-bed, another robe for Mrs. B, hand lotion, and finally a call for our luggage which they were “bringing right up”, not. All this after we had marched all over London while we waited for our room to be vacated and cleaned. We made some logistical errors that first day while we figured out the buses and the Tube, not too bad though.
Day 2 found us at the Tate Museum and then sending Bev off to the wedding. Patti and I explored more and happened upon a scene in front of a Wolford’s Lingerie Shop where apparently Lindsay Lohan was shopping. The cameras and the photographers with huge cameras were everywhere; some kids had even climbed a tree to get a glimpse. She emerged and strolled right past us as the mob ebbed and flowed around her. As she pulled away the motorcycles raced behind her car cameras flashing.
Day 3 – Patti and I walked for about 5 hours at least all over – took a Rick Steve’s walking tour of the West End; saw Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Covent Gardens, Leicester Square, and Regent Street with all its great Victorian architecture, mingled with all the Londoners out on a Saturday. We also discovered today that we are OAP’s – Old Age Pensioners, which entitles us to discounts (concessions) on entrance fees and passes. So show passes cost us 3 pounds less and musical theatre tickets 30 pounds less! We like it! But sadly, no one has asked to see and ID, they just take a look and give us the discount! We have enjoyed the Pubs and the Pub food.
Day4 we are off to the Tower of London via the river Thames. The Tube stop was closed so Rick Steves sent us by boat, turned out great, saw London from the river and it was only a 20 minute trip. The Beefeater tour of the Tour was funny and very informative, the crown jewels are everything you would expect them to be, beautiful, huge, and unbelievable. We stopped by Big Ben, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace on the way back to the hotel where Bev had returned from the wedding. She loved it, met some great people and has some ideas for our own event coming up.
Day 5 – Today was ride the Tube day. We went to Leicester Square to get theatre tickets but they didn’t have what we wanted, so back on the Tube to Victoria Station to buy the tickets @ our OAP price, back on the Tube to Covent Gardens, back on the Tube for Piccadilly and down Regent Street to find the recommended spot for high tea. Shopping and high tea a great spot called Sketch, a mix of old and new, off to the pub for a before theatre snack and off to see Billy Elliott. Home via, you guessed it, the Tube and to be at 12:30!
We have found the Brits to be friendly, extremely helpful, especially the transportation folks, who we have dealt with a lot. They are always ready to tell us the best and least expensive way to buy a ticket or get from one place to another. The weather has been pretty good, a little cold, but not bad, and no rain and we have found our way all over the city proper with very little confusion – ok, some, but not too bad. Patti and I did walk the entire length of Regent Street before we realized we wanted to be at the other end and only 2 blocks from where we originally started but what the heck? They keep their stores, hotels and pubs pretty hot and stuffy, even we have been too hot. Bev says the plumbing is much improved, but now it is really a power shower, and flushing has been interesting a couple of times – you really have to push the handle down and hold it – too much info? A great trip so far.

Wednesday March 4, 2009

Breakfast in the breakfast room overlooking the grounds, very nice. It is a sunny day again after rain and wind last night, cold but we are bundled up and it is not bad. Somehow I got 2 eggs for breakfast while Patti and B only got one, but they had meat and I didn’t so I think that was the difference, even though Patti thinks I may have gotten special treatment. We also had “whole meal” toast and French press coffee. For tea drinkers the coffee has been exceptionally good.
Today we are off to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill. The palace was spectacular the tour was very well done. It is huge, hence a palace, the current and 11th Earl is still in residence in one wing. In order to maintain it, he has opened the rest to the public and also permits events to take place on the grounds throughout the year. Hardly should cramp his style since all 3 of our homes would easily fit inside his section with much room to spare. He is an interesting guy, currently at the age of 88, is on wife #4 who is 50. We got all this juicy info from Mrs. P Beard, gift shop lady, who was ready to tell all and did until she had more customers. The 12th Earl to be, is a druggie, you know, very sad, that lot Jaime, nothing to be done, he is the heir after all. Who knows what will happen, the younger brother is much more suitable but since Jaime already has a son, there is no way for the younger to inherit, “he’d have to get rid of three of them to inherit”, Mrs. P Beard should have downstairs dishing the dirt! We loved the tour, learned more than necessary about all 11 Earls and their shortcomings, but it gave you a good feel for what it would be like to live there. As Bev said, part of the problem was they had nothing really to do but spend money and get in trouble. Some of the 11 were better than others of course, but one had to sell off many of the family heirlooms to stay afloat.
Next stop the very charming town of Woodstock and the 13th century hotel/bar/restaurant, The Bear where we retired of afternoon refreshment. Patti is our guide as she and Ron lived not far from here back in the 80”s. Patti is doing a fab job of driving, I am navigating and Bev is making sure she is on the correct side of the road. If I already told you that, don’t read it again!
Dinner tonight at The Boot and tomorrow we are off to the Cotswalds. We are going to try and get wi fi tonight at the pub.