My trip across the pond

I've been meaning to blog this trip of a lifetime since I got home. The first week I was recovering from jet lag (OMG! I haven't been so tired since I was a party queen). We left on April 23 for our first transcontinental flight. I even upgraded our flight to "Economy Express" to gain an extra 5 inches of leg room (oh boy, hold me back). Wouldn't seem real important except my DH J1 is 6'6" tall and is mostly legs. He was still cramped. I took a chill pill, put in my ear plugs and put on my eye mask and slept 6 of the 8 hours across. We landed about noon and went through customs. Why is it that even though I knew I had no contraband, had all my lotions and gels in my zip loc bag, passport in order, etc., I was still nervous and had a serious case of the stoopids when the customs agent was asking me questions (these were EASY questions like "Why are you visiting London?"...yeesh!

My BIL had arranged for a car to pick us up and drive us to their flat. So after leaving customs and getting our baggage we see Manny the driver with a sign with our names on it. You don't know how long I've wanted that to happen! I felt quite posh. We got into the car and drove into London. Now, I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you had tried to find a place more different from New Mexico, you couldn't have found a better place than London.

We got to the flat and got our luggage in and settled and then my BIL J2 took us on a little walk-about to show us the general vicinity. First things first, we went to Starbucks (there were two within a block of each other). We saw the Tube stop, got maps, went to a convenience store and bought a few things. That was about all we were up to after the trip. Went back to the flat and just chilled out.

This flat is just beautiful. It is located across the street from St. James Park. Two blocks to the left is Buckminster Palace. A block to the right is No. 10 Downey Street and a block behind us is Scotland Yard. Couldn't have been a more perfect location!

The next day we were woken up to get ready to go to Tea. Yup, that's tea with a capital T. We were off to the Ritz. We all got dressed up in our best duds (see pic above) and the car arrived to whisk us off to the Ritz.

I have always read historical novels, many of which took place in London and Tea at the Ritz was a ritual that always seemed so far removed from real life. And yet, here we were. The Ritz is a beautiful and ornate space. We weren't three steps in the door when we were approached by a doorman and the gentlemen were asked to put on their ties. So they all trooped to the men's room to have J2 tie their ties. J4, J5 and I waited in the foyer looking at the beautiful jewels displayed around the room (advertising their jewelry store). When the boys got back we were escorted to a beautiful table. The Palms Room where tea is held is like stepping back into a time warp. It was quite elegant. We selected our tea (Earl Grey Afternoon Tea for me) and were chattering away. Then the wait staff (in tails) brought our tea and food to the table. It was so beautiful. We tried to keep our voices down but I'm afraid that isn't our strong suit. Plus, we hadn't seen each other in about 2 years and had lots of catching up to do. So it was pretty obvious we weren't natives. LOL! We ate as much as we could hold and regretfully left. But, not before I checked out the powder room! The toilet paper was on heated rods so it was warm and when you went to wash your hands there was a lovely lady to hand you a towel and offer you a spritz of scent. Oh my!

J3 and the twins went home and J2 walked us around Picadilly Circus (where there are not lions, tigers, or bears) and showed us some of the sights. Wow! The architecture, the people, the smells! It was all I could do not to walk around with my mouth open.

The next day we did the sightseeing thing, wandering St. James Park (so beautiful! The flowers were magnificent), checked out changing of the guards at the Palace (too crowded, didn't stay) and window shopping in Picadilly Circus. The Tower of London was one of my favorites. I even managed to make the guard there smile....just a little and John saw him too!

I don't believe I've ever felt so much like a fish out of water! I loved it but was definitely out of my comfort zone. Nevertheless we had a great day of wandering around and checking out the city.

While we were there we got to go to the London Tower, Westminster Abbey (just wandered the grounds, what a magnificent building!), spent two days at the British Museum, and did a lot of just walking around. J2 took us on several walking tours in the evenings after he got home from work. So much fun!

We took the Underground (tube) all over the place. It was easy to maneuver and my years of riding the WashingtonDC metro came in handy. I loved the Tube! Mind the Gap!

The highlight of our trip was getting to be with the family. They are such fun wonderful people. It was a joy to get to know the J4&5 better. (16 yo twins). I really enjoyed the opportunity to spend so much time with my SIL J3.

We got to go to Camdenton to check out the punk rock/hippy scene. Ate Chinese Food in China Town (where I discovered I love Crispy Duck!). Ate at the Hard Rock Cafe (worst meal we had the whole trip) and got to go down into the vault to check out the Rock and Roll memorabilia where I got to hold Jimmy Page's guitar! (lead guitarist Led Zeppelin - my absolute favorite band since I was 15) It brought me to tears...yeah I know, silly. Also checked out guitars of other great musicians, including Sting who just happens to live across the street from BIL and family. Never got to see him but did see his beautiful car....low slung midnight blue Jag. Got to go to Harrods, an incredibly huge department store....WOW!

We wanted to stay one night at a London Hotel so I went on priceline right before we left and got a reservation at a 4-star hotel. I had heard that the hotel rooms there were small so when we got there and the bellman took us up to our room I didn't actually gasp when I was led into a tiny room the size of my studio (maybe). But it was furnished nicely and had lovely amenities. So that was a fun experience. After going down to the executive lounge for drinks and enough hors d'oeuvres to be dinner we sat in our room and watched the local news. Very interesting. My DH actually bought me the robe and slippers in the room for a souvenir LOL! that was fun to find room for! Luckily we'd brought a suitcase full of American foods for the family so I was able to stuff it in there.

We wanted to see a show while we were there so J3 got online and got us some killer tickets to go see Spam-a-Lot. It was hilarious! Beautiful theatre even though the seats were designed for very little people. We decided to walk back to the flat from the theatre and go through Trafalgar Square. I was walking and talking (I should never do this) and stepped into a tree well. The sidewalks were damp and I slipped and did a beautiful flying fall onto the sidewalk and then slid about 10 feet. Landed on my shoulder and boy howdy did THAT hurt. Luckily DH is a nurse and determined nothing was broken and I hobbled to a taxi and rode home. OMG that hurt...still does.

The things I remember most, besides the sights...never enough ice. And if you ask for more you get a "look". The English have no idea what lemonade is (served Sprite) and heaven help you if you ask for Iced Tea. I heard more foreign (to me) accents than I ever have. In London the pace is very fast (as opposed to the New Mexican Carpe Manana ((sieze tomorrow)) attitude. Heaven help you if you were walking on the sidewalk at a leisurely pace. I got knocked off the side walk, pushed, bumped, and not an apology to be heard.

I'd always read about how people from other countries referred to us yanks as "Ugly Americans" well, I take humbrage at that! The rudeness there was rampant and service? Pretty much non existant. Oh, and everything was about twice as expensive as here. Needless to say I didn't do a lot of shopping other than souvenirs. But we did a lot of windowshopping and sightseeing.

It was so much fun! We're already planning a return trip!

And, nope did not see ONE bead store. They were there but there was so much more to see! Next time!