We arrived the day before the wedding (crazy town), and were so productive on this trip I can hardly believe it. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I put it down to the Melatonin I took before my flight which I'm convinced reset my internal clock. I've never in my life slept on a plane and while I didn't sleep much, it was enough so that I was alive and kicking when we got to London. Who knew?
Okay, from this point on I'm going to only write down what I put in my notes everyday on the trip. I've been postponing this trip for way too long and must just get on with it. These notes are exactly as written on my iPhone so bear with me ;).
Highlights of London Day 1:
@Actually slept on plane
On the Heathrow Express. A bit punchy, perhaps.
@Had trouble getting oyster so tube guy let us through for free to get them at the next station
@Went to Cafe Diana. Amazing, as usual
Cafe Diana, if you didn't guess.
On the street where I lived :).
@Went to British Museum and were chucked out right after we saw the Lindow Man
Liz and I in a phone box outside the British Museum.
@Had dinner at Da Mario. Delish
@Went to scope out places for the wedding. Saw Westminster Abbey and Big Ben at night. Lovely
Big Ben. Obvi.
I really don't know what these people were on about. They lined the streets on the way to the Abbey. Lame.
3 guesses...
Press box across the street from the Abbey.
@Bed. Slept horribly
Highlights of London Day 2:
@Got up at 4am for the wedding. We were two rows back right across the street from the entrance of the abbey. Got unbelievable views of everyone. Stood in line for 6.5 hours until the end of the wedding. Cried during vows and singing of God Save the Queen.
Us. All chipper at 5am and before we made the mad dash to the barricade.
Some die hards. I'm sure they slept out. Duh. We got a zing spot and didn't even show up until 5 ;).
Some of the crowd.
I really don't know what was going on here. He was wearing festive women's shoes too!
Setting up the barricades.
Some of the crowd. Again. And a cool view.
Snipers on top of a building. They were everywhere.
The big guns coming in. Lots of luck to anyone who wanted to disturb the peace.
Cute Elton John and David Furnish.
The Beckhams. She didn't crack a smile and he looked dashing, as ever.
Tragedy on film. I couldn't see above my head to get this shot and my camera focused on the wrong person. Saddest picture ever taken.
The cute Queen and Prince Phillip.
The parents.
Don't look so chipper now, do we?
A very small portion of the mess that was left by the crowd. PIGS.
@Went back to hotel for nap.
@Walked through Hyde Park. So lovely.
@Dinner at Wagamama.
@Had a yummy crisp McFlurry
@Attempted to go on the Eye. Closed.
@Hot horribly naff souvenirs from tacky shop. Including light up crystal key chain with Will and Kate on.
@Bed. Slept like a rock.
Highlights of London Day 3:
@Weather was perfection
@Went to Portobello Road and shopped our guts out. Bought Steve's bocce ball and my Wedgewood and old books. Backpack and bocce ball were so heavy we had to drop them off at hotel. Shoulders permanently bruised.
@Went to St. Paul's Cathedral. Didn't make it to the top but heard a bit of evensong. Bought craploads in gift shop.
So lovely.
They really have the most beautiful trees during the springtime.
Gingko tree in front of St. Paul's.
@Got lost going to the tkts booth in Leicester Square and again going to Picadilly Circus.
@Ate at Noura, a Lebanese resty for dinner.
@Went to The 39 Steps.
@Back to hotel and the cute concierge helped us look the the time for church. He let us behind the desk to search for ourselves. Cute old fella.
Highlights of London Day 4:
@Woke up at 4:50 due to snoring and heat. In London.
@Tried to go to church. Fail. We were late and it was the Brittania Ward (singles). Lame.
@Tried to go to Harrods. Fail. We were too early.
@Wen to the iconic British coffee house Starbucks for hot chocolate. Lame.
@Went over to Pret a Manger for a yummy sammy of egg mayonaise. So basically, eating.
@Finally National Gallery. Huzzah. Good times.
The Lion in Trafalgar Square. There always seems to be some sort of "non violent" protest there. They turn violent.
@Back over to Buckingham Palace and palace shop.
Walking through Green Park.
Buckingham Palace.
@Went to tea at the Orangery and almost didn't make it. So good. And fun.
@Walked back to Lancaster Gate and nearly died of exhaustion. Stayed in and packed up and changed rooms because we were in a smoking room. Son of a ... Did FaceTime with Steve and kids.
Highlights of London Day 5:
@Got up and headed to the Tower. Monument stop closed so we walked from Bank. Not far. Saw Gracechurch Street (in Cheapside...).
If you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, you'll know the reference to Gracechurch Street.
@Tower was amazing. Beefeater completely fantastic. Said "innit" and "biggin' it up".
The Tower.
The Beefeater. Turns out, he was a bit of a perv (as evidenced by a picture taken later), but still entertaining and very knowledgable.
One of the Yeoman Warder's houses at the Tower. Lucky suckers.
@Saw Fit for a King exhibit. Great stuff.
Nice Henry, really nice.
@Got on boat to Westminster. Having a great day so far but no food.
Just outside the Tower on our way to the boat.
@Had a sammy at Cafe Nero (mature cheddar and pickle).
@Went to Westminster Abbey but there was a 2 hour line. Really. Went to gift shop and bought naff wedding postcards and a coin.
This was our spot for the wedding. I know it well as I stood there for 6.5 hours with half of England.
I so wish we'd had time to wait in line to get in. Lame.
Just faffing about on the tube.
@Had dinner at Jamie's Italian. Delish. During dinner I ran over to Covent Garden Market to get Thorntons toffee for Steve.
Mary, Liz and Suzie in front of Jamie's Italian. So cute.
@At Billy Elliot.
Highlights of London Day 6:
@Forced everyone to meet in the lobby at 7:30 to go to brekky at St. Martin in the Fields. Had a full English.
@Went back over to St. Paul's for ma pilla (pillow I wanted so badly). Yes, I caved and spent 68 pounds for a pilla.
@Went over to Bond Street for some last minute shopping. Bought souvenir-y things for the kids.
@Back to hotel and mom and I tired to use Barclay's Bank bikes but we didn't have our cards and found out later that they were broken. Went for a walk in Kensington Gardens, saw Peter Pan statue and took some amazing pictures.
Self explanatory.
Lovely flowers.
Really lovely flowers.
I love these
Pete.
@Went back, hauled luggage to Paddington and hopped on the Heathrow Express. Made it to airport in plenty of time to have a bit of lunch at Pret a Manger (are you seeing a pattern here?). Again. Got cheese and butter this time.
Our tube stop. SO small.
@Flight is taking forever but I knit a hat (improvised due to lack of proper needles). Almost in Chicago.
Well, that abridged version took much longer than I thought. The kids are killing each other as I write.
Peace out.
Heidi
