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Post by alfuso on Jan 13, 2008 8:43:46 GMT -6
elisabeth
saw the household cavalry right off on our Sunday half day tour. Was first thing they brought us to since Changing of Guard is on even numbered days and a few other regular stops were closed.
Later on we found them on guard near downing street. Lotsa neat pictures of their equipment. But still going to visit their stables.
Oddly, I don't feel like I am "IN ENGLAND" yet. It reminds me so much of Boston, it all feels rather natural so far.
But there are 10 days yet.
alfuso
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Post by elisabeth on Jan 13, 2008 9:10:12 GMT -6
Welcome to England! And apologies for the grim, grey weather. Fortunately, the one thing you can depend on here is that it doesn't stay the same for more than two days together, so with luck you might see the sun tomorrow ...
That's great news, that you've seen the Household Cavalry already. Gorgeous, aren't they?
I do know what you mean. I felt the same the one time I was in Boston: thoroughly at home, and not "abroad" at all. But wait till the working week starts tomorrow. The daytime population of London will treble or quadruple at the least, and the Sunday air of leisureliness will vanish. It should all feel quite satisfactorily foreign, I should think: crowded and manic, as befits a very small island.
Have fun!
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Post by alfuso on Jan 15, 2008 15:53:07 GMT -6
elisabeth
been trying to email this to you but springmail won't accept my password so I'll dump it all here since it's trip Big Jaunt related.
London is so alive, busy, vital. Love it. Wish I had another week. Barely scratched the surface.
Going to household cavalry stables tomorrow, then to CABARET on West End in the afternoon. Stay in evening to see TORCHWOOD premiere.
Thursday maybe back to Imperial War Museum. I got ill after an hour there and we had to retreat back to the hotel where I collapsed. Jet Lag got me, I think.
But I must observe - I have NEVER seen so much chewing gum on streets and sidewalks in any place I've been in the 48 states as I have in London.
We did the Tower today. My, those fine young Welsh Guards marching about. And they aren't "ceremonial", they carry some **serious** weaponry. Broke down and got a tiny coronation coach in the Tower shop -- it was so charming. I'm sure I overpaid, but wot the heck, wonderful souvenir.
Harrod's - got me some pens, and tiny gold Harrod's bears. Great gifts. I'm sure I overpaid them too.
And lazy souls that we are, we are foregoing the wonders of public transport and taking cabs. My hip won't let me walk far.
Maybe someday we'll be able to afford to come back to London. But I shall be a lot older if that comes about. (we had this dream of traveling when we retired but I doubt we'll be able to afford it. so I am glad we've seen most of the USA and now London before we go poor. . .) We're only getting to go now because of a small inheritance.
I'll have pictures up on my blog next week. And on flickr. But more in the blog.
alfuso
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Post by alfuso on Jan 15, 2008 16:25:00 GMT -6
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Post by gary on Jan 15, 2008 16:50:18 GMT -6
Alfuso,
I am pleased that you are enjoying your visit. Are you off to Liverpool now? There is a lot going on there at the moment; it's the European capital of culture this year. I was there a couple of weeks ago. I'd be interested in your impressions.
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Post by gocav76 on Jan 15, 2008 17:13:14 GMT -6
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Post by elisabeth on Jan 16, 2008 2:50:29 GMT -6
alfuso, the e-mail did work in the end.
For future Big Jaunters: yes, sadly, it's true about the chewing-gum -- which is odd, because you hardly ever see anyone actually chewing the stuff; they're mostly eating things instead. After several decades of people happily discarding it, the pavements have come to have almost a mosaic look. Ah well ... As for expense: it is a ferociously expensive city to visit, with hotel rooms averaging around £200 a night (!!). There are some cheaper chains, such as Travel Inn, Travelodge, Ibis, Express by Holiday Inn, etc.; or you can stay in the suburbs or a dormitory town and commute in, but of course that eats into the London time you have available (as well as being deeply tedious). Personally, what I'd recommend -- especially given the cost of eating out or even getting a cup of coffee in London -- is seeking out one of the growing number of apartment hotels. That way, you still get to stay in the centre ... have (with luck) all the comforts of a hotel room ... but have the freedom to cook for yourself, bring in takeaways (fish and chips, Gordie?), or whatever. I've come to the conclusion that it's the most economical way to do it, if you're staying more than just one or two nights. Worth considering, perhaps?
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Post by Melani on Jan 18, 2008 2:00:27 GMT -6
Great advice about the apartments! Elisabeth saved our bacon when we were there, since in our characteristic fashion, we hadn't planned beyond the first few days and a visit to her. She found us an incredibly luxurious place in Brighton that cost the same as a miniscule hostel room in London. Same thing in Dublin. I believe she used an outfit called laterooms.com. Apartments are absolutely the way to go. That way you can eat in or out, as you choose.
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Post by alfuso on Jan 18, 2008 7:31:56 GMT -6
hiya all from Liverpool! Well, Wirral, Merseyside.
Free Wi Fi!!
alfuso
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Post by harpskiddie on Jan 18, 2008 11:16:55 GMT -6
I can identify with Melani. My ex and I started out planning a personal bicycle trip through the Loire valley. I thought, since we're gonna be in France, why not a few days in London? Since we're gonna be in France, why not a side trip to Belgium? Why spend a fortune on plane fares and only stay two weeks? Since we're gonna be in Belgium, why not a quick trip to The Netherlands? Germany?etc etc etc.........
We finally never made the Loire valley, except on a one day bus trip, and wound up spending six weeks instead of two. We did, however, save a bundle of time, money and effort by combining several tours from one company, which allowed us to do pretty much everything we wanted to do [we had to leave out Ireland, which is why I'm definitely going there].
So far, my personal exercise in planning has gone to three weeks from two, and likely will take on a life of its own, same as last time.
Alfuso seems to be getting along all right. Can't wait to see more of her photos on her blog.
Gordie MC since I'm gonna be in Ireland.................
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Post by doyle1876 on Jan 18, 2008 13:41:10 GMT -6
since I'm gonna be in Ireland.................
Plan to go outside Dublin?
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Post by harpskiddie on Jan 18, 2008 15:33:58 GMT -6
doyle1876
The tour I'm looking at right now goes Belfast - Dublin - Kildare - Kilkenny - Waterford, with two nights in Dublin. I must say, however, since I've just "saved" 700 bucks off my previous "plan" I'll probably wind up spending longer in Ireland [and maybe skipping Scotland altogether, but hopefully not]. I'm falling asleep sorting through brochures and internet sites, and more on the way.
My problems [sob, sob] are that not only am I a non-driver, but that I find sitting in a motor car for extended periods painful, which is one of the reasons why I like bus or train travel. This leaves me at the mercy of escorted tours, except in big cities with good transit systems, which is why I'll start off with a week in London and go from there. Obviously the other major consideration is budget, which in turn limits time - otherwise I'd spend months over there.
Gordie MC
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Post by alfuso on Jan 18, 2008 16:37:31 GMT -6
gordie
More pix in blog will probably have to wait until later next week after I get home. Getting them into my blog from the laptop is a bit of a chore since I have to keep them "small" If I manage a few more, I'll be trumpeting.
Right now we're considering a trip into Liverpool to amble around just to say we did. But also to local malls, just to say we did.
alfuso
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Post by alfuso on Jan 18, 2008 17:25:25 GMT -6
Gordie and all
I got some more pix into my blog. Sizing wasn't as difficult as I anticipated.
alfuso
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Post by alfuso on Jan 24, 2008 5:34:18 GMT -6
Elisabeth
I rather liked the gray, dreary weather -- very Bronte.
alfuso
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