London - Report 3

On Monday Jon and Emily woke to a bright London morning. Too bright perhaps.

Jon (checking clock): "Ummm...Emily? It's 11:30."

Emily: "gasp!"

Narrator: "Wasting not another moment, and full of energy from sleeping 12+ hours, Jon and Emily bundle thmselves together and wander down to Hyde Park..."

"It wasn't long though, before someone (or thing) started grumbling. To appease their hungry tummies Jon and Em stopped in a nearby pub for some breakfast...er..brunch."

Jon: "I feel ready to take on the world after my coffee and meat pie! Let's be adventurous and explore the neighborhood!"

Emily: "Trailblazers!"

Narrator: "So they braved the freezing temps again and walked through the rich, and beautiful neighborhoods of Notting Hill..." (see below map for reference.)

"...and took refuge in another coffee shop to thaw."


Jon: "And now, my dear, a special surprise."

Narrator: "And he wisked her away to a private night tour of London on a double decker bus."

But first...some meat pies at Victoria Station and a little cheese shopping (if you please). Gotta love the Stinking Bishop.

The lights were blazing...

...the sights were amazing...

It was almost magical...in a cold, rainy sort of way.

One last report coming...a day with David Taylor and a date with the Queen!

London - Report 2

I need to set a little context before the London adventure story begins. Jon and I are going to London for a GLI meeting that is to take place Friday, November 28th until Sunday, November 30th. (Well, actually at first Jon is just going to go - but I wheedle my way in and we decide that it will be our last big vacation before Whn arrives.)

Enter Jon and Emily - stage right.

Emily: "After the meeting is over let's just stay in the city a few days to play!"

Jon: "That sounds like a great idea! You are a GENIUS and beautiful to boot!"

(I swear that's almost exactly how it went down)

Exit Jon and Emily - stage left. Image of a plane flying across the ocean.

Narrator: "So, with extra full suitcases to last us for the week, we decide to stay an additional 3.5 days. How fun."

Now - Jon apparently has connections because he found us an awesome hotel just north of Hyde Park. We stay just about where the yellow #1 star is on the map.

This is what our hotel looked like when we arrived on the scene.

Enter Jon and Emily. A group of well dressed men are whispering in Russian in the corner and light piano music plays.

Emily: "Jon! This is extravagent! But I feel slightly out of place around this much high-society. And are those men in the Russian mob????"

Jon: "Don't you fret my dear. I know how to handle both the rich AND the Russian mob. Stick with me and you'll be safe."

Emily: "Oooooo. Handsome, brave, AND suave."

Narrator: "To prove his suaveness, Jon takes Emily down the street to a small Greek restaurant for dinner (At the blue #2 star on the map)."

And this is what that looked like.

Part Two: Hyde Park, a Pub, some Coffee, and a Private Bus Tour of London.

Tune in soon!!!

London in pictures

Hi everyone,

Since internet is so expensive here and we'd rather be out touring than typing, here is a quick photo montage of our adventures so far.  We'll chime in later with some stories to let you know that background of what you're looking at.

Needless to say, we're having a great (albeit it cold) time in London.  Still, it's been a blast.  We're off to see the Queen today and have tea, so we'll let you know how she's doing later.

All the best!

Jon and Emily

P.S.  Happy birthday to my mother!!!!