kybourbon

"I read the previous thread about this trip and am hoping this one will not turn into a bashing session of the other women who traveleed. (And before any one hits the "abuse" triangle, please consider that it is also an abuse of travel forums to use them as a way to run other unsuspecting travelers into the ground)"

But it's ok for you to go around bashing everyone on the various forums? It's just as abusive posting derogatory comments aimed at the op on their trip report.

Just ignore zeppole aka stepsbeyond aka sandralist and Carry On.

sofarsogood

Keep Calm and Carry On

janisj

OK - I feel better in the clear light of day (But damn - to open my TR and see that s^#t - what a downer)

I probably won't post anymore til tomorrow (when I got home I had an offer for a free night at a nearby resort hotel/casino/spa so I'm heading out for a day of pampering . . . Free is good )

So unless I lose big at the tables (not likely since one has to bet big to lose big) and retreat to my 'upgraded/deluxe' room, I'll be busy . . .

nytraveler

Good lord - 10:30 am is "slothful"? What are you - a puritan?

It's a vacation - which IMHO means staying up as long as you like at night and sleeping as long as you want in the morning. (Sometimes we have to get up earlier because of when room service stops serving breakfast).

If someone enjoys being up at 7 am every day fine. If not - why is it anyone else's business - unless a travel companion and it will them miss a train or flight?

Surfergirl

Janis, you had me at the thread's Caption!

johnnyomalley

janis - ignore the one person who has commented negatively and keep on writing

willowjane

Janisj, I am really enjoying your trip report. Please continue when you can.

LCBoniti

Goldangit! I was just getting into this when all h#** broke loose!

Looking forward to the continuation, janisj. There are few things on Fodors better than your trip reports.

annhig

But I won't be reading or commenting on any more of this.>>

and so say all of us.

there you are, jj, you're safe. please carry on, the rest of us are enjoying your TR very much.

jamikins

Yes please continue....the best thing we can all do is ignore her/him and not engage. The reaction is what she/he is after.

historytraveler

Well, apparently I've lost the 10:30 get at of bed argument. Still I'm no Puritan and sleep later than most on most mornings but simply want to get up and get going when on vacation. I rest my case.

janisj have a good rest and I'm looking forward to more TR.

europeannovice

Janisj--I agree with the others, please continue your very well written and enjoyable trip report.

Historytraveler--when you visit John Soane try to time your visit when they give a tour of the room with the Hogarth paintings. The tour guide opened each panel revealing wonderful paintings of various artists and then went through an analysis of Rakes Progress. It was quite interesting.

If the one who didn't go on the trip had trip insurance, I don't think she would be refunded the money unless she had a plan that said cancel for any reason or if she could prove her SO was ill. Most of the time they would want a documented medical reason for the person or their immediate relative or traveling companion. So it is generous of you to offer some refund but she shouldn't expect it all back.

marlene_

Janisj--How did you like staying St Katharine Docks?? We have rented a flat there for our first time visit later this month and hoping the location is good.

janisj

"Well, apparently I've lost the 10:30 get at of bed argument. Still I'm no Puritan and sleep later than most on most mornings but simply want to get up and get going when on vacation. I rest my case."

I never rush folks out (unless it is for their 'musts' like Portobello Rd). But 10:30 -- c'mon > And the unintended consequence of their late morning was they missed out on one of their other "Musts" - a verger's tour at Westminster Abbey. I put off ringing the Abbey til the girls were up . . and by then all tours for the day were booked . . . and the Abbey would be closed for the next two days for the Garter rehearsal and Ceremony. So their loss.

Back from an evening/morning of pampering and am ready to face the <i>critics</i>

Thurs. Southwark, Borough Market, Up the Shard, Major retail Therapy, Jeeves/Wooster . . . and B&B pick up a 20 yo girl from Finland . . .

Even though the tube strike was canceled we stuck to our mainly tube-less plan for Thursday. Southwark/Borough Market, Maybe the Shard B2 was game but B1 is deathly afraid of heights and the whole idea made he nauseous.

They only slept in til 9:30 this morning so we got an earlier start - after a Starbuck's stop we walked across Tower Bridge. Southwark Cathedral is a gem that relatively few tourists seem to visit. With the often massively crowded Borough Market just across the way - it is always a surprise walk inside and finding quiet and clam. Contrasted w/ Westminster Abbey which is always a mass of people. Being a Thursday Morning the market wasn't very crowded at all - and soooooooo much nicer than fighting the masses on Fri afternoon/Saturday.

We spent a LOT of time exploring the market and could actually talk to the butchers/cheese merchants/vendors. We bought dibs and dabs of cheeses, sausages, crackers for back at the flat. The only thing I bought to bring home was a jar of Sage & Apple whole grain mustard -- but I wanted to buy EVERYTHING

We had a sit down/posh-ish lunch at fish! (That's the name - fish!) in the Market and I really enjoyed mine. I had Scallops w/ pancetta and mushrooms. B1 had fish and chips and didn't like it much - I'm not sure which fish she ordered which can make a huge difference re fish&chips. (she tried F&C several other times during the trip but never found one she really liked).

We also watched a woman making a couple of recipes in the demonstration 'kitchen' - it really isn't a kitchen but she managed to produce an amazing fresh pea, mint and watercress soup, and some crab cakes.

It was a cloudy/semi drippy day but we were right there next to the Shard so we decided to go up even though the views wouldn't be the best. B1 waffled (more than waffled really). We didn't try to twist her arm or anything - it would be totally up to her. At each step of the way - buying the tix, posing for our group photo in front of a green screen that they would superimpose over various views, waiting for the lift, walking out to the observation deck, walking up the stairs to the other deck - she freaked just a bit (or a LOT a couple of times) - but she came though like a champ. She clung to various girders etc but actually did walk out to the windows more than once. We gave her lots of encouragement and while she never actually relaxed she didn't have a panic attack like she (and we) feared. She said she was very glad she went up - it was a major milestone for her.

The day wasn't the best - and it IS expensive. But I honestly do thunk it is 'worth' it if it fits the budget. Do try to go up on a clear day though. One thing I noticed - every single staff member we interacted w/ was superbly trained. And there are a LOT of staff. They chat you up while queueing for tix, the the ticket sellers, the photographers, lift operators, guides/'docents' etc. We wondered if they had attended the Disney Institute - without exception chatty, friendly, just sharp cookies. Made spending the £££ less painful

Oh -- and be very SURE to visit the loos!!!! that's all I'm saying > (You can google it)

Then we walked up to the Globe - just for a peek at the outside and then next door to the Tate - again just for a look-see. (I'm going to try to book the Matisse cutouts for tomorrow but will wait til we get home and do it on line - in case we decide to do something else instead)

I really wanted to see Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense but hadn't booked - B&B said it sounded fun so we jumped in a cab at the Tate and went to Leicester Square. Got decent seats at TKTS - it was about 3:30 or 4:00 and the girls wanted to wander around Covent Garden and I needed to get back to Fortnum & Mason to buy my enamel boxes and other 'stuff'. So I walked them over to the Duke of York's theatre so they could find it and then walked back through Piccadilly Circus and to F&M. As I've explained on other TRs - F&M has this weird export/shipping policy. They charge £25 to the States whether it is a tiny enamel bijou or a massive box of all sorts of things. So I spent nearly 1.5 hours in dashing around the various departments collecting things - two Halcyon Days boxes, (a black cab and a tiny union jack) then all sorts of teas, tea caddies, biscuits, sweets, etc. The VAT savings from the two boxes more than paid for the shipping. I asked that the delay posting the parcel til next week so it won't be delivered until I'm home.

I walked back towards Leicester Sq and the theatre and stopped at Scoff & Banter in the Radisson Blu Edwardian for a quick dinner/drink. Had a 'mosaic' of game - Grouse, pigeon, rabbit and <i>chicken</i> (?) w/ chutney and salad, champagne and tea. it was VERY good and the rooms is VERY comfortable w/ couches and overstuffed chairs - but a LOT of red.

Walked over to the theatre and there were B&B . . . and Maija. There is a Starbucks next door to the theatre - and that is where the girls had spent the entire 3 hours since we'd parted. They spent the 3 hours talking to Maija - a really pretty 19 yo Finnish woman who was couch surfing at a friend's flat out in Docklands. She was visiting London for the first time and was a little nervous about things in general - but especially about wandering around solo . She was also going to Jeeves & Wooster. B&B became very maternal and took her under their wings.

All 4 of us really enjoyed the play -- it was after the original cast changed out so Michael McFayden and Stephen Mangan were no longer in the cast. But the two new actors were wonderful ( the third cast member - Mark Hadfield was a hold over from the original Cast)

After the show we all hopped on the tube to Tower Hill and it seemed they had invited Maija to stay w/ us. But she said her friend would be worried so maybe they could just do something together tomorrow. We walked home and Maija walked over to the DLR station . . . She seems a really nice girl - but I was <i>really</i> relieved she had turned dow their offer . . .

<B>Next: B&B&Maija visit Camden Market - I find my new very favorite view restaurant/bar . . . And Matisse

janisj

marlene: Didn't see you post (it takes me a looong time to write an installment )

I've stayed there 3 times. I love it. I really prefer staying in closer in neighborhoods (Pimlico, Fitzrovia, etc). But the river, all the restaurants, the tower, the #15 bus and tube, the Waitrose, the QUIET - no car traffic at all, walking distance to Borough Market etc etc greatly make up for being slightly out of the center of things.

Plus the flats are VERY reasonably priced.

scotlib

I sympathize with B1. I tried fish and chips a couple of times in April, never totally happy with the meal. I've tried to have a good f&c since coming home, still disappointed I sooo want a repeat trip to Scotland in June, not least so I can return to Stonehaven - have f&c at The Bay, see the castle, swim in the heated salt water pool .. sigh .. I'll be saving up for a while.

Should I get a London trip, I'll remember about the Shard and visiting the toilet. Somewhere along the way on my trips I started taking pics in the loos. I'm always amazed that I can be surprised almost every time; you never know where it'll be pushing a button, pulling a button, things are on top, on the side, on the wall .. just an adventure ;-)

MissPrism

Have you met this loo?
http://youtu.be/zrjbimdGvGo
I find that the best place for fish and chips is a real chippy, the type with a battery of deep fat fryers, steamed up windows and a long queue outside.

annhig

by co-incidence, we had real fish and chips last night, from a real chippy which always has a huge queue outside - the Harbour Lights in Falmouth, should you be passing.

super crisp batter and very fresh fish are the secret, not any particular type of fish. In fact each of us had a different sort - I had plaice, DD had cod, and DH had haddock. and mushy peas, which he likes but I detest.

MissPrism

Yes, the best ones are by the sea where the fish is very fresh. There is a good one in Aldeburgh. There's also an art in cooking chips. It's a shame, but the average tourist tends to get the pub version. It can be OK but nothing like the real thing

julia_t

Ah, and don't forget the 'curry' sauce to dip your chips into! Yum!