2010

Tuesday, October 2nd continued ...

<b>Hawksmoor Seven Dials</b> (www.thehawksmoor.com) in Covent Garden offers a 3-course express dinner menu, perfect for theatre goers. While the menu was limited (for sake of time), it was good value & good quality. We were in at 5:00 pm, fed and out by 6:30 pm. DH had the Doddingham Caesar Salad, a rib-eye steak with mash potatoes with gravy + an apple tart & ice cream. I had heritage tomatoes & childwickbury (goat cheese) on toast, a rib-eye steak with an herb salad + an apple tart & ice cream. It would be fun to come back to the Hawksmoor, order from the regular menu and enjoy a leisurely meal! We were off to see <b>War Horse</b> at the <b>New London Theatre</b>, just a few blocks away.

We bought our tickets on-line many months ago. We thought maybe that our seats (Circle Row C Seats 21/22) were in the nose-bleed section. Well, they were BUT we had excellent sight lines of the stage! We sat with friendly theatre goers to one side and in the seats in front of us which made for a fun intermission!

We decided not to do any preparation (pre-reading or see the movie). We just wanted to experience the story as it unfolded on the stage.

War Horse was FANTASTIC! The story was wonderful and heart-warming. The set and the staging were stunningly simple yet beautiful. And of course, there were the horses. (I won't say any more! ;-)) Also, it connected so well to our time in the Somme. Everything came together tonight!

denisea

Such an excellent report. You are reminding me that we need to make a little trek to London!

john183

This is simply an excellent report of a fantastic trip! I really like your travel style and your writing style. Good Job! You had asked where our next trip might be - unfortunately none are on the horizon. A combination of things are pointing towards 2014 as the next possibility (and that's too far away even for an obsessive planner like myself to start planning for). But your trip is sparking some good ideas - thanks for posting such a great report.

2010

Thank you, all! It's nice to know that folks continue to follow along!

john183: Our trips usually come together in 4 phases: dream, plan, go + reflect. So even though you may be targeting 2014, think of it as the first stage: dream ... when anything is possible!!! Enjoy!

2010

Wednesday, October 3rd

It was a challenge to get up this morning! But we knew that breakfast was waiting for us downstairs and we had learned to order only what we could eat: one English Breakfast, no beans and one Continental Breakfast with yoghurt, a fresh fruit cup + toast. Juice & coffee for both of us. At last, we were fueled up for our final day in London.

Today we went to the <b>National Portrait Gallery</b> which houses a fabulous collection of personalities & faces from the late Middle Ages to present day. The collection is set up chronologically so our visit became a series of history lessons through art. FANTASTIC!

About noon, I had to remind DH that there were two more floors of art to see! We stopped for lunch in the gallery's cafe before continuing our tour. Today, the NPG made it to my list of favourite galleries!

Tonight we went back to <b>The Thomas Cubitt</b> for a cold lager, fish & chips with mushy peas, a cherry tart and bread pudding. We had a window table in the pub with great views of the room plus the action outside! Fun!

We took a short walk in what we considered now to be 'our neighbourhood' ... in our dreams! ;-) Belgravia is so lovely - full of character & charm - thanks to Lord Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster! It has been a great area to stay!

2010

Thursday, October 4th - Travel Day

We arranged for a car to pick us up at 7:00 am to take us from the Lime Tree Hotel to Heathrow Airport. Checked in - got the same 'song & dance' regarding up-grading DH at the gate should there be an unsold seat in business class. We had breakfast in the Maple Leaf Lounge. I took a quick spin through some of the terminal shops and I picked up a Longchamp tote bag - my last splurge!

Well, DH was not up-graded to business class but he was moved to the front of economy. With a bit more leg room, an empty seat beside him & a pleasant seatmate to chat with during meals, he said that the trip home was comfortable. What a trooper! He did, however, grumble about the meals. There was a mild complaint about being served something disguised as chicken enchiladas.

Our flight arrived on time in sunny Vancouver. As always, it was good to be home. It was 11:55 am local time on Thursday.

Once home, our first order of business was to pick up our 7- year-old yellow labrador retriever, Emma who was staying with friends. Actually, Emma had a bit of a holiday, too! The day before our departure, we checked her & our friends' dog into the <b>Rex Hotel & Spa For Dogs</b> in town. Four star accommodations! Nothing too good for our dogs! ;-) When our friends returned from their trip, they picked up both dogs and Emma spent a week with them. Lucky dog! So, we were all a bit tired but we were happy to see each other!

We ordered Chinese food for dinner as we usually do on our first night home! It tasted GREAT! We stayed up as long as we could. It wasn't much past 8:00 pm when the three of us were passed out on the bed. What a sweet vision!


<i>I am not the same having seen the moon on the other side of the world.</i>

MARYANNE RADMACHER

john183

I'm guessing you are enjoying your 4th phase of this trip as much as you did the first three!! Thanks again for such an entertaining report.

stokebailey

Lovely report, Maryanne. I am taking notes.

stokebailey

Sorry! I mean 2010.

janeog

I've really enjoyed reading your well written and interesting trip report. We are planning a trip next year, will be in Paris and London for a few days. Your hotel in London, the Lime Tree sounds very nice but is a little over our budget, just wondering if you did a lot of research before you settled on this hotel and whether you felt it was well worth the cost?

2010

janeog: I spent a lot of time researching London neighbourhoods and hotels before selecting the Lime Tree in Belgravia. I read guidebooks, used on-line sources like Fodors and talked to friends who have been to London.

We stayed in Bloomsbury on our first trip (1996). Really liked the area & its proximity to many of the sights we wanted to see. Our hotel was close to a tube station which made other areas really accessible.

But this time, we had a different list of things to see. We also thought it would be fun to stay in a different part of London. So, I narrowed the search to Belgravia & Pimlico. Budget plays a big role in our decision-making but we also place a value on comfort, convenience & service. In the end, the Lime Tree turned out to be a great place for us to stay.

Hope this helps! It sounds like you have a wonderful trip coming up! Have fun planning!

irishface

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. I know it is good to be home, but personally, I am sorry to see the trip end. I was so enjoying the vicaarious pleasure of being with you.

Just a note, and don't take it is a rude. I would never choose mushy peas unless I were in starvation mode. When I lived in Ireland, I hated thos things almost to the point of gagging!

2010

irishface: It was nice to have you follow along the entire journey! Thank you.

Well, the mushy peas came as a side dish with the fish & chips! They hadn't been mashed to the consistency of pablum. They actually had some texture & flavour. And they did add colour to the plate! That said, I doubt if I would ever order mushy peas off a menu. ;-)

Does anyone like mushy peas?

2010

ttt for tom

bilboburgler

Really good write up, very interesting.

I think your washing machine at 3.5 hours is maybe a weird old french number, certainly not to European standards.

latedaytraveler

Hi 2010,

Just catching up with your great report. Glad you folks enjoyed the LIME TREE. It often gets kudos on this site. Also pleased that you complimented that teacher who took her students to the National Gallery. Been there, done that and positive comments from a stranger on the behavior/effort of students are always appreciated.

Thanks for your take on the BRITISH LIBRARY and the new memorial to the WWII fighter bombers, neither of which I have seen. So much to do and see in London, eh? Agree that the National Picture Gallery is fabulous.

Again, I enjoyed your great report. Thanks for sharing….

TDudette

Brava! And what a special treat for the dogs.

2010

bibloburgler: The apartment kitchen was fitted with fairly new appliances. Being from North America, we were not familiar with the Seimins combination washer/dryer. When we arrived, we were given a personal demonstration & left written instructions on how to use the machine! It wasn't complicated, just different BUT nothing was left to chance by the owner! I can't vouch for whether it met European standards but it seemed to be standard stock for its space-saving attributes! I can't imagine having a machine like this for a family. At 3 1/2 hours per load, I'd be washing/drying 24/7 and ironing in between! ;-)

latedaytraveler: It's wonderful to know that the information is useful! Thanks! You are so right about there being so much to see & do in London. Are you planning a trip soon?

TDudette: Thanks for following along!