That may be - The jet lag didn't have time to find me

In 2020 we were booted from Spain a few days into the trip, and I realized later that I didn't have jet lag on either end. I guess my body was too confused to react.

That tenant...what a nightmare.

OK -- finally time to start . . .

Oct 23-24 SMF > DFW > LHR > Piccadilly Circus

A few hours before my 2PM flight I checked the real time parking situation at SMF and it was totally full except for the most remote lot - which I won't (ever) use because the shuttles are total crap. Bit of a panic when neither my closest neighbor nor a couple of friends could take me in time -- Instead of booking a taxi or uber I directly rang up a lyft/uber driver my car dealership once sent for me a service call. And he was available. He only charged me $30 which is less than half of what uber/yellow cab typically charge. There was quite a line at security but literally not one other person inPre✅. I ended up with more than a hour to kill so started out with a celebratory glass of wine and olives/nuts. Totally uneventful flight with even a decent meal - I was only expecting a snack box. Had a bit over 2 hours on the ground at DFW and I was able to use the Flagship Lounge (not Flagship Dining - but would on the return flight since I'd be in FIRST Class (did I mention First class )

The Lounge is really close to the London flight's gate so I could stay there until the last minute. It was a very smooth flight only about 8 or 10 minutes of turbulence over the whole 9+ hours. It would be a late dinner since we didn't take off until close to 10 PM but I did enjoy my salmon/champagne/hot fudge sundae (not all at once LOL). I skipped the light meal before landing but did have a small fruit plate - and all of the fruit was actually ripe/sweet. I love AA's herringbone 1-2-1 configuration in Business. Makes it really easy to relax and not ever be aware of other passengers comings and goings. I was able to sleep more than 5 hours and landed feeling quite rested. Immigration took next to no time and I was in the AA Arrivals Lounge less than 15 minutes after doors open. Only stayed maybe 15-20 minutes having tea and a couple of snacks then walked to the tube station - because the hotel is so close to Piccadilly Circus I opted for the Tube even knowing PC station can be a Bee-aatch with the crowds and stairs. Topped up my Oyster (discovering I had �15 balance left over from my last trip). Walked in tee door of The Dilly just short of 3PM and my room was ready.

About a week before the trip I checked out the dining options in the hotel -- their main restaurant is the well reviewed Madhu's of Mayfair Indian restaurant plus there is the lovely Terrace which is primarily for breakfast, afternoon teas, etc. I enjoy Indian food but I didn't think it might be the best choice on arrival day if I was jet lagged.

I didn’t plan on doing much on the 24th except having an early dinner which I booked for 5:15 at 45 Jermyn Street, which is less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel and is one of my favorite places in London. It didn't disappoint. I had Champagne, a lovely/large smoked salmon starter, and a truffle risotto main course, - I'm pretty sure I also had a white wine with the main course but don't recall for sure. Finished up with a decaf Irish coffee plus four small yummy chocolates. Afterwards, having absolutely NO sales resistance I wandered into Fortnum & Mason which just so happens to be the same building - planned it that way LOL. Did a small bit for the London Economy -- a couple of specialty teas, four amazing die cut / pop up greeting cards and a beautiful lighted Christmas tree. This photos doesn't do it justice. The UK has eliminated VAT free shopping but they must have taken something off because I paid �30 less than the link states. https://www.fortnumandmason.com/fort...ree-decoration

Easy five minute back to the hotel and my very comfortable room - pretty large mostly gray / white / black with two comfy upholstered red lounge chairs. Not a huge bathroom but very nicely furnished and really thick towels. Didn't need a nightcap and was tucked in bed just after 9 PM slept straight through til almost 7AM.

Next: Friday Oct 25 - A full day all on foot: Van Gogh, Francis Bacon, Monet, The Savoy American Bar, scrumptious dinner at Spring, Fawlty Towers.

Enjoying this report. Any time spent in London is time well spent!

Friday Oct 25 - A full day all on foot: Van Gogh, Francis Bacon, Monet, The Savoy American Bar, scrumptious dinner at Spring, Fawlty Towers.

This is a busy day for sure. Slept in til close to 8AM --- REALLY comfortable bed and linens. Had tea in the room and took a loooong bubble bath and didn't seem to suffer any jet lag (which may have hit just a bit this evening). I'm a member of the National Gallery but unlike other museums I belong to in London -- even though tickets are free, one still needs to prebook. The website hadn't allowed me to book a 'free; ticket so back on Sept. 6, I rang them from home and got a Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers ticket for 10:15 this morning. This was simply a dazzling show! More than 60 paintings from 1888 and 1889 including portraits, around Arles, and in the asylum from the Gallery's own collection and loaners from all over the world. Some beautiful scenes and some really almost scary images as he sank farther into his mental decline. Some real masterpieces. It has been called a once in a generation show -- I'd say its mote like once in a lifetime, or maybe century It was thrilling really. (but would be topped a few hours later). Spent more than 90 minutes and probably could have spent more but I have places to go and things to do. I have an early dinner booked at Spring and didn't want a big or late lunch so I popped into the casual Muriel's Kitchen for quiche Loraine and sparkling water.

Then I walked around the corner to the National Portrait Gallery. Also a member there where pre-booking for members isn't required. This stop was for Francis Bacon: Human Presence. Could not have been more different that the Van Gogh. Entirely portraits and astonishing. Definitely not 'pretty' pictures. Every Image is contorted, deformed, some are leering, some look like coroner specimens, some seem to be melting, or screaming All are fascinating but also a bit disconcerting. Leaving I felt sort of exhausted. Needing a break I went up to the Portrait Restaurant -- mostly to see the changes since the Gallery reopened. It is pretty much the same with just a refreshed / updated bar etc. I had a glass of prosecco and enjoyed the view.

Then I walked over to Somerset House for Monet and London. Views of the Thames at 3:00, This is a much smaller exhibition than the Van Gogh - just 21 paintings - but was absolutely thrilling. Between 1889 and 91 Monet repeatedly visited London mostly staying at the Savoy with a balcony room overlooking the river. Many of the paintings are the view from his room of Waterloo Bridge and the south bank in various light, fog, mists, sunrises, plus Parliament, the power plant. Buildings, people, omnibuses, boats floating in the mists. Many are dark with explosions of color/colour when the sun or shafts of light break through. Not like the Waterlilies at all really. Loved this show . . . another once in a century exhibition -- and just half a mile from the Van Gogh.

Having about 45 minutes to kill before my dinner booking I walked down the Strand and into the American Bar at the Savoy where I had a Champagne Cocktail, olives, and those tasty little crackers. Then back up the Strand to Somerset House for my 5:30 dinner at Skye Gyngell's Spring. I love this room - very calm decor and great service. My lovely starter was scallops with grilled cauliflower and preserved lemon. Just yummy. But the main was eve better - roast guinea hen w/ parsnip puree. Was pretty full but managed to squeeze in dessert - pear tart with liquorice ice cream and candied lemon. YUMMO!

Thought about taking a cab over to Shaftsbury -- but figured the walk would do me good. Had a great seat in the front row of the dress circle at the Apollo Theatre. This is when jet lag may have sneaked in a bit. The play is very true to the original - but I had to really fight nodding off through the whole of first act - thank goodness I completely recovered by the 2nd act which was absolutely hysterical (so I assume act one was funny too )

Literally a 4 minute walk back to the hotel - went up to my room, watched a bit of telly and slept like a baby again.

Next: Sat. Oct 26 - Two exhibits at the V&A, and the simply wonderful Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Sounds wonderful!

Both Van Gogh and Monet exhibits in the same day�I�m absolutely green with envy!

Sat. Oct 26 - Two exhibits at the V&A, and the simply wonderful Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

Having another early, pre-theatre dinner booked I decided to skip breakfast and do brunch-ish at the V&A. Took the tube to South Kensington and went directly to the V&A Members Room. Didn't want a huge meal so ordered two starters and no 'main'. Had a glass of Champagne and first 'starter' carrot ginger soup, followed by second 'starter' ham hock/chicken/ carrot terrine and a pot of tea. First stop - Naomi: In Fashion. This was a much larger exhibition than I had imagined. Filled the whole center and balcony of the Fashion Galleries. The Guardian reviewer called it “Campbell is ego as art form” — and that explains part of it. But the TON of gorgeous clothes, the humor/humour, the videos, etc — it really is a captivating show. Spent probably 1� hours in all.

Then popped into the gift shop for some small Christmas goodies and a cute bangle bracelet before heading down to the massive Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection. This is sort of two shows rolled into one and crammed full of fascinating photos - - first art shots, fashion images, celebrities, and a lot of famous/iconic images that that are part of 20th/21st century history. Then a series of famous tragic images - Robert Kennedy fatally wounded at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968; the death of anti-war protester at Kent State; Falling Man – a shot of someone falling from the World Trade Center. Then you round corner and it abruptly changes and you are in a series of galleries of more graphic photos — mostly but not entirely homoerotic. And then everything calms down and ends with abstract, funny and ‘artsy’ photos. Between brunch, Naomi and Elton I spent almost five hours in the V&A without exploring any other collections/galleries

Had originally planned on going back to the hotel before heading east to the Tower but it was already getting to late afternoon so I took the tube out to Tower Hill and walked across the bridge. Guys & Dolls is playing at the Bridge Theatre which is right next door to the Ivy Tower Bridge. Literally a 30 second walk so it was the logical place to book dinner. Had some frothy, fun cocktail but don't remember what exactly, then smoked salmon starter, followed by the Ivy's "famous" shepherd's pie. . . . would come back after the show for dessert and a nightcap.

The Bridge Theatre is a wonderful venue, and this Guys & Dolls is a WONDERFUL production.It is set up in the round (well, square, really) with standees much like at the Globe. Except the standees here are surrounding the whole stage . . . but it is actually many different stages/platforms that continuously rise and lower and morph while the standees are moved in and out of the voids left by lowered platforms - they are literally in just about every scene. Hard to describe but my goodness the first blocking rehearsals must have been CRAZY!!!!. It is just about the most 'immersive' musical one could imagine. My seat was in the front row one level up so I was looking straight down on the action and it was great -- but my guess is the standees had a completely different experience. Currently Its only booking into January so its unlikely I'll have the chance to see it again, but if I do I'll book a standing ticket. I saw another revival of G&D a few years agn in the West End and it was terrific, but this one is BRILLIANT. The entire cast was very good, good voices, wonderful (and very complicated) choreography with all the platforms and very small tolerances if someone were to miss their mark. While there were no weak links -- Nicely Nicely / Jonathan Andrew Hume and Miss Adelaide / Timika Ramsay were really fantastic. Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat usually brings down the house if the actor has any sort of talent -- but THIS Sit Down brought down the house, the Ivy, the pub around the corner . . . and the White Tower A total of four encores and the crowd was still yelling for more. But the show really did need to move on.

After the last bows the band played on and all the standees were dancing - many with cast members. I don't know how long they continued- after about 10 minutes I ducked out and back next door to the Ivy for espresso coffee creme br�l�e plus decaf scotch coffee. Then walked back across the bridge and instead of hiking up those blasted stairs to Tower Hill station, I jumped on a #15 bus which terminates at Charing Cross and from there walked back to the hotel. Took a long bubble bath, had a decaf tea and biscuits, did some initial packing/sorting and settled into bed.



Next: Sunday Oct 27, Checking out, Bentley's, a bit of Borough Market, The Cabinet Minister - then out to Holiday Inn LHR T-4

janisj you really know how to have a good time

that F&M website is a bit ropey (just surprised given their brand awareness thing)

We were disappointed to find out that we waited too long to get tickets to the Van Gogh exhibition when we visited London last month - sold out for the entire week and several weeks after. We did get to see the excellent Silk Roads special exhibition at the British Museum.

what a disaster your tenant was -so glad you had support to do the clear out. Another wonderful trip to London. Its nearly as short as one we did 9 years ago -we arrived on the Saturday and returned to Australia on the Tuesday as my brother was dying.
thanks for the report . .

That should have been some hellacious jet lag. Was that the trip when we met up at the Portrait? I don't think I knew you had to cut the trip short and the sad circumstances

Sunday Oct 27, Checking out, Bentley's, a bit of Borough Market, The Cabinet Minister - then out to Holiday Inn LHR T-4.

UK time change today (I had to go through the clock adjustment twice because it happens the next week in the States - hard enough once but twice in 8 days!! ) This is my last day in London and will stay tonight out at LHR and fly home tomorrow. I had originally booked the Vogue show at LightRoom up in Coal Drops Yard for early this afternoon. So my plan was to check out just before noon head up to Kings Cross, drop my bag in left luggage at the station, see the show, have a late lunch then head out to LHR on the tube. That came a cropper when they e-mailed me about the show's opening being delayed. So a week before traveling I looked around for something else to do Sunday afternoon.

I found a terrific review of the Cabinet Minister at The Menier Chocolate Factory -- Sunday matinee at 3PM. How to organize the rest of the day?? I hadn't eaten at Bentley's in years -- it used to be one of the favorites of my ex me and it is directly around the corner from the Dilly in Swallow Street. Not even a 2 minute walk. Settled! Check out/leave bag, 12:30 lunch at Bentleys, tube to London Bridge, walk through Borough market to Menier Chocolate Factory, back to hotel to retrieve bag and JustAirports to the Holiday Inn Express terminal 4.

So i had a nice lie in and didn't have to rush with final packing or schlepping my rollaboard on teh tube. Checked out at straight up noon and watched a team of florists bring a mountain of flowers/arrangements/decor into the hotel for what would be a huge wedding that would complicate JustAirports picking me up this evening.

Walked around the corner to Bentley's -- it was nice enough to sit out in their flowered terrace. Lovely meal -- in lovely setting - this is the life Started with a lovely Amaro 75 cocktail. Pink Gin, lemon, Amoro and Piper-Heidsieck chambagne. Starter was baked scallops with garlic butter. For my main - what the heck . . . livin' large . . . Half a grilled lobster and chips with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs. And for dessert a choux bun, with a crunchy caramel glaze, filled with hazelnut cream, and tea. Just wonderful all around and I was definitely FULL (Was tempted to spring for the whole lobster but really glad I just had a half -- perfect portion)

Took the tube out to London Bridge and wandered through Borough Market a bit -- wasn't enticed by any of the food - wonder why then the short walk -- less than five minutes -- to the theatre. The Menier Chocolate Factory is a wonderful venue � yes a re-purposed chocolate factory and less than 200 total seats. If you get a chance to see something there � it is so close to Borough Market - a great two-fer. Pinero's The Cabinet Minster is a total romp. A brilliant Victorian farce. Full of witty one-liners, slapstick, funny double entendre and characters with wonderfully silly names like Fanny Lacklustre

After the play retraced my steps through London Bridge and back to The Dilly - arrived a little after 6:00 and the driver is scheduled for 7Pm so I went to the Downstairs at the Dilly piano bar (no piano on Sunday evening) and considered a Pornstar Martini (yep -- that's what its called ) but instead had a French 75, then went back upstairs to wait for the JA driver.

There was a sea of humanity - all so elegantly dressed. It was a massive South Asian wedding so some really beautiful saris and other gorgeous gowns and a LOT of jewelry. People kept streaming in and there was limo after limo dropping people off. And to make things even more crowded out front there is street construction in that bit of Piccadilly. Driver and I exchanged 2 phone calls (impossible to hear in the wedding commotion) and 4 texts trying to find each other. Air Street just around the corner is a quiet dead end almost alley between Piccadilly and Regent street so I suggested he park there and I walk around and meet him there. Several other drivers had the same idea because there was some serious double parking going on. But we found each other and were on the way out of town in no time.

He dropped me at T-4 HI Express. Even though I'm flying out of T-3 this hotel works well -- more convenient than the hotels along the Bath Road because it is attached to the terminal (long-ish walk) and then the Tube/Elizabeth Line is free to T-3. And its a LOT cheaper then the Hilton Garden Inn at T-2 which must think its the Ritz or somethin' with the rates it charges! I went down to the cafe/bar and had a cheese board and sparkling water and bought some chocolate digestives to nibble while finishing up my packing. Traveling carry-on-only makes packing easy too so got to bed before 10PM - good thing because I want an 0500 wake up call! My flight isn't til 0830 but I want enough time to lounge hop the various First Class lounges -- may never have the chance again.

Next: Monday Oct 28 - did I say First Class 😎 - good flight, not so good flight - and locked out of the house

'That should have been some hellacious jet lag. Was that the trip when we met up at the Portrait? I don't think I knew you had to cut the trip short and the sad circumstances'
No this was another trip. Its 7 years exactly since we've been to London -time for a trip there . Covid and cancer got in the way I miss my fav city.

sounds a great time yet again.

Monday Oct 28 - did I say First Class - good flight, not so good flight - and locked out of the house

My flight is at 08:30 and I want to get checked in by 6:30-ish so I can try out the various One World First Class lounges in terminal 3. So I got up at 0500 had a cup of tea, finished up the last couple of chocolate digestives and tidied up my carry-on and headed out the door just before 0600. Its a fairly long walk through an elevated walkway from the hotel into T-4 where you catch the Elizabeth Line - free but you do need a ticket. I had my Oyster card out and ready but was handed a non-rev ticket by an attendant manning the gates. Being in FC really does speed things up. After a quick check in, I was directed to express security and was through and into the departures in no time.

A girl could get used to this Hit the Cathay Pacific 1st Class, Qantas and the AA First class lounges. Cathay Pacific was the best - and the most 'serene' of the three. Like a very posh restaurant and cocktail bar and really quiet. The Qantas lounge isn't specifically 1st class - both Business and First passengers are eligible - but its very nice two story and apparently the best baristas at the airport. And finished up at the AA first class lounge - then my flight's gate displayed and I started the walk . . . when it dawned on me that I didn't have my roll aboard OMG! Major OOPs. I had left it back at Cathay Pacific - dashed back and there it was next to the table I had been at 45 minutes before.

That little detour meant they were already boarding group 3 so I went up to the desk and was escorted to my seat (I thought AA only did that for their Concierge Key top tier status.) The first class cabin only had 8 seats and we had two flight attendants - a girl could get used to this LOL. Terrific flight - besides the champagne and warm nuts and olives, for the main meal I decided to just have the cold charcuterie and cheese plate (sort of weird at 9:30 AM London time) and just a fruit plate for the second light meal service because I'd get Flagship dining in my nearly 5 hours at DFW. They sort of treat this daytime flight like an overnight flight -- all blinds down, cabin dark and the flight attendants make up the beds. So I ended up sleeping more than four hours.

Took absolutely no time for Global Entry -- more kiosks than people. No more questions on the screen or even scanning the passport. Just take of glasses, face camera and the border agent calls out 'janisj, you're clear.' and since I don't have checked bags its straight out through the exit. Unfortunately you are now landside and have to go back through security to get back airside. Weirdly, the security at the exit from international arrivals doesn't have pre ✅ and there was a whole slew of people in line. But I remembered that from previous DFW connections and know the other security area down past the AA checkin desks does have pre ✅ so I walked down there and there were only two people in the queue.

And went straight to the Flagship Lounge -- it is separate and maybe a couple of hundred feet from the Admirals Club. Where they gave me a glass of champagne and the fancy 'invitation' card for entry to Flagship Dining. I had kept things light on the plane so was ready for a 'real' meal. Had a mocktail, small caesar salad, and an absolutely perfectly cooked filet. It was at least 2.5 inches high -- almost as tall as wide and spot on medium rare. Plus grilled asparagus and a glass of malbec. My waitress was lovey and service was as good as the posh meals I'd had in London. I think I've mentioned a girl. could. get. used. to. this!

But I still had more than 3 hours to kill before my flight and saw on the info boards there was a flight to SMF leaving in just under an hour. Could it- is it possible - is there a seat available???? and how much extra would it cost. Not realizing there is a separate customer assistance desk in the Flagship Lounge I went to the front desk and asked if they could get me on the earlier flight . . . instead of directing me to the agents in another part of the lounge she just said she couldn't help me. Boo, hiss

So I left the lounge and searched for the regular AA Customer Assistance office. Looked around and walked up the concourse a ways but didn't see any signs and started back towards Flagship when I ran into my waitress who was on her meal break. She asked if she could help - when I explained about the earlier flight and that I couldn't get help in the Flagship lounge she said 'come with me' and practically dragged me into the Admirals Club (she explained about the assistance desk in the Flagship lounge but since we were closer to the AC that's where she took me). Come to find out she was a 30 year senior customer service rep (worked mostly with Concierge Key and Million Milers) who had retired a few months earlier and was filling her retirement working as a server in the dining room. She went behind the computer terminal and walked the AAgent through the process (apparently he wasn't doing it fast enough for her) They found there was a seat on the earlier flight but they couldn't book me on it. Maybe it was too close to departure time - I didn't understand everything they were saying to each other -- LOTS of jargon. All they could do was put me standby but made sure I didn't lose my original seat on the later flight.

They printed me out the standby boarding pass and I was on my way (they made it very clear nothing could have been done if I had checked luggage) I texted my driver that I might be arriving early and he said fine, just let him know if I got on the flight. Anyway I walked from Terminal D to Terminal B and to the gate. The first gate agent was sort of crabby and said "They'll say anything -- this is a completely full flight" - but at least my name did display #1 on the standby list. After about 15 minutes they started pre-boarding and I was about to give up hope and wander back to T-D Flagship when - a different gate agent called my name. Hallelujah - I got the last seat on the plane. Instead of the 1st class seat (well, domestic 1st so Business really) and preordered meal on flight #2 I was in the middle seat of the very last row and got a snack box but I would be getting home 2+ hours early

Great flight -- except for the sitting in the back of Coach bit. Got in to SMF, texted my driver and he was tere in less than 5 minutes. I didn't have my house keys with me -- would use the automatic garage door. Tried the combination once - didn't work twice - keypad flashed all read and didn't work. third time still didn't work. Oh no! But 4th time it worked just fine - apparently there had been a short power outage while I was away and it had to clear the memory/recycle or something. Si in I went and the driver left . . . and I walked to the interior garage door - and it was LOCKED!. I almost never lock that inside door and hadn't thought to mention it to my pet sitter. OMG OMG. What to do? I couldn't go anywhere - keys to both cars were in the house. I couldn't fit through the doggie door in the interior door (in younger years I just might have fit LOL) I could ask a neighbor to either put me up or drive me to 5+ miles to a hotel. I could call a locksmith. Then I realized it was only about 8PM so I texted the sitter hoping/praying she would get it, wasn't tied up withs something else, whatever. She answered immediately and was on the way. While I was waiting, one of my kitties kept coming to the dog door and peeking at me wondering what the heck I was doing sitting on my suitcase in the garage. 🙀 she must come back to peek in at least 7 or 8 times but never actually came into the garage . . . About 10 minutes later I heard the front door open and in walked my savior.

And the thing is -- If I hadn't been on that early flight she wouldn't have got the text til the next day because she was going to bed early due to her kids having a field trip at 0-dark-thirty. Her phone would have been on silent and she would have been sound asleep 2+ hours later

. . . AND the very next day I bought key 'hiders' for my front and back yards . . . and no - not those fake rocks that just telegraph "the key is in here"

What is SMF? Sacramento airport? Glad you got into your house finally. Sounds like quite the adventure.

Sorry. Yes -- SMF is the code for Sacramento International Airport. DFW is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Glad you got in! One of those bumps in the road that are not unusual, but this one could have been a lot worse! Other than that and the troubles you had before leaving, sounds like a great trip.

janisj,
Thank you for another excellent trip report.
I very much enjoy how you explain the decisions you make along the way.
Extremely informative.
Cheers !

ha dto laugh when you said Qantas lounge had the best baristas -fits in with how seriously we take our coffee down here..

fun trip and report

Janis, your story is rather timely as I somehow, for the first time in my life, lost my keys. And I had witnesses: the staff of Golden One Center had to look high and low for them (not found) after one of the games last week.

Thing is, I was stranded. No pet sitter, no hide a key (or way to get onto my patio) so if even if I could have gotten home, I was completely stuck. My Dad had to drive down from Redding. Needless to say, complete panic, tears, whole bit.

The next day, Golden One still didnt have my keys. I asked if they might perhaps have gotten between the seat and were still there because of the nature of stadium seating. Am a season ticket holder, so my seat never changes, and later that night (nearly 11pm!) they called and found them - between the seat and the back! Aye-yee-aye!

I am now, also, developing a back up plan.

You owe your dad one!

I once lost my car keys at Arco II and had to call AAA to save me - they were found 3 days later after another game and a concert. Years ago my cousin had to drive from Mt Shasta to Chico to let her sone into his apartment.