This morning I went into Central London on the Tube to get some errands accomplished - visiting Vodafone and Apple stores. Both are near the Oxford Circus station. Regent and Oxford streets are always crowded and, today in the warm and muggy London weather, it was no exception. After a very short time, I wanted to be somewhere quieter and certainly prettier. Maida Vale, where I am staying with friends, is very close to "Little Venice" and I know of a nice restaurant there called the Waterway where I've eaten before. So, I took the Tube back to the Warwick Ave. station and then walked to the canals. The Little Venice area of London is off the tourist track - I'm sure I was the only tourist there today. It is located at the junction of the Grand Union and Regent's canals.
There are towpaths to walk along and lots of canal boats tied up along side the canal's edge. It was a lovely and peaceful contrast to the frenetic morning! Even though it was a bit cloudy, it was still perfect sitting on the patio overlooking the canal having a light lunch. I am so lucky my friends live near such a special part of this city. Here are some other photos of the canal, and the Waterway restaurant.
And, yippee, my Fitbit says I've done way more than my 10,000 steps today!
Well, I've arrived in London. One thing for sure, I will always try now to fly Premium Economy - no longer having to rub my arms and, sometimes legs, up against some stranger for the 9 1/2 hour flight. Also, you get real knives and forks, linen table cloths, and real food - okay the filet steak could have been cooked a lot less but it was tenderloin! Very reminiscent of the WardAir days. Passport control in London was its usual mess - 3/4 hour standing in a line is simply not fun when you haven't really slept in a very long time. However, it was an easy ride on the Heathrow Express to Paddington and, because they have changed the location of the taxi rank there, the cost of a taxi to Maida Vale has dropped significantly from somewhere well over 10 pounds to 7 - with a generous tip. Pedro was at the door to greet me and John arrived just after I had a 3 hours nap. And, what better way to begin this vacation that with a glass of Heidseck champagne! So, my vacation has truly started! Here is Pedro with a bottle of my favourite! Oops! Now it's two bottles!
What a great way to start!
Tuesday is the beginning of the longest holiday I will have ever taken. It will remain to be seen if I get homesick or not - my bet is NOT! And, for the first time since 2001 when we took a one-week trip to Washington, DC, my sister and I will be travelling together. She will be with me for nearly 6 weeks and that should prove "interesting", as they say. We have only been in Europe together once back in 1992 with Mom and her cousin. This is what we looked like then! A lot has changed since then.
When Mom passed away in January, Kath and I wanted to figure out a good way to honour her memory. Our initial thought was to take an Alaska cruise (Dad had worked on merchant ships going there during the war) but neither of us thought that appropriate - Mom was nervous on the water. So, instead, we decided to go to the UK and visit some of the places she loved. Next, we added Ireland to the itinerary - a place where Mom never got to but had always wanted to see (our names aren't Maureen and Kathleen for nothing!) So, after lots of planning and tons of discussion, we have a plan and it is now time to test it! Later in the trip, Kath will head home and I will head to the south of France for what I am sure will be some much needed rest after our major road trip!
I head to London first and, next Monday, Kath will meet me at Heathrow and our road trip will begin. Before that though, I have some partying to do in London with my two gay friends and a couple of girlfriends from Canada. Let the good times roll!
