Chicago & London 5-13 thru 15-2009
Thanks to Joe and Julie, we left our car at their Best Western in Countryside, IL and were given a ride to O'Hare. We had fun people watching until we boarded about 8:15 pm.
We had two seats on the outside. The plane wasn't completely full, which was nice. A snack and dinner were served and the lights went out. Ted and I managed to sleep off and on during the trip. We landed at 11:45 am London time or 5:45 Central time. We caught a bus to the Renaissance Heathrow Hotel. It was a 10 minute ride. 
After unpacking, we returned to the airport and caught the Underground to London. A nice bus driver of a hotel shuttle that costs, explained how to catch a free bus to the airport. We then bought an Oyster card. This allows you to hop on and off of all Underground trains and buses whenever you like. We learned about them from reading books by the travel writer/TV host, Rick Steve's. By the way, his books have been better than Michelin. Ted met a great Briton on the Tube who told him about Tesco groceries and other helpful things. 
We got off the Tube at Picadilly Circus because it offered a flashy view of the city and because it was central to many walkable places. The mass of people is enough to impress.
I just love London cabs. I liked the older ones better, but these will do. Now they come in every color under the rainbow, not just black.
We walked through Leicester Square. It was about 6 pm, when most Americans would be on their way home. There were MANY people sitting in the park or on the patio of the pubs.
The architecture of London ranges from the "antique, but ugly" to modern and sleek. I had trouble deciding whether to watch people or the buildings. This is decoration over a doorway that was old and fun. It probably has meaning, but I don't know what it is. There are many unexpected statues, ornaments, sculptures. Walking the same block doesn't get boring.
The many alleys are full of pubs and fun shops. They beg the visitor to come on in.
Trafalgar Square is said to have been remodeled since I was here, but I don't know what is different. My memory is rather vague about it anyway. There is a lot of construction in the area with signs indicating work on the 100 year old water system.
The National Gallery is on the left and St. Martin-in-the-Fields is straight ahead. We took at 45 minute tour of the Gallery, trying to see just a few of the highlights before it closed at 6 pm. Photography isn't allowed inside the museum. One painting that really caught my attention was Arnolfini and Wife by Van Eyck. It was smaller than I realized, but so interesting in color and up close. We plan to return and see more of the "must sees". This place is free!! 
This photo is for our Texas friends, especially those who know that Texas was (and many feel still is) a country. I saw it from Trafalgar Square and didn't see the second line so did a double-take.
One of the famous double-deckers and phone booths, which must be included in any travelog of London.
Here is the entrance to the burial chamber for the church, St. Martin-in-the Fields, in a photo above. This church is world famous for its conservatory and many classical and jazz concerts. To help fund this enterprise, the church has turned the catacombs into a gift shop and upscale buffet.
Here is what we saw from our table lit by candles. The place was packed with locals and the food was very tasty and cheap. 
We had dinner on Mary Molteno, quite literally. This is what was under our table. The floor is covered in very old gravestones. This one is from 1810. I hope that Mary approves of the church using her final resting place to help fund the good works of today.
Friday we slept late. Jet lag had taken its toll. We took the Tube into the Knightsbridge stop and toured the famous department store, Harrod's. I wanted Ted to see the Food Hall more than anything else. The present owner is Mohamed al-Fayed, father of Princess Diana's boyfriend who died in the car crash with her. He has really changed the place, but all for the better. I loved watching the well kept, rich women shopping. They stand apart in taste of clothing and application of make-up. Maybe they aren't rich, but they looked it. They look the way I want to look.
Thanks to Joe and Julie, we left our car at their Best Western in Countryside, IL and were given a ride to O'Hare. We had fun people watching until we boarded about 8:15 pm.
We had two seats on the outside. The plane wasn't completely full, which was nice. A snack and dinner were served and the lights went out. Ted and I managed to sleep off and on during the trip. We landed at 11:45 am London time or 5:45 Central time. We caught a bus to the Renaissance Heathrow Hotel. It was a 10 minute ride. 
After unpacking, we returned to the airport and caught the Underground to London. A nice bus driver of a hotel shuttle that costs, explained how to catch a free bus to the airport. We then bought an Oyster card. This allows you to hop on and off of all Underground trains and buses whenever you like. We learned about them from reading books by the travel writer/TV host, Rick Steve's. By the way, his books have been better than Michelin. Ted met a great Briton on the Tube who told him about Tesco groceries and other helpful things. 
We got off the Tube at Picadilly Circus because it offered a flashy view of the city and because it was central to many walkable places. The mass of people is enough to impress.
I just love London cabs. I liked the older ones better, but these will do. Now they come in every color under the rainbow, not just black.
We walked through Leicester Square. It was about 6 pm, when most Americans would be on their way home. There were MANY people sitting in the park or on the patio of the pubs.
The architecture of London ranges from the "antique, but ugly" to modern and sleek. I had trouble deciding whether to watch people or the buildings. This is decoration over a doorway that was old and fun. It probably has meaning, but I don't know what it is. There are many unexpected statues, ornaments, sculptures. Walking the same block doesn't get boring.
The many alleys are full of pubs and fun shops. They beg the visitor to come on in.
Trafalgar Square is said to have been remodeled since I was here, but I don't know what is different. My memory is rather vague about it anyway. There is a lot of construction in the area with signs indicating work on the 100 year old water system.
The National Gallery is on the left and St. Martin-in-the-Fields is straight ahead. We took at 45 minute tour of the Gallery, trying to see just a few of the highlights before it closed at 6 pm. Photography isn't allowed inside the museum. One painting that really caught my attention was Arnolfini and Wife by Van Eyck. It was smaller than I realized, but so interesting in color and up close. We plan to return and see more of the "must sees". This place is free!! 
This photo is for our Texas friends, especially those who know that Texas was (and many feel still is) a country. I saw it from Trafalgar Square and didn't see the second line so did a double-take.
One of the famous double-deckers and phone booths, which must be included in any travelog of London.
Here is the entrance to the burial chamber for the church, St. Martin-in-the Fields, in a photo above. This church is world famous for its conservatory and many classical and jazz concerts. To help fund this enterprise, the church has turned the catacombs into a gift shop and upscale buffet.
Here is what we saw from our table lit by candles. The place was packed with locals and the food was very tasty and cheap. 
We had dinner on Mary Molteno, quite literally. This is what was under our table. The floor is covered in very old gravestones. This one is from 1810. I hope that Mary approves of the church using her final resting place to help fund the good works of today.
Friday we slept late. Jet lag had taken its toll. We took the Tube into the Knightsbridge stop and toured the famous department store, Harrod's. I wanted Ted to see the Food Hall more than anything else. The present owner is Mohamed al-Fayed, father of Princess Diana's boyfriend who died in the car crash with her. He has really changed the place, but all for the better. I loved watching the well kept, rich women shopping. They stand apart in taste of clothing and application of make-up. Maybe they aren't rich, but they looked it. They look the way I want to look. 
Here is the fish counter at Harrod's. The fish sit in the open on ice. Can you imagine that being allowed in the USA?!
This is a sample of the decor changes made by Mr. Fayed in Harrod's. This column is in the escalator well. Near here we watched a young women sing opera from a balcony. Made piano playing at Nordstrom's seem provincial. I almost forgot to mention that the pizza maker in the Food Hall also sang opera while he threw pizza dough. It made us, and many others, stop the hustle and bustle and relax and listen. I wished that my dad, who owned a clothing store, could have been with us. His viewpoint would have been interesting and fun.
Hyde Park isn't far from Harrod's. We only walked along the southeast side. We want to come back on a Sunday to the Speaker's Corner and walk through more of the park. What we saw reminded me of Central Park in New York City. I only saw this from a bus the last time I was here.
No comments:
Post a Comment