The train to Edinburgh! This morning had us up at 630 and out of the hotel by 815 on our way to Kings Cross to catch the train. We even had a chance to see Platform 9 3/4 for you Harry Potter fans. As our group was waiting to leave, some random couple got engaged at the Platform! It was pretty neat to see!

Our 5 hour train ride out of London north to Edinburgh let us view the beautiful English and Scottish countryside. Many sheep and a few cows (hey look cows 🤗) were chomping on grass. The coastline was beautiful and rugged. Probably the most enjoyable part of the ride was getting to know our fellow travelers a lot better. So many good, funny people who really just want to experience English, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. All ages are on this trip. One couple is on their honeymoon while one couple is celebrating their 35+ anniversary. We have found 2 other Canadian couples who we have clicked with well as the Americans sure seem to like to tease us about “eh”. Oh well. It is in good fun.

Upon getting into Edinburgh around 330, we quickly moved into the hotel and went on a little stroll. The steep incline wasn’t as long as the torturous climb up Neuschstein (sp?) years ago, but much much steeper. The view from the top was magnificent!

We went to a group supper tonight in a big Italian restaurant. Upon leaving an elderly man caught my eye and asked what our assembly was about. When I told him we were touring, he responded with he wondered what the connection could be as not all people were as sporty as the next. I smiled. THEN he said that he thought I was very sporty as he had noticed my sporty muscular calves and proceeded to rub them right there in the restaurant! I wasn’t really sure what to say, so I laughed and skedaddled out of there! I guess my strong German calves are noticeable to a Scotsman! Hahah!

Tomorrow we tour the town and probably try a wee bit of Scotch!

One last item. In London we were given a wheelchair accessible room and in Edinburgh we have another one. North America needs to step up their game. These are giant rooms that wheelchairs could be driven into and the person could easily shower.

What A Royal Day!

We toured London seeing the highlights from the bus. Many of the highlights shown had royal significance. We ended that tour at Buckingham Palace with the witnessing of the Changing of the Guard. Pretty impressive when you realize how serious the guards are taking their role. The Queen was in residence today at Buckingham Palace.

Upon finishing that tour, we travelled via bus to Windsor. We had lunch in the little town with a tour of the castle which I thoroughly enjoyed. The place was jumping with activity in preparation for Princess Eugenie’s wedding on Friday. (Prince Andrew’s daughter). We were told that the Queen was expected at anytime, but she didn’t show while we were there. Darn!

We saw the chapel where Harry and Meghan tied the knot and the place where Charles and Camilla were allowed to have their civil service.

Just a lovely royal day!

Tonight we will return our Oyster card (subway cards) for a refund and prepare for our train ride to Edinburgh tomorrow. London is a favourite of mine. I just love to drink up all the “Royalness” and history. The similarities between Canada and the UK is so obvious. We really are just an infant country in terms of our pasts. Infant or child to the mother country. I know, mom, you think I’m weird for loving the history of it all, but I just love it!

As we drove back to the hotel today, we saw many dogs in the parks. I always marvel at how many people here have dogs, let them off leash and the dogs just come back to them. My Sophie, the Jack Russell and avid “hunter” would be gone for days I’m afraid if we let her off leash in these massive parks.

I’ve also decided that as much as some of you know I am a huge Darian Durant fan, multiply it by 100 times for the Royal family.

Today was a wonderfully relaxing day! We debated between going to Greenwich and Warner Brothers Studio to see the making of the Harry Potter movies. Neither won out. We jumped on the tube, went to Westminster and strolled down the banks of the River Thames in the Queen’s Walk. We stopped for hot chocolate and hot whisky, saw Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Tower of London, walked across London Bridge, jumped back on the tube to Covent Gardens for a late lunch and met up with our tour group for supper. Tomorrow we visit Windsor Castle! It has been a delightful way to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss (you can’t see Allen rolling his eyes ). Interesting observations:

British people are quite slim and trim, but eavesdropping on conversations on the tube, they can swear like sailors.

The sea air must cause humidity, because my hair is totally having a mind of its own over here. 🤪.

Lots of school groups of all ages around. Seeing the little ones with their smart uniforms makes them all seem so refined. Saw lots of older ones being dragged into the Globe Theatre looking tortured. Pretty much the same look on YGS students’ faces when we would read Shakespeare’s pieces.

Did our Griswald pic of Big Ben Parliament, but Big Ben is shrouded in scaffolding for repair until 2021 then Parliament is supposed to be fixed. They may not be seen “naked” together for a long time.

Upon walking under London Bridge there was a restaurant playing “London Bridge is Falling Down”. That could probably be considered torture to the employees.

Happy 52nd wedding anniversary to Allen’s parents, Rod and Faye!

Today we toured St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Informational and interesting in-depth explanation of both beautiful places. I still get chills seeing the giant doors of St Paul’s and have memories of Lady Diana going in and coming out Princess Diana. I also noticed a statue within that instantly reminded me of my BIL Dean. 😊. The Abbey was quite impressive with the explanation of coronations of kings and queens. Good thing I have watched “The Crown” in such detail.

Had a good English pub lunch with more fish and chips and ale.

Churchill War Rooms were on the agenda for the afternoon. Windstorm was quite an icon who could be a little cankerous when he wanted.

After having our fill of history for the day, we strolled down to Buckingham Palace. I just love it! I’m not sure if it is infatuation with the royal family or what, but I just love it!

We navigated the tube on our own to return to the hotel. “Mind the gap”!

Whew! We arrived around 630 this morning. Our chauffeur was waiting for us, swept us to the hotel where we could check in immediately. A quick shower and we were off with great enthusiasm. “Just a short walk” to Kensington Palace had us rethinking our plans 🤪. We eventually got there, toured the birthplace of Queen Victoria, the former home of Princess Diana and visited the dress exhibit of Diana’s gowns. Allen was a a great sport and allowed me to read every placard and gaze at every dress. It was awesome!!! We saw the “sunken garden” that supposedly Diana loved, the playground created in her honour and the round pond outside of the palace. I was in heaven. Too bad I was so tired that the end became a little blurry. They sold jewellery in the gift shop and I thought maybe that would be a good keepsake until I saw the price tags. $500 items were not what I had I had in mind.

We marched back to the hotel, Shepherds Bush, found some fish and chips and beer, had a nap and went to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant for a light supper. There is a theatre next door to our hotel and Three Day Grace is playing there tonight. Great first day! Tomorrow we tour Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s.

Pics:

1. Funny masks you can buy with royal faces. They are everywhere
2. Bulldogs EVERYWHERE in the Kensington park.
3. The sunken garden. Very pretty
4. Me in front of Kensington Palace. I didn’t have the patience for the crowd to disappear for perfect pic
5. Funny ad for flu “jabs”
6. Good pic of gates
7. Commemorative stone in honour of Diana
8. Fun with English phonebooths
9. More phone booths
10. Entrance to Kensington area

Fly to London! Our first day consisted of flying into Heathrow via Regina and Toronto. I don’t mean to sound like a commercial for Air Canada but the premium economy seats on the flight and the maple leaf lounge in Toronto are pretty awesome. A little wider seats and a lot more leg room made the flight quite enjoyable. The quiet lounge has a buffet and an open bar with comfy chairs, charging outlets and TVs. We will be landing in London around 630 am London time and starting our day! I’m thinking big city bus tour and a visit to Buckingham Palace might be all we accomplish today. Our hotel is close (on the map anyways) to Kensington Palace. Perhaps we will pop in on Will, Kate, Harry and Meaghan. Cheerio until tomorrow!