MAY 21, Sunday
We'll meet at our hotel in central London at 3 p.m. this afternoon to get acquainted. Then we'll set off on a neighborhood walk and Underground/Tube orientation, before stepping aboard our very own vintage double-decker bus for a panoramic tour of "The Old Smoke" (London). We'll finish the evening with a "Welcome to London" dinner together. Sleep in London (6 nights). Walking: moderate.
Thought I might remind you of the schedule for each day. If it isn't helpful - tough. I'm going to do it anyway.
Leisurely morning- good breakfast, ambling walk, and now relaxing until the 3pm tour start. And now it's some 7+ hours later. From 3 on it's been non-stop, then again isn't this what one expects. I have to say that the double decker (red) tour bus tour is a great start. We were all over central London but it was difficult to take pitches, tho' the one of Big Ben, albeit without the top, wasn't bad.
Checked the weather and sunshine and mid 70's are the order of the week. Not bad, The 'meet, introduce, and greet' time was interesting. An older crowd than the last time. Our meal was fun. Greek (?) And we had 5 limited number of main course to choose from so the waitresses he us hold up our hand for the one we wanted. Fortunately the group's culinary tastes were such that no bartering was needed.
Tom, tour guide/leader, is really remarkable. The history that he knows and some of it little known is incredible. If I appreciated him the last time - doubly so now. Quick story. As you know Queen Victoria was totally in love with Albert, her husband. And just as devastated when he died. She had he statute of him created. At the unveiling, she looked at the statute from a variety of angles but never said a word and left. Needless to say, the sculptor didn't know what to say. The next day Victoria summoned the man and knighted him on the spot. Is that not a neat footnote to history you probably didn't know? Tom has story after story. I think this will be a rich week. Oh... he's also a barrister but doesn't practice. A consummate tour guide.
This will be picture-less and short. Tomorrow is an incredibly packed day.
Thought I might remind you of the schedule for each day. If it isn't helpful - tough. I'm going to do it anyway.
Leisurely morning- good breakfast, ambling walk, and now relaxing until the 3pm tour start. And now it's some 7+ hours later. From 3 on it's been non-stop, then again isn't this what one expects. I have to say that the double decker (red) tour bus tour is a great start. We were all over central London but it was difficult to take pitches, tho' the one of Big Ben, albeit without the top, wasn't bad.
Checked the weather and sunshine and mid 70's are the order of the week. Not bad, The 'meet, introduce, and greet' time was interesting. An older crowd than the last time. Our meal was fun. Greek (?) And we had 5 limited number of main course to choose from so the waitresses he us hold up our hand for the one we wanted. Fortunately the group's culinary tastes were such that no bartering was needed.
Tom, tour guide/leader, is really remarkable. The history that he knows and some of it little known is incredible. If I appreciated him the last time - doubly so now. Quick story. As you know Queen Victoria was totally in love with Albert, her husband. And just as devastated when he died. She had he statute of him created. At the unveiling, she looked at the statute from a variety of angles but never said a word and left. Needless to say, the sculptor didn't know what to say. The next day Victoria summoned the man and knighted him on the spot. Is that not a neat footnote to history you probably didn't know? Tom has story after story. I think this will be a rich week. Oh... he's also a barrister but doesn't practice. A consummate tour guide.
This will be picture-less and short. Tomorrow is an incredibly packed day.
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