Here we go again! 2016

Sunday--Monday, May 15-16, 2016
We're in the air again!!!  I can't believe that we are so blessed as to be able to travel to Europe again. Three weeks, three countries, three languages...yippee skippee!  I'm glad that the first language is English...but that doesn't mean we'll actually understand the locals, even if it is the same language.

So we take off...a direct flight from San Jose, CA to London.  Perfect!  No layovers, quicker than the usual flight, British Airways was terrific, no delays...perfect! And we traveled at night (by our time) which made it easier to doze.  Another bonus Larry and I, and John and Jacque, were seated in sections for three people and there were only two of us.   We had room to spread...another yippee! Then we land in London, gather our luggage and head to the Tube.  I hoped my reading beforehand would get us on board without a miscue.  And all goes well!  But as I'm heading out of the Tube, up a landing of stairs with luggage in hand, I'm thinking (fortunately not saying anything) that these people are a bit rude...I'm struggling with luggage and squeezing against the right hand rail to stay out of others' way when they don't seem to be doing the same for me.  Oh wait!  This is the UK...maybe squeezing to the RIGHT isn't the best way to do things.  Which makes me ponder...if we always do everything on the right side (drive/walk) does that make the right right?  Or is the right wrong? Is the left right?  Oh goodness, five minutes in London and my head is already spinning.

As we're riding along on the Tube, I find myself enjoying the phrase, "Mind the gap".  Such a cute phrase!  I hear it so often, I think I'll be repeating it in my dreams.

By the time we get to our hotel and checked in, there isn't enough time left in the day to do much sightseeing.  So what shall we do? What shall we do?  Head to a pub, of course!  So, with our lovely hotel clerk's advice we head towards a traditional English pub with a stop at Harrod's along the way.

Oh, Harrod's...such a simple department store!  NOT!  It covers five acres...it has everything!...from a fresh apple to a turquoise and gold grand piano.  And right in my personal price range.  I found a beautiful dress for my 8 month old granddaughter.  It was only 840 pounds, which would convert to about $1200!  I almost bought her two such dresses, but alas time ran out!

the Grenadier, a hopping place on a Monday night

So we marched on to The Grenadier, a charming wood paneled British pub, where we enjoyed the most tasty Beef Wellington.  And we had to...simply had to...have a bit of ale...and a Bloody Mary, the pub's house speciality.  (Side note...Bloody Mary was the nickname given to Queen Mary because of the many Protestants she had executed during her reign.)

A toast to complete the first day in London.

Cheerio!