Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Day 2 in London
This morning it was raining lightly as we headed into the City for our second day of sightseeing. We started the day with a trip on the London Eye, and even Liz who isn't the greatest fan of heights joined in. For those who don't know the Eye is like a large ferris wheel which takes about half an hour to go around. Each pod holds about 20 people. The rain had cleared by the time we were aboard and we got some fine views of the City. There were virtually no queues which is rare.
Then off for a stroll around Westminster Abbey, Parliament and lunch. After lunch we took a ferry down the river to Canary Wharf where Jerome works. We went back on light rail to wander around the Tower of London and across Tower Bridge. Then we visited a Mr Dickens pub for a refreshing ale. Michelle had joined us by this stage. Then on to dinner at a Thai restaurant where Nick, a friend of Michelle and Amy, joined us.
We went home for a relatively early night, since Amy and Jerome are traveling to Stockholm tomorrow for his younger brother's wedding, and we travel to Copenhagen tomorrow morning.
Then off for a stroll around Westminster Abbey, Parliament and lunch. After lunch we took a ferry down the river to Canary Wharf where Jerome works. We went back on light rail to wander around the Tower of London and across Tower Bridge. Then we visited a Mr Dickens pub for a refreshing ale. Michelle had joined us by this stage. Then on to dinner at a Thai restaurant where Nick, a friend of Michelle and Amy, joined us.
We went home for a relatively early night, since Amy and Jerome are traveling to Stockholm tomorrow for his younger brother's wedding, and we travel to Copenhagen tomorrow morning.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Day 1 in London - 1st July
The first of two days in London. Amy and Jerome live about 10km or so out of London central near Finsbury Park. the sun rises somewhat earlier here, like about 4.30am so we were bouncing off the walls by 6am and wanting to do something!
A power cut shortly after we got up slowed breakfast and showers down somewhat but we all headed off about 9am on the bus/train and got off at Oxford Circus. Being early there were few people about and we wandered down to a (NZ) coffee shop for a good long black. "Sacred" is a haunt of Kiwis in London, and is where the production of good coffee is well known.
Then a stroll down Regent Street and on to see my tailor on Saville Row, but darn it - he was closed on Sunday! Continued over to see where Amy works in Mayfair and down to Green Park which we crossed on our way for a late morning tea with the Queen at Buck House. She was home but somehow there had been a mix up with the dates. Oh well, we waited for a while and saw the changing of the guard with 15,000 others, including the pushy Chinese who all seemed to want the front row place where I was standing.
Then we strolled back along the Mall which looks like its being got ready to have the volleyball the Olympics held on it, with fencing being placed all along the sides. On to Trafalgar Square which was in full swing celebrating Canada Day. By now the crowds are really out and the whole city is humming. Jerome took us into the National Gallery to see the Constables. What can you really see in a short visit? We spent 1/2 an hour or so in the gallery and then bought some filled rolls for lunch and sat on the foot of a statue in the street to rest our feet, dine and recuperate for 20 minutes.
Then on to do a spot of shopping for clothes which Amy needs. Liz had carefully taken Amy's sun glasses to London when what she had asked for was her pair of traveling shorts.......
We caught up with Liz's sister Michelle who is in the UK for a few days and had another coffee and sat chatting for an hour. By now it was 4.30pm so we headed to the Prince Edward Hall and saw the show Jersey Boys, a story about Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. Good fun and the singing was excellent. Then on to dinner at a Moroccan restaurant right next door at which we had booked a table before we went to the show.
Finally it's nearly 10 pm and we've been on the go for 13 hours so it's back home by bus.
Impressions? The city was much cleaner than I was expecting. Lots more people around then I had expected, most tourists like us. Also the city is obviously getting ready for the Olympics in 3 weeks time, so lots of flags and banners up all over the CBD. Only two extremely brief showers of rain, so almost fine all day.
A power cut shortly after we got up slowed breakfast and showers down somewhat but we all headed off about 9am on the bus/train and got off at Oxford Circus. Being early there were few people about and we wandered down to a (NZ) coffee shop for a good long black. "Sacred" is a haunt of Kiwis in London, and is where the production of good coffee is well known.
Then a stroll down Regent Street and on to see my tailor on Saville Row, but darn it - he was closed on Sunday! Continued over to see where Amy works in Mayfair and down to Green Park which we crossed on our way for a late morning tea with the Queen at Buck House. She was home but somehow there had been a mix up with the dates. Oh well, we waited for a while and saw the changing of the guard with 15,000 others, including the pushy Chinese who all seemed to want the front row place where I was standing.
Then we strolled back along the Mall which looks like its being got ready to have the volleyball the Olympics held on it, with fencing being placed all along the sides. On to Trafalgar Square which was in full swing celebrating Canada Day. By now the crowds are really out and the whole city is humming. Jerome took us into the National Gallery to see the Constables. What can you really see in a short visit? We spent 1/2 an hour or so in the gallery and then bought some filled rolls for lunch and sat on the foot of a statue in the street to rest our feet, dine and recuperate for 20 minutes.
Then on to do a spot of shopping for clothes which Amy needs. Liz had carefully taken Amy's sun glasses to London when what she had asked for was her pair of traveling shorts.......
We caught up with Liz's sister Michelle who is in the UK for a few days and had another coffee and sat chatting for an hour. By now it was 4.30pm so we headed to the Prince Edward Hall and saw the show Jersey Boys, a story about Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. Good fun and the singing was excellent. Then on to dinner at a Moroccan restaurant right next door at which we had booked a table before we went to the show.
Finally it's nearly 10 pm and we've been on the go for 13 hours so it's back home by bus.
Impressions? The city was much cleaner than I was expecting. Lots more people around then I had expected, most tourists like us. Also the city is obviously getting ready for the Olympics in 3 weeks time, so lots of flags and banners up all over the CBD. Only two extremely brief showers of rain, so almost fine all day.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Coberamaba Tour begins
So off again on another big journey! Liz and John left Wellington on a very cold 29 June for a bike trip from Copenhagen to Barcelona. The Coberamba stands for Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona. 2600 km by bikes which we take with us, and about the same again by train doing transfers. We are a group of 14 friends doing a self organized trip. It's planned to take 50 days but we have an extra week at each end for visiting family and friends. The trip is supported by a big van driven by Des, a friend from Melbourne.
We got 1 upgrade seat to premium economy from Auckland to Hong Kong which Liz availed herself of! John had two seats in cattle class. The onward leg to London was quite long but uneventful. The flight is routed over Chungdu and the Taklikaman Desert in China which John drove across last year with his brother Paddy. It looks just as barren from the air as it does from the ground.
We arrived at 3.30, and took till 4.30 to exit Customs. Then we spent a while finding the left luggage storage at Terminal 5 where we depart for Copenhagen on Tuesday, this involved a train transfer from Terminal 1. It meant we could leave our two bike boxes and large bag at the airport. Then a 1 hour tube trip to Finsbury Park and a welcome shower to freshen up when we arrived at Amy and Jerome's flat.
They have a great 2 bedroom flat overlooking lots of trees, a very quiet street. Then on to dinner, it was a 15 minute walk to a Greek restaurant where we had a lovely meal - alas of no assistance to the ailing Greek economy!
Liz & John
Sent from my iPad
We got 1 upgrade seat to premium economy from Auckland to Hong Kong which Liz availed herself of! John had two seats in cattle class. The onward leg to London was quite long but uneventful. The flight is routed over Chungdu and the Taklikaman Desert in China which John drove across last year with his brother Paddy. It looks just as barren from the air as it does from the ground.
We arrived at 3.30, and took till 4.30 to exit Customs. Then we spent a while finding the left luggage storage at Terminal 5 where we depart for Copenhagen on Tuesday, this involved a train transfer from Terminal 1. It meant we could leave our two bike boxes and large bag at the airport. Then a 1 hour tube trip to Finsbury Park and a welcome shower to freshen up when we arrived at Amy and Jerome's flat.
They have a great 2 bedroom flat overlooking lots of trees, a very quiet street. Then on to dinner, it was a 15 minute walk to a Greek restaurant where we had a lovely meal - alas of no assistance to the ailing Greek economy!
Liz & John
Sent from my iPad
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