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Published: October 7th 2012
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swWe arrived into Stansted, UK airport from Ibiza. Pickup our rental car without a hitch. Got great directions to our B&B and proceeded to drive the exact opposite direction. So it is dark, we are again on the opposite side of the road and we are lost with no GPS. Ended up driving a good 20 miles in the wrong direction before we clued in. We turned around and drove right back past Stansted airport and within 10 minutes we were at our B&B. We arrived starving and on the edge of yelling at each other. As we checked in, we said we needed food and lots of drink. The kitchen was closing so they stayed open for a few minutes while we went to our room, washed our hands etc. When we got back downstairs there was a huge glass of wine and a beer on our table with menus ready for food to be ordered. This B&B/pub/hotel was very old but the rooms were delightly.
The car rental company wanted 10 pounds ($17) per day for a GPS. In Ireland, we borrowed one from Damien and used it all over there. could probably have kept it for the
UK but I didn't clue in that it would be the same set of maps. Anyway, went online in Ibiza and ordered a rental GPS to be delivered to our B&B in timbuktu, UK. When we arrived it was there for us. It was only about 5 pounds a day. It came with a self addressed bag and all so we could mail it back to them when we were done with it in London. A great service.
We drove to York on the first day. York is an amazing city. Very old, tiny little streets and back alleys. We walked our legs off, met up with an old work friend, Nancy Fitzgerald, her husband, Mike and other friends of theirs. They have been on the road for about 9 weeks. We realized we were all in the same city by using Facebook. Contrary to many of my aquaintances I like Facebook. I can keep track of so many of my friends that live all over the country and the world.
An interesting tidbit. I always have a prescription for celebrex. It is a drug for arthritis pain. I would love to take it all the time but
I only take when we travel or I have some kind of flareup in my joints. It is not particularly good for me so it is emergencies. I had the prescription filled at home and took it regularly while we travelled Ireland and Ibiza. I was not really sure what it did for me but I ran out of them in York. I was in misery. I bought other drugs but it just didn't cut it so I went to the local hospital and got another prescription and had it filled at the chemist. There was absolutely no charge. Not at the hospital or at the drug store because I had grey hair. I was amazed. I said I was a tourist and they said that didn't matter. I was thinking I should have my nose done or my eyelids lifted up!!! might be free.
We left York after two days and travelled to the Lake District. We did lots of driving around. Our weather was not bad but it obviously had a ton of rain. Our little car could swim real well. We drove into the country and the water was roaring. Across the road and all. At
one point, I thought there was white caps on the road but in fact it was some rocks on the road and then the water pouring past them. It was almost quite scary. We had lunch at a lovely little town named Grassmere. It was tiny and cute.
Stayed two nights and then spent just one night in the Cottswolds. Chipping Campden to be precise. We have seen so many old cities, they are getting a little mundane. Ancient cities.
On Tuesday, we met up a frineds daughter in Oxford. She is Christine, Helen O'neills daughter. She was teaching in West Vancouver but decided to go for her PHD. She pretty well had her choice of places to do it so chose Oxford. Helen and Christine came over here the beginning of September to get her setup and sight see and then Helen went home. We had a lovely evening. She is a delight. Focused and definitely has goals and I know she will achieve all she wants. She is a walking History book and history is her passion. As well, she is cute and fun and a pleasure to be around.
London will be next and
we will again be walking our legs off and seeing all there is to see. We will be ready to board that plane on Oct 8th. The weather has been marvellous. London today was sunny and breezy.
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