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Published: June 16th 2017
Kensington Palace Gate
In our Metro jackets of courseGeo: 51.5002, -0.126236
We arrived in London last night, getting in around 10 pm. Started the day with a flight out of St Louis at 5 am. We flew American. When we booked our flight ages ago, the seat configuration was for 2 seats, aisle, 3 seats, aisle and another 2 seats. Dot and I of course reserved 2 seats so we would be on the aisle and window and still be able to get up and walk around periodically. (Our sisters will understand).
But, the plane changed at some point to a larger plane with a configuration of 3 seats, aisle, 3 seats, aisle, 3 seats. The airline kept us in our same seats, but now they were a window and Middle – no aisle (the Horror).
We didn't realize this until we were checking in on-line. We tried to change our seats on-line with no luck. We called customer service and they said it had to be done at the airport. When we checked in at Lambert, they said it had to be done at the Chicago gate, because the flight was oversold. We had a lengthy layover in Chicago so we crossed our fingers. In Chicago, there was an empty American
Kensington Garden
A view of the special memorial garden planted for Princess Diana, called the White Garden Customer Service Counter and this really nice lady helped us and said of course there were aisle seats available and she ended up giving us 2 aisle seats right across from each other. PERFECT!
For some reason, I was in an earlier boarding group, so I boarded before Dot and nabbed my nice aisle seat and settled in. Dot finally shows up on the plane and tells me we are back to our original seats. She got stopped at boarding because the boarding pass the nice lady gave her was for someone else. Panic time for Dot. We really aren't sure what happened, but we ended up in a window and middle seat for the 7+ hours flight, and next to us with was a lady with a broken foot who could barely move. Thus….trapped. I had only ½ can of Coke all day yesterday and very little water. My sisters will understand.
But we survived and breezed through Customs that late at night. The cabs and cab drivers are so nice in London. We had a brand new cab with only 200 miles on it. Although the driver looked a little worried because we were carrying a McDonald's bag and
I don't think he wanted us eating in his new cab. We were just using it for storage. I had breakfast at McDonalds at the Chicago airport.
Had a nice breakfast at our B&B. Showered in our tiny shower. I can't even turn around in it without bumping into something. Our room in London is tiny, but they have an ice machine and we like the neighborhood – South Kensington.
Beautiful day today. Sunshine and 61 degrees. Chilly wind. 2:30 pm and I already have over 10,000 steps. We walked all over this morning. We walked to Kensington Park and went to Kensington Palace. The line was too long to go inside and see the Princess Diana dress exhibit, but we toured Kensington Gardens where they have designed a special White Garden as a memorial to Diana. See the pictures below. Very well done. We tried to sneak into the dress exhibit via the Gift Shop but couldn't quite manage it. Gary would have been proud of our attempt. He is the king of sneaking in places. But, I found my Short Bread Cookies in their gift shop. Mid morning snack-yumm.
When we left Kensington Palace we walked around to the front but
you couldn't see much. Very gated and private, and there were signs everyone that said "no pictures". Across the street was the Israeli Embassy. There were 3 guards out front with machine guns. Also signs that said No Photos. We decided not to risk it.
Walking around today, we passed a lot of embassies: Yemen, Romania and Bulgaria, which had about 20 people in line outside. Not sure why.
We decided to conquer the Tube and purchase our Oyster Card, which allows us to go on and off easier. Of course, the service window with a live person wasn't open, which our hero, Rick Steves says to use, so we had to use the automated machine. There was a whole bunch of people in line, but there were several free machines, so we just jumped ahead. I am sure we violated some etiquette, but no one yelled. We each got our card, but I was having trouble entering the train area with my card. Dot was right behind me and she swipes hers, so I walk through. Then she is stuck out there with a “used” card. Oops. I handed her mine, but that didn't work. We kept trading cards but
We walked by Whole Foods
It was the biggest Whole Foods I have every seen. Multiple floors. All kinds of crazy items, and on a Monday morning it was a happening place. Many displays laid out on open display like a Market Day. Really cool. she couldn't get through. Finally some security guy comes up and asks for my card and swipes her through easily. I think he was watching the entire fiasco because he knew exactly which card would work even though we switched several times. I didn't even know which one I had anymore. Men.
We took the Tube to the Victoria and Albert Museum. They have a nicely done fashion exhibit, some pictures below and a lot of art and historical stuff. Plus it is a gorgeous building. Had a nice lunch there and did a little shopping.
This afternoon we walked all over the Theatre District. Picked up my ticket for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the box office. Happy picture below. We found all of our theatres we need for this trip. It is wonderful to have GPS on the phone these days. Found things much easier, though it really drains the battery fast. So many streets here change names along the way, streets disappear and re-appear later one block over. Crazy. We were in Piccadilly Circus area looking a little lost and this Brit walks up to us to see if we need help. I think that is actually
his job. He gave us great directions and we kept going.
We passed so many American restaurants, it's just crazy. Chipotle, Subway, Five Guys Burgers, of course McDonalds. Dot wanted to use the restroom at McDonalds, so I said I would get a soda (big sacrifice). The McDonalds are SO different here. I had to order at a kiosk – see picture below-no other option. For some reason, my kiosk was in French. Couldn't order my soda half diet and half regular on a kiosk, but it still tasted pretty good. They are totally Chip and Pin here with the credit cards. Every time I used my credit card I have to enter the PIN.
We are getting used to the traffic again. We just have to look both ways because we can never remember which way the traffic is coming. Mainly, we follow everyone else. Nobody around here waits for the WALK sign. I guess I don't at home either, but here it seems so much scarier.
Had a light dinner down the street, then Dot had her “Luxury Gelato”. She said it was pretty good. I am enjoying my bottle of Pepsi that we searched all of London for over
Victoria & Albert Museum
A look from the courtyard. Interior courtyard totally surrounded by the museum. Beautiful day today. A lot of people were sitting outside in the courtyard enjoying the weather. by B&B large glass of ice (our B&B caters to Americans). 19,000 steps today.
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Maggie
non-member comment
There's got to be a story about the Pork Belly!!