Vacation!

I am headed to the Riveria Maya in Mexico with my family...a week of sun, sand, food and drink!! No posts until next week! Have a great week!!

London Calling-Day 4

Day 4 of the trip began with a City of London Tour. We started at St. Paul's Cathedral which was enormous and just so beautiful. The history of it was really fascinating and the art was spectactular! We went to the Tower of London next. I was surprised to learn that it is not just a tower, but really a castle that has quite a few towers. It was very interesting to hear that some pretty famous people were executed in the courtyard (Ann Boyelan to name one!). We did some shopping at Harrods after, which is a national landmark there, but it was too expensive for anything other than some cool souvenirs for some friends back home! We ate some pizza at a small cafe and then went to Hamleys...an absolutely enormous toy store! It was packed to the walls! We had dinner that evening at the Ironmongers Livery and it was absolutely amazing! There was a string quartet playing and a really delicious 5 course dinner. A royal band played, in full red and black uniform, immediately following dinner and it was such a cool surprise! Our final night in London was so amazing!

St. Paul's Cathedral. Notice the blue skies!! Perfect weather EVERY day!

With the Beefeaters at the Tower of London.

Going up the stairs in the White Tower in the Tower of London.

Westminster Abbey.

A view going into the dinner at the Ironmongers Livery.

Going up the main staircase at the Ironmongers Livery.

The music on the second level.

Inside the dinner hall at the Ironmongers Livery.

Leaving the Ironmongers Livery.

London Calling-Day 2

Day two started early...we ate breakfast in the Lobby at 7:00 a.m. A smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. That cost 18 pounds. That is the equivalent of about $30. For a bagel. Yes, London was quite expensive. But...the weather was AMAZING. Blue skies, with just a bit of clouds, and pleasant (about 60 degrees!). None of the dreary rain I always hear about! We took a tour bus to Windsor and Eton. Windsor is where the royal family lives during some parts of the year and Eton is the very exclusive all-boys school where many famous men have gone, including Prince Harry and William. Windsor Castle was gorgeous. I loved imagining what it must be like to live there. The gardens were amazing too. The rolling hills and farm lands all around the area were spectactular. Steve did some shopping in the village of Windsor and got a fabulous shirt and blazer, while I got some chocolate for my sister and kids. It was so charming and the buildings were just beautiful. For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant with about 20 people from the group and then saw "We will Rock You"...the musical based on the music of Queen. We went to the Bar at the Dorchester after and found out that many famous people were staying at the hotel (Kevin Bacon, Ron Howard, Paris Hilton). I did not see any of them, but I did see Mel B of the Spice Girls and Dancing with the Stars (my daughter and I love that show) and she was really nice and took a picture with us! Here are some of the photos....

The $30 dollar bagel. (I am wearing another shirt from Harrilu on Etsy.)

The front view of Windsor Castle.

Steve by one of the Castle Towers.

In the fortress/moat surrounding the Castle.

One of the Windsor Gardens.

No. He did not smile. Or talk. Or anything!

In the village of Windsor.

At the play "We will Rock You."

Meeting Mel B. of the Spice Girls. She was gorgeous and so tiny in person! I loved her glasses!

London Calling-Day 1

Our trip to London was paid for by Volkswagon. My husband has been working in the car industry for 14 years, 11 of which has been as the manager of a Volkswagon dealership. There were about 80 people in all, from all over the States. Our first day, we checked into the Dorchester Hotel on Hyde Park. An absolutely fantastic and luxe hotel, our room was huge and the lobby and amenities were wonderful! We arrived around 10:00 a.m., and did some walking on Oxford Street which was about a mile away from the hotel. A very long street with just tons and tons of shopping. They say there is a recession going on, but London did not appear to be affected by it! I could not believe the amount of shoppers inside the stores. We ate dinner at the Dorchester that night (duck!) and then spent some time drinking at the Bar and the piano bar inside the Dorchester. These are some of the photos from out first day! More this week...

Me, in front of the Dorchester.

Oxford Street.

Steve, eating a waffle dog at Pure Waffle. Yes, a hot dog. On a waffle. (he wants to start a franchise now!)

Steve on Oxford Street.

Me, on Oxford Street. (My cool shirt is from Harrilu on Etsy..which I will post about later!)

Vacation!

I am happy to say that I am off with my husband (sans children!) for a trip to London! I will be gone for the rest of this week so I will be back to my regular daily posting next Monday! Enjoy your week!!