First days in London...

When I last wrote, I was boarding a plane to London.  I didn't post while I was there because I couldn't get my photos to add correctly from my phone.   When I got home, I was ready to update on my wonderful trip, but woke up the next morning feeling really terrible.  Steve was headed out of town so I napped hoping it would pass before he left.  Instead, I started feeling worse.  We had to double up on nursing duty for Max and Abbey stayed home from school to help.  The next morning when my fever was 103.5, I drove myself to the doctor to see if it was strep, justavirus, or flu.  It was in fact the flu, confirmed by them sticking a long q-tip up my nose and testing.  That knocked me down for a week.  I'm finally feeling better, but still tired.

So, here we are....time for an update on my trip! Grab a cuppa...it's going to be long!

When I arrived in London, I had to get my phone hooked up to work over there.  Steve gave me specific instructions of where to get the sim card, how to insert it, what to pay, etc.  Only the place he told me to get it was gone.  So, I spent far more time handling that at the airport than I wanted. But, since I needed that so I could find my hotel on maps I took a deep breath and asked around until I got it figured out.  I finally got it sorted and my train ticket bought and sat down for the relaxing ride in to London.

Steve booked my hotel in the Victoria area, in fact across the road from Victoria station...one of the busiest train stations in London.  He loves it.  He loves the hustle and bustle.  And I was utterly overwhelmed.  I just looked up and hoped the signs were clear enough to get out of there and on the street.  Then I could find my bearings.

I followed the stairs outside and started following my map to the hotel. I should say I am the world's worst navigator. Even with google maps leading the way, I got turned around a couple of times and a pigeon flew right into my face while I was paying attention to my phone and not the flying rat charging me.  I gave the men at the pub a show with flailing arms and a trip to the ground when that happened.  Not very dignified, but I was exhausted from my long flight and just really, really wanted to get to my hotel!

I finally got to the hotel and checked in.  Again, chosen by Steve as it's somewhere he's stayed before. It's right up his ally.  It was the smallest hotel room I've ever been in!  It's as if Ikea made a hotel to show just how small they could make a room and it still be functional.  That said, it was a very nice hotel. It was clean, and close to the station and quiet.  I reminded myself it was only for sleeping - so my plan was to get out and enjoy what I was there for....LONDON!

The bathroom from the door of the room.  The wall of the shower is the foot of the bed. 

My first stop was to find Notting Hill and the Portabello Market.  I've never been to either area and it is only really busy on the weekends.  The area of Notting Hill was very colorful, and eclectic.  It felt more like I was walking around San Francisco than in London.  They were just starting to close down the markets and I was so tired, so I wandered just a bit and headed to find food before getting back to my hotel. 

A purple door complete with Victorian door knocker.

Colorful houses in Notting Hill.

Now I can say I've been there!

More colorful houses. 

I wandered my way to a tube station to get back by my hotel and found I knew where I was.  I stopped in the Whole Foods in Kensington to get some food and drinks...and chocolate to fuel my journey back to the hotel and get ready for meeting up with my friends the next morning. 

Saturday morning I woke up and got ready for a visit to Buckingham Palace with my friends and their daughters.  One of these daughters happens to be my god-daughter whom I hadn't met yet! We saw the beginning of the changing of the guard from inside the palace walls, something I had never seen before.   

The palace itself was.........a palace.  Not to sound so unimpressed, but it is just a palace.  Unrealistic living quarters for anyone.  Who needs that many rooms?!  But, there were some neat bits.  We weren't allowed any photography.  If we were, I would have been able to show you the ripped fabric on a chair in the throne room, the dust on the velvet wallpaper, the hidden door the workers went in and out of, and the tea stain on one of the chairs in the picture gallery...I guess you're meant to look at the paintings and not the furniture. But because these are the types of things I pay attention to in palaces, I really wished I could take photos of them.  Seriously, every country I've visited I've been to a palace and my eyes gravitate toward what makes them like me.  I've got dust, and ripped furniture and coffee stains.  I do not have a hidden door though.  I could do with one of those.   

All kidding aside, there were some bits I really liked.  It was interesting to see  the rooms I've seen on tv. I really liked the carriage, it looked very Cindarella-like.  And to see the kitchen things and the Queen's hats and dresses.  And the banquet room was really pretty too. My favorite part of it all was the gardens behind the palace.  The sun decided to duck behind the clouds as we were having our picnic, so out came the jacket! 

The gardens at Buckingham Palace.

Just hanging out on the Queen's lawn. 

A pond behind the palace. 

Imogen was enjoying running along the path and tripped up and hurt her little leg.  First aid came along and patched her up.  What is it with me and meeting first aid at palaces?  Note to anyone visiting a palace around the world with me, there will be first aid involved. 

Our English girls, have loved them from day one and was so happy to get to spend time with them!

It took a bit for her to warm to me, but eventually I got to hold hands with Imogen.

 After the palace tour, and our picnic in the garden we walked through the park beside the palace on our way to Piccadilly Circus.

It was about at this point I remembered I was doing a half marathon that evening and tried to conserve energy while walking.  We got the things we needed to get shopping, and then had an early dinner before heading back to the hotel to get ready for our big half marathon for Cancer Research UK. 

This is where I'll stop this post and start one for the walk on it's own.  It deserves it's own post because it was that full of wonderfulness.