Day 2 - since it was the day before the marathon, Sarah didn't want to do anything to tiring. So we decided to take a ride on a double decker sightseeing bus. We walk to the place to buy tickets because it wasn't that far and bought out tickets. Of course, we rode on the top of the bus, in the sunshine enjoying the day. It really was quite interesting. You get to see all the 'big' spots of London, you can jump off and visit any you want and then get back on the next bus. There is also a 'tour guide' we points out things, tell stories and answers any questions you might have. We rode the bus for about an hour and got off and had some lunch and walked around a little. Then we got back on another bus. This on had a different tour guide and he was much better than the one on the first bus. We consider staying on the bus and hearing the first hour again but decided not too.
After the bus ride, we decided to go to Harrods. Of course, we had to shop. LOL If you've never been to Harrods - it is huge. They give you a store map and directory when you walk in. LOL We didn't spend much time there, just checked it out and made plans to go back later in the week.
Since it was the night before the marathon, Sarah wanted to eat pasta. In her marathon welcome package, she received a coupon for a restaurant called Bella Italian. We decided to go there. We found a location, found which tube spot we needed to get off at, and away we went. We found the restaurant pretty easily, but it was closed. LOL Nice giving out coupons and then closing the place. But there were other locations and Sarah looked on line - yes we had a phone with us with internet access - found the directions to another one and off we went. This one was open and we were seated right away. A tiny place but the food was delicious. We both had the special on the coupon - spaghetti & meatballs with garlic bread. and we both ordered a side salad. Now the place was very nice but the service was slow. But we weren't in a rush. It was very good pasta and I think we got like 7 meatballs! I don't think we got out of the place until after 8.
It wasn't a late night because Sarah was running 26.2 miles the next day. We just went back to the hotel. Since Sarah had to leave the hotel at 7 the next morning.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
We Went
We went to London!! And had a wonderful time. I can't tell you how much fun we had. I'll write about it over the next couple of posts because so much happened that if I did it in 1 post - you'd get tired of reading.
We find out on Wednesday that flights were starting to fly. Our flight wasn't until Thursday night at 10 pm. After all the scare about the volcano settled down - I realized I then could start panicking about what to pack. I ALWAYS bring too much. Got pack, the house closed up and off we went to the airport. Sarah and I were meeting at the Philadelphia airport.
Sarah got to airport just as we were and meet me. Jimmy dropped me off, so she got to see her brother for a minute. We went in, checked our bags, went thru security and then had 3+ hours to wait. We went to find some place to get a drink & eat.
Finally we got on the plane - which was filled. Alot people going back to London who spent a couple of extra days here because they couldn't fly. My daughter kept telling me that I had to sleep on the way over. I don't like sleeping when people can watch me - LOL. They served us dinner - which we passed on - and just got something to drink. Should have brought a bottle of water to bring on with me. The seat in front of you had a TV screen in it, so you could watch TV all night if you wanted to - which I did. No, I did sleep some but not really well. I watched High School musical 3, Couples Retreat and a couple of TV shows. I dozed threw most of them.
Since it is a 5 hour time difference - all of a sudden it is 8 in the morning and they are handing out coffee and danish. Our plane landed 9:35 London time and we were off and running. We made it thru customs, brought out tickets for the 'tube express', got to Paddington station, brought our 'oyster' cards, took the tube to Waterloo and found our hotel by 1. We couldn't check in until 2, so they held our luggage and we went in search of food. Honestly, I was exhausted because my body only thought it was 8 in the morning! LOL
Went back and checked into our hotel, went up to our room and the first shock - it only had 'full' size bed in it. Now Sarah double checked with them when it said it was 1 bed and they said it was a 'king' size one. Well, let me tell you - a king size in England is different than here. It was a little bit bigger than a full size - but not as big as a queen. But then we didn't go there to spend time in our hotel room. We unpacked a little, washed our faces/brush our teeth, changed clothes and were off to find the expo so Sarah could get her number for the marathon.
Let me say, I'm pretty proud of us because we rode the tube all over London - and never once got lost. Found out way out to the expo and we are getting excited because we are in London. Got her number and walked around the expo and she brought her marathon gear she wanted (t-shirt, shorts, sweatshirt). I brought myself the cutest marathon teddy bear. On our way to expo, we met a guy on the tube who was also running the marathon. Well, we ran into him walking around the marathon and he was very excited to see us. Being we were the only people he 'knew' he should us an ad he was in. He told us at another race he was in, someone asked if they could take his picture 'stretching'. Well, they turned the picture into an ad for a sport drink! He was very excited to see himself. Told us they only gave him a bag of 'jelly bellies'. We took his picture with the ad and he gave us his card so we could send them to him.
We finished up at the expo, made our way back to the hotel and relaxed only a bit because we were tired but had to stay up until at least 9. We found a place for dinner - the Texas Embassy. I know, we go all the way to London and we had tex-mex for dinner. LOL Had a nice dinner and walked back to our hotel. I think we were sleeping by 9:30.
Well, that was our first day - more to follow.
We find out on Wednesday that flights were starting to fly. Our flight wasn't until Thursday night at 10 pm. After all the scare about the volcano settled down - I realized I then could start panicking about what to pack. I ALWAYS bring too much. Got pack, the house closed up and off we went to the airport. Sarah and I were meeting at the Philadelphia airport.
Sarah got to airport just as we were and meet me. Jimmy dropped me off, so she got to see her brother for a minute. We went in, checked our bags, went thru security and then had 3+ hours to wait. We went to find some place to get a drink & eat.
Finally we got on the plane - which was filled. Alot people going back to London who spent a couple of extra days here because they couldn't fly. My daughter kept telling me that I had to sleep on the way over. I don't like sleeping when people can watch me - LOL. They served us dinner - which we passed on - and just got something to drink. Should have brought a bottle of water to bring on with me. The seat in front of you had a TV screen in it, so you could watch TV all night if you wanted to - which I did. No, I did sleep some but not really well. I watched High School musical 3, Couples Retreat and a couple of TV shows. I dozed threw most of them.
Since it is a 5 hour time difference - all of a sudden it is 8 in the morning and they are handing out coffee and danish. Our plane landed 9:35 London time and we were off and running. We made it thru customs, brought out tickets for the 'tube express', got to Paddington station, brought our 'oyster' cards, took the tube to Waterloo and found our hotel by 1. We couldn't check in until 2, so they held our luggage and we went in search of food. Honestly, I was exhausted because my body only thought it was 8 in the morning! LOL
Went back and checked into our hotel, went up to our room and the first shock - it only had 'full' size bed in it. Now Sarah double checked with them when it said it was 1 bed and they said it was a 'king' size one. Well, let me tell you - a king size in England is different than here. It was a little bit bigger than a full size - but not as big as a queen. But then we didn't go there to spend time in our hotel room. We unpacked a little, washed our faces/brush our teeth, changed clothes and were off to find the expo so Sarah could get her number for the marathon.
Let me say, I'm pretty proud of us because we rode the tube all over London - and never once got lost. Found out way out to the expo and we are getting excited because we are in London. Got her number and walked around the expo and she brought her marathon gear she wanted (t-shirt, shorts, sweatshirt). I brought myself the cutest marathon teddy bear. On our way to expo, we met a guy on the tube who was also running the marathon. Well, we ran into him walking around the marathon and he was very excited to see us. Being we were the only people he 'knew' he should us an ad he was in. He told us at another race he was in, someone asked if they could take his picture 'stretching'. Well, they turned the picture into an ad for a sport drink! He was very excited to see himself. Told us they only gave him a bag of 'jelly bellies'. We took his picture with the ad and he gave us his card so we could send them to him.
We finished up at the expo, made our way back to the hotel and relaxed only a bit because we were tired but had to stay up until at least 9. We found a place for dinner - the Texas Embassy. I know, we go all the way to London and we had tex-mex for dinner. LOL Had a nice dinner and walked back to our hotel. I think we were sleeping by 9:30.
Well, that was our first day - more to follow.
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