June 3, 2012 - Orlando to London, Gatwick
After over ten years I was finally able to use my 100,000 British Airways frequent flyer miles. I think I earned about 10,000 miles flying on BA, 50,000 for signing up for a BA credit card, 10,000 for using the credit card and 30,000 miles under the restaurant dining program. The biggest problem using BA was paying the taxes and fees. This amounted to over $700. So I got the ticket and flew business class nonstop from Orlando to London, Gatwick.
It was my first time in a BA business class seat. They are flat beds but every other seat faces backwards. I'm surprised other airlines haven't copied this. As usual I slept most of the flight.
June 4, 2012 - London
After a quick exit from the airport, I took the train to Norman and Ann's. I then took a much needed shower before my nap. I was good as new.
It was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Norman had to make sure everything was ready for the beacon lighting in Elstree that night. There were over 4200 beacons in the UK and many more through the Commonwealth.
While Norman and Ann attended the celebration I went to get Eric who had flown from St. Petersburg, Russia to London, and then taken the Underground to Edgeware. He was right on time.
Norman and Ann met us at The East for an excellent Chinese dinner, and then we went to the lighting of the beacon with ten minutes to spare. All the beacons in the country had to be lit before the queen lit the final one at 10:30pm.
Beacon in Elstree, one of 4200 in the UK
We went home and finished off three bottles of champagne - a tradition with Norman and Ann. It was a long day for all.
June 5, 2012 - London - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
We only caught the final day of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. This was her 60th year on the throne. The last Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria's.
We took the train into town but had to go to Hyde Park to see the procession on big screens. There were over a million people there. We had lunch at the original Hard Rock Cafe. I still have an unopened t-shirt that I bought there in 1990. If you want it, let me know.
This picture was taken from the back side of the awning at the Hard Rock Cafe.
The celebration was exciting - the Brits love the queen. Many were dressed in red, white and blue, and the union jack flew everywhere.
Watching the carriage procession on big screen TVs in Hyde Park.
No Naomi, I did not take this picture, nor the two below.
The crowds were amazing and so orderly.
I wish I had the concession on Union Jacks - they were everywhere.
Dinner was traditional English - oh no - Indian food.
This evening we imbibed in only one bottle of champagne.
June 6, 2012 - Stonehenge Visit
Today's adventure was to Stonehenge - the 6000 year old rock structure.
It started with a two hour roller coaster ride in Norman's car. The GPS never has the fastest route.
We were warned that you could no longer get close to the rocks in Stonehenge. When we arrived the weather was nice and we were actually able to get quite close. Years ago you could actually touch the rocks. Now you were 10 yards away. It was amazing and well worth the trip.
Our next stop was for lunch at a small local pub. Fish and chips and ale was the fare.
Next we visited Amesbury to see more 6000 year old stones. They were also impressive but not as shocking as Stonehenge. You had to stay clear of the sheep droppings. Eric almost bought some of the chocolate variety.
Our last stop was Marlborough, a nice village. We wandered the main street for a while before our next roller coaster ride back to London. I thought of bringing my airline sleeping blindfolds.
Their daughter Amber was at home and she joined us for dinner with Carol and Jeff, Norman and Ann's friends.
We had a three hour pizza dinner with plenty of wine and beer.
This evening we passed on the champagne.
Newcastle Train Station
June 7, 2012 - London to Newcastle
Eric and I bought a weekly first class train ticket. Our first destination was Newcastle, in northern England.
I wish the trains in the USA were like this. Plush seats, meals and all you can drink. It was a two and a half hour ride with great vistas.
The afternoon we spent wandering Newcastle. Our primary objective was the Newcastle on Tyne Castle, but the Metro was on strike.
We had dinner in Chinatown with fantastic crispy duck - as good or better then The East.
We saw signs like this everywhere we visited. Too bad we won't be there for the Olympics.
I would assume TK Maxx and TJ Maxx are related. The stores are identical.
Somewhere in Newcastle
Remains of Housestead Fort on Hadrian's Wall
June 8, 2012 - Hadrian's Wall
Someone slept very late this morning - 9:45am. I must admit, it was me. We hopped on the local train to Hexham and then took a bus to the remains of Housestead fort. The weather was not kind to us - rain, rain and more rain. Our original plan was a seven mile walk along Hadrian's Wall to a second castle. After our feet got wet we opted to return to Newcastle.
Dinner tonight was at the Pride Cafe in the gay section in Newcastle. Following dinner we has a drink at a gay bar filled with gays, lesbians, men in drag and straight people.
We made our rainy way back to the hotel.
The baths at Hadrian's Wall
Main Square in Durham
June 9, 2012 - Newcastle to Durham to Carlisle
We took an early train to Durham to visit another castle. The castle was closed today, but the cathedral and cloisters were magnificent.
We wandered the streets and the town centre and its street market. It was a festive atmosphere with sun - the first in three days. Of course we also had a few minor showers.
The doors of Durham
Pipe Organ in Durham Cathedral
Just like The Dollar Store
We took the train back to Newcastle, collected our luggage and continued on to Carlisle. By the way, there are no trash cans in the station for security reasons.
The ride to Carlisle was in coach - yuck. No drinks or food.
Carlisle was a quaint town. We went to the cathedral and then to the castle and fort where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. She had her entire court, so she was fine.
At 6:00pm the sidewalks were rolled up. We saw no one walking to dinner. For dinner we had the best Indian food ever. We are going back tomorrow night. Chicken and lamb with no cilantro.
We walked across the main street and finally there was action. A cute cop showed us the way. He made Eric's day. In a few blocks I was asked to give a bride to be a piggyback ride. She was the size of an elephant so I pointed to this ugly fat guy. There must have been twenty hen parties (brides to be).
Back in the hotel at 9:30pm and the sun just was going down.
Beautiful train station on way to Blackpool
June 10, 2012 - Blackpool
Today's adventure was to Blackpool, a seaside resort on the west coast of England. You could not have asked for better weather - sunny and warm all day.
We started by looking for a restaurant for breakfast. This was not an easy task. Finally we found a pub with people drinking at 9:00am. The food was good before our train journey.
Our first train to Preston was first class with no amenities, except coffee, tea and crisps (chips). The second train was cattle class but only 30 minutes. At Blackpool North we asked for directions to the ocean. He said head down the main street for ten minutes until your feet got wet.
Gay Pride in Blackpool
We stopped a few yards before the water. We walked on the first of three piers. The town reminded me of Atlantic City or Asbury Park. The locals were pouring in for a day of fun in the sun.
Wouldn't you know it was gay pride weekend. The signs were still up for gay pride but most of the events were yesterday. We walked to the end of the pier avoiding all the barkers' fixed games. We enjoyed a nice ale in the pride decorated pavilion.
While not designed by Eiffel, it was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
We then walked to the second pier, discarding our jackets and long sleeve shirts. The tower (Eiffelesque) was closed for repairs. The second pier was full of amusement park rides, like the days before Disney and Universal. I don't think my stomach would survive many.
The end of the pier
We didn't make it to the third pier. Lunch was the usual fish and chips - cod or haddock. After lunch we went to Saints and Sinners, the local sex shop, like Fairvilla in Orlando. I still don't know what half the gadgets are used for.
Our typical lunch
Phone booths all in a row
We walked back to the train station, heard a loud band and were soon in the middle of the pride street party. Blackpool had a large gay community with many gay hotels near the train station.
We rode back in two first class carriages (train cars). On the second train we spent an hour and a half looking for the special black and white cows, I called them Oreo cows. We finally saw them close to our destination. That evening we returned to the same Indian Restaurant we enjoyed last night, excellent again.
June 11, 2012 - Carlisle to York via Newcastle
We had breakfast again at Witherspoons before boarding the coach train to Newcastle. The second train to York was first class with food and drink - yeah.
The Royal York Hotel was right next to the train station yet we had trouble finding it. We got upgraded to the dungeon room which was larger then any hotel room on this trip.
We dropped our bags and headed to the National Railway Museum. It was amazing, with 100s of engines and royal coaches. We could have spent hours there.
One of the many Royal Engines
Look at the size of the wheels
Next we went to the cathedral, of course. It was just as impressive as the rest. Then we walked through the old town. We saw my mother's church - St. Helen. The outdoor market was closed, so we'll try again tomorrow.
Wandering through York
We went back to the hotel for a short rest before dinner. The final event for the evening was four spins around the Wheel of York, a giant 60 meter high Ferris wheel, only here until January 2013. It gave us a great view of the city and the commentary was interesting. There was no ejection button, but the panic button would bring you down fast.
We're back in the room at 9:00pm and the sun won't set for another hour or so.
June 12, 2012 - York to London
We had some time before our train so we walked the museum gardens and the ruins. Then we walked the city walls. The were safe on one side but a substantial drop on the other. We were fortunate there was no rain.
We climbed the Clifford Tower for another nice view. The marketplace was next with so many bargains. The Rambles was a section with narrow streets and trinket shops. Sorry, no trinkets for anyone.
We collected our luggage and waited for our late train to London. Well the train ride was eventful, good thing for the drinks. The young boy across from us was traveling with her bejeweled grandmother. Unfortunately he got sick, probably destroying the seat. Grandma, Eric and I kept drinking.
At London Kings Cross we took a train and bus to Normans. Dinner was at The East with Norman and Ann, and their children Alex, Tamsin and our favorite - Amber. (I'm sure I'll hear about my favoritism.) Seven people, seven bottles of wine, appetizers for the masses, crispy duck, and seven main courses. There was not a morsel left.
Back at the mansion the champagne started flowing. I had a sip before bed.
June 13, 2012 - London to Orlando
Eric got his taxi at 7:30am to Heathrow. I was leaving from Gatwick. Alex and Tamsin picked me up for the train. The first train was on time. The second was late and getting later. I arrived at Gatwick 45 minutes late and ran to check in minutes before they closed the flight. I'm not doing well this trip. I made it, went to the lounge and am finally relaxing on the plane.
Had a great flight, but slept most of the way. Arrived home on time. There's no place like home.
