mosaic road

London Day 7

Our final day ! We decided to squeeze in as many sights as possible today plus do our last minute shopping. We spent a lot of the day walking but resorted to the overcrowded tube when it got dark and frosty late this afternoon. Our itinerary included Carnaby St, Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, Soho, Chinatown, the West End theatre district and a walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace. S even ran into an old school friend serving in Mimco in Covent Garden - talk about a small world !! It was a very overcast, grey day which meant all the Christmas lights were visible and twinkling all day but such bad light makes taking photos pretty tricky with my point and shoot. The first photo is of Foyles, a famous Charing Cross bookstore that if spread out would cover 7 miles. The London sales are full of temptations and our cases are just bursting. The dread of having excess baggage hangs over us. Our taxi to the airport is booked and our online check in complete. No further blogging till my long haul flight home is behind me. Goodbye London.

London Day 6

We departed our B&B today and took a taxi to Hyde Park for 2 nights in a hotel. A new, gigantic suitcase was purchased as my travelling companion was in dire need of new luggage. We did attempt to send some clothing home but British Post was enjoying a public holiday. After checking in to the Ramada we took a long walk through Hyde Park. It was dismally grey and drizzly but the ducks and swans were out in full force. We saw loads of dogs enjoying the open spaces and horses being ridden around the perimeter and Hyde Park corner was full of the usual types on megaphones and soap boxes. We walked to Knightsbridge and Harrods. Once again the sales had drawn seething crowds. We met up with L and A and went to a delightful cafe across from Harrods. Grandma had given us some English pounds to spend on some Christmas cheer so I enjoyed a glass of rose prosecco - thanks Grandma ! After this we meandered home still in the grey drizzle making purchases at Topshop on the way.

 

 

 

 

 

London Day 5

Today, unlike many others on this holiday, we got an early start and headed into the city to walk across Tower Bridge, it spans the Thames and was built in 1894. Then we headed to lunch with old family friends who live very close to Hampton Court Palace. We went by train to Surbiton from Waterloo. By the time we headed back it was dark. It gets dark here by 4pm !! I, then, had an appointment with a local hairdresser here in Golders Green to adddress my depressingly grey hairline. I left the salon with copper highlights so will return home with a little bit of new look. Tomorrow we pack up our spread out belongings - it doesn't take us long to make a big mess it seems. We move into a hotel on Hyde Park just for the 2 nights ahead of our return to Melbourne. Our luggage seems to have expanded every time we move possibly resembling our waistlines !!

 

 

London Day 4

Boxing Day - the origin, I think, comes from the olden days in England when the rich boxed up their Xmas Day leftovers for the poor. I am of the opinion that not one zot of boxing went on today as everyone seemed to be at the Boxing Day sales, including us !! The Underground was at a total halt due to a train driver's strike so we navigated our way round today via the British bus system to Hamstead and then onto Brent Cross. Hampstead Heath is huge and snow covered and Hampstead Village is charming , quaint and full of boutiques and cafes and winding laneways and we took a delicious coffee break here. Apparently it is home to many, many millionaires. By contrast, Brent Cross was grey, bleak with snarling traffic jams and the shopping centre was just seething pandemonium, repeat, seething. Zara and Gap were an unadulterated bunfight. I found some great bargains but abandoned even trying to make a purchase as the queues at the registers were, it seemed, trying - and successfully - to set new Guiness World records. So we made an escape and it was back on the bus for us . Our day ended with the most fabulous Asian buffet and I must wax a bit lyrical here. Sumptuous is the word that comes to mind. The girls had a pre dinner nap and had worked up an appetite. There was huge choice and all freshly made with about a mile of condiments. Our dessert was coconut milk and tapioca, a delicious end to Boxing Day.

 

London Day 3

Today is Christmas Day and we are having a white Christmas !! We had a booking for high tea at the Dorchester BUT there is NO public transport in London of any type running on Christmas Day so we had to cancel. Luckily for us though we are staying in a very Jewish part of London and lots of shops and cafes were open. We had a lovely brunch that even included an Oreo milkshake after spending time on skype to Australia. I then walked off the excesses of the morning before having a quiet Irish coffee over a magazine mid afternoon. Top Gear then dominated our afternoon as it was on TV back to back most of the day. It is a show with such hilarious commentary that it often makes me laugh till I cry !!! By the time we walked back from a not very conventional Christmas dinner it was minus 5 C and we were all replete after an enormous Turkish meal. The serves were gi-enormous. All in all our day has been great, yes a far cry from how we would have spent it if we had been at home but none of us would have missed this opportunity for "quids".

 

London Day 2

We have had yet another FABULOUS day. After a classic English breakfast , enjoyed whilst watching little grey squirrels playing in the snow we headed for the Tube. Our destination was Notting Hill and the Portobello Rd markets. It was all such fun - so many stalls - antiques, fruit, veg, fish, mittens, jewellery, vintage furs and loads more. We stood in a long queue in the Hummingbird Bakery - cupcake heaven ! You might want to click here ! We did indulge ! An antique teddy  caught my eye and  according to the vendor is over 100 years old. We could not leave a nearly threadbare bear sitting in the cold market so he/she/it will be making a new home in Melbourne. The girls picked up bits and pieces as we wandered along and of course we visited The Travel Book Shop made famous in the movie "Notting Hill". Now we are back at the B&B armed with cupcakes and magazines . Our Christmas Eve will be spent relaxing and hoping Santa will drop in and watching our favourite movies, Parent Trap and Chocolat. HAPPY, HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!

 

London Day 1

We had an early departure from Prague but a late and delayed arrival into Heathrow - no surprises there !! We are now a threesome for the next 5 days as daughter18 flew in to Heathrow also today so we had a mini family reunion at Terminal 4. We also had an horrendously expensive taxi trip to our B&B in Golders Green. I have to move on from thinking about the cost and appreciate that we all are here together safe and sound and it would have be inordinately difficult mobilizing 3 of us and all our luggage via several different train lines. The B&B is great in fact and 4 minutes from loads of shops and the station. We have  a generous sized room with 2 singles and a double bed - see pic of jet lagged child -  we also have a bath and the luxury of free WIFI and the best thing is that I spotted my first grey squirrel in the snowy garden here. Tonight we had a fabulous dinner with friends in Greenwich and my children were all together in one room for the first time in close to 18 months . We trekked over icy pavements and took two trains to get there wearing our snow boots and carrying good shoes to wear at dinner. It was the first time we had "dressed up" so to speak whilst on this trip. We are in dire need of a landromat but that comes at the bottom of the list when we have London to explore.

 

 

Prague Day 3

We had a list of sights still to see on this our last day in Prague. We did manage to squeeze most of them into our morning as today after lunch we said a sad goodbye to J. It was just wonderful to share our visit to Prague with such a darling girl. Our first photo stop was a contemporary building inspired by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire called the Dancing House.Then further meanderings bought us to the Old Town and J made souvenir purchases and I bought more raspberries still at the bargain price of 50 cents per punnet. We had a coffee stop at a big and beautiful city coffee house called Cafe Louvre. It has been serving coffee and cake for well over 100 years. The main form of public transport is the tram it seems. I thought Melbourne's trams were unique but we have seen them now in all 3 cities. We made a final trip out in the early dark to the closest cluster of Xmas markets and bought some edible gifts to take to friends in London. Now for the dreaded packing !! Goodbye Prague.

Prague Day 2

Our day of sightseeing in Prague has been non-stop sensory and visual overload. We have crunched over many kilometres of snowy pavements and oohed and aahed over the most glorious architecture, the exquisite Czech handicrafts, marzipan in all forms, the Astonomical clock, more Christmas markets and taken 109 photos !! It has been a day full of awe and icicles . I purchased raspberries and blackberries for 50 cents a punnet and we all bought fur trimmed snoods to stave off the arctic chills. We have eaten gnocchi and marzipan, drunk hot, honeyed mead and capuccinos, eaten coils of licorice and large fragile wafers , stared agog at the amount of absinthe for sale and walked and walked. We crossed the famous Charles Bridge and wandered the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, loved Cafe Slavia founded in 1881, paid our respects at the Jewish Cemetery and marvelled at palaces and cathedral spires. It was just the most wonderful and memorable day.

Prague Day 1

We left our hotel at 0730 and took a train to Prague. Waiting at Bratislava station was chaotic as the platform number of the designated departing train comes up on a screen at the last minute resulting in a type of Slov.akian stampede. No travelators either, only stairs - not so user friendly for those with luggage or babies in prams !!! We are staying in a great little hotel and tonight a friend is flying in to make us a party of three for the next 2 nights. This afternoon we navigated the postal system of the Czech Republic and managed to send a parcel home by sea. We walked into town via very icy pavements and walked back again in softly falling snow. Purchases were made at Sepahora as we do not have this marvellous store in Melbourne. Warm apple strudel was our very late lunch. We perused the glittering Xmas markets but only briefly as we are saving this treat to enjoy with J.