So we made it to London. To the shock of many I can happily report that the flight was fine and while as many know it's such a long way - we arrived in good spirits. If anything Claire and Olivia were champions in maintaining high spirits and rolling with the 6am arrival into Heathrow.
Our first day was the hardest. Unfortunately the weather was wet. We based ourselves at a hotel until 2pm which was a great way to freshen up after the long flight, change clothes and recharge. We walked to St Pauls which was around the corner and found a small pub to eat for lunch - lesson 1. The poms serve warm beer! Got to ask for a cold one. But given it was 18 degrees and raining maybe there was a reason for it?
Our apartment is a groovy 2 bedroom place in Islington. A great area and easy access for us to the tube, buses etc. Lots of cafe's, bars, markets, pubs and shopping. A canal backs on the apartment complex which apart from being a great place for the moring run (yes l'm doing it Wade) has those quaint houseboats chugging along using the locks to navigate the constant changing levels.
So we've done St Pauls, Tower of London (saw the jewels), London Bridge, St Katherines dock, Buckingham Palace, Oxford st, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Diana's memorial local markets and mastered the Tube. Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurant tomorrow for dinner (5min walk from here), London eye tomorrow, Big Ben the Abbey and more. Going to hire a car and do a o/night out towards (stonehenge) Bath and up to Oxford Tue / Wed and back to see show at West End Wed night - Matilda which Claire and Olivia sang songs from earlier this year at the Aust Girls Choir.
Paris Thursday !!!!Phew- I feel tired again (haha).
Interestingly when shopping for food (bonus of having a apartment) the prices are very comparable to home, but Champagne is surprisingly much more expensive than home. Still a huge variety of French and Italian wines but without the wine encyclopedia (Luke J) it's hit and miss.
There's lot's of laughs and good family fun - especially the dad and daughter time, and we're having a great time.
Happy Mothers Day to the Mums - love to mine!
The Happy Traveller.
So we've done St Pauls, Tower of London (saw the jewels), London Bridge, St Katherines dock, Buckingham Palace, Oxford st, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Diana's memorial local markets and mastered the Tube. Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurant tomorrow for dinner (5min walk from here), London eye tomorrow, Big Ben the Abbey and more. Going to hire a car and do a o/night out towards (stonehenge) Bath and up to Oxford Tue / Wed and back to see show at West End Wed night - Matilda which Claire and Olivia sang songs from earlier this year at the Aust Girls Choir.
Paris Thursday !!!!Phew- I feel tired again (haha).
Interestingly when shopping for food (bonus of having a apartment) the prices are very comparable to home, but Champagne is surprisingly much more expensive than home. Still a huge variety of French and Italian wines but without the wine encyclopedia (Luke J) it's hit and miss.
There's lot's of laughs and good family fun - especially the dad and daughter time, and we're having a great time.
Happy Mothers Day to the Mums - love to mine!
The Happy Traveller.
Great pics Cuz
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