England - Part 1 - London town

I arrive at London Heathrow airport then venture to meet my parents who had started their vacation a few days before me. I catch an express train to Paddington Station where my folks meet me. We take the "Tube" (underground train) to Maida Vale, a suburb of London, where we will stay for the next couple of days. I drop off my suitcase and we head back out to start sightseeing.

It is a beautiful sunny day and early afternoon as we walk along the Thames and check out the options of things to do. There is a festival taking place along the riverbank. We thought we would jump on the "Eye", a clear glass ferris wheel that provides 360 degree views of London, but it is busy as it is Sunday and sunny. So instead we walk past and down the river to view Big Ben and the Parliament buildings. Then cross the Thames on the Westminster bridge. This takes us near the Westminster Abbey, which is closed for mass. So we wander over to Trafalgar Square and get a bite to eat at an underground cafe called "The Crypt". On the floor of the cafe are tombstones of actual graves dating back to the early 1700's. Seems the residents don't mind the intrusion as it is a popular place. The food was pretty good too! The bread pudding delicious.

We spend the afternoon taking photos, no surprise, and visit the National Art Gallery to view paintings by Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh to mention a few. We end the day walking through the Cavalry Museum at Whitehall and into St James Park where Buckingham Palace is located.

The next day the weather turns to rain. But, that doesn't stop us from taking in the sights. We ride the "Eye" which is less crowded this day. We also go back to Westminster Abbey which is open and we take the tour. Next we head back to Trafalgar Square to buy Theater tickets for the musical "Billy Elliot". I try fish and chips English style at a nearby pub. The beer is good though the fish and chips did not live up to my expectations. We walk over to Picadilly Square and do some shopping before going back to the hotel for the evening.

My last day in London, for this portion of the trip, we go to the Tower of London and see the crown jewels and the home of the likes of Henry VIII and where Anne Boleyn was beheaded. By now we have a good grasp on the public transportation and find it easy enough to navigate around. We have the scrumptious 'clotted creme'. It is out of this world. If you like fresh baked scones with plenty of whipped butter and jam along with English tea then you would be in heaven, like we were! We venture from here to St Paul's cathedral where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. Later in the pouring down rain we wander around Covent Gardens to shop and eat dinner. Then jump on a bus to Victoria Station to catch the show we bought tickets for the previous evening. We really enjoyed the live performance in the old theater. We have a pint after the show to chat about it and watch some English football before hitting the sack.

The next day we are off to the countryside...more photos to come.

Roma!

This is the final destination of my wonderful Italy trip. What an incredible journey it has been. We leave Florence for Rome on the bullet train. Forget trying to take photos out the window...everything is a blur. We arrive in Rome within a few short hours. But not before I have a tussle with an Italian traveler. I was helping to carry my Mom's suitcase and it was too large to fit in the overhead. I discovered that there are additional compartments between the rows of seats to stuff your luggage. As I was starting to stuff my Mom's bag in one I realize that I am holding up other travelers from passing by so I move myself and the suitcase aside to let a few by. The last traveler I move aside for tries to slide her suitcase in the same compartment I want to use. I speak up letting her know that is where I am placing mine and she rattled off in Italian something that didn't sound very nice as she hunted for another spot for her suitcase. I soon forget this as we settle into our ride. My Dad has headphones on listening to an mp3 player and when our eyes met he said in a rather loud voice "Puccini!". Telling us what he is listening to. This got my sister and I to laugh. A few minutes later Dad gets up and while still listening to his tunes says even louder "Bagno!!" To let us know he is on his way to the bathroom. Geez Dad!! My sister and I pretend we don't know him, though that isn't working very well as we are doubled over with laughter. The stereotype of the American traveler!

Once in Rome we roll are bags for what seems like an hour looking for our hotel. We finally find it, on the 4th floor of a building in the city near the Trevi fountain. The lift (elevator) is only big enough for two people and a suitcase. Thank goodness the room is quite comfortable by European standards with a balcony that faces the street. We drop off our luggage and head on out to see the city.

What an amazing city it is. Fountains everywhere and piazzas every few blocks where tourists take photos and locals gather for conversation. We walk a short distance from our hotel and come across our first relics. At first you think that the buildings are old and you admire the architecture then you come around a corner and there is a scene that immediately takes you back to the days of Caesar. Instead of being over a hundred years old you are talking over a thousand years old. Among the many we saw were the Colesseum, the Arch of Constantine, Palatine Hill, The Forums of Augustus, Roman and Trajan, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Vatican City. To walk where the chariots once raced at Circus Maximus. To view the wondrous paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo and Bernini in St Peter's Basilica. My Dad and I climbed the 323 steps to the top of the cupola and looked out at the metropolis of Rome that spread for miles in all directions.

My final eve with my family was spent indulging once again in the tastes of Italy, vino, pasta and gelato! Then a walk by the Trevi Fountain for night photos and to follow the Italian tradition of dipping our fingers in the fountain which is told will bring us back to Rome once again in the future. Ciao Roma, arrivederci!!