RAIN RAIN PLEASE GO AWAY I am in London at the Palace

I heard the rain all night I caved in and went to bed around 8 actually I was reading and fell asleep I woke up at 9.30 and put the book away and passed out again I woke up to the rain sometimes and I knew it was heavy and bad. I was awake at 4 and laid there and finally fell back to sleep till 7. My room is so nice I know when I stayed there in may they were remodeling. I had a wonderful bed and the room is really nice the down side is no chair in the room so I sit on the bed to have tea.  Breki was ok had my cereal cocktail that is a mixture of cereal picked that up from my cousin,  and peaches and a roll it was good however on my 2nd cup of tea they were out of milk someone took the pitcher to the girl but it never came back so my tea was milk less for me that's ugh.

It was raining lightly when I headed for my palace tour got there around 9.10 the line was really long but I was able to go at the 9.30 time met a London girl who was there to see the jewels so we chatted a bit. She said if you see me drooling at the diamonds please stop me.  The palace staterooms were wonderful we visited 19 in all and some were totally awesome think my fave was the white room  and also the music room you had an audio guide. The diamonds were unreal the crowns and brooches and ring and swords, come to mind. If only I could take photos inside it would have been perfect. 

Back of Buckingham Palace

Not the normal view one gets of Buckingham Palace

Afterwards I splurged for hot chocolate not only because it was cold out but because of the crown in the middle of the chocolate not sure how they did it but they did I had seen it in someones cappuccino was going to get that but found out the hot chocolate had it took.  Of course I took photos of it and of it and Cricket he also posed and I had someone take a photo  of me and my cocoa la dee dah.

Menu at Palace Cafe a bit steep but hey its the Palace

 

Cricket has some "Royal cocoa"

I was there for quite a while the rain was too heavy to go it finally let up enough for me to leave the wind turned my umbrella inside out not sure if it working. They have garden tours at the Palace too but in the rain who would want that however if people had paid I guess they would take the tour. I walked around snapped some photos I felt bad for one girl standing in the uniform a dress and a huge umbrella she was obvious freezing as it was cold too. I was walked back to the front of the place and then decided to go back to my room to change wet socks and pants and have some coffee before I went back out.

The rain had stopped so I hopped the tube to the borough stop so I could see where the play I am going to my last night it. I explored that area before I went to have my lamb and figured out how to get to the play after my dinner  that last night at the lamb place when I came out the sun was out yea so I walked all over the place got some great shots of big ben across the water as the sun was hitting the house of Parliament and it looked so kewal. Then I walked along and crossed the bridge and got some shots of the London eye

London Eye

I hope tomorrow is not a total washout rain is coming back. I took the night bus last night I actually walked the opposite direction so I could sit on the bus longer I front row nothing but the best for me! 

my fave Kebab place in London

Don't bring the sony she says

A very bumpy flight over flew up in my seat more than once glad for the seat belt, the pilot pointed out Liverpool home of the Beatles when I flew over it I gave a thumbs up.   We landed early which was bad as I had that much longer to kill. For the life of me couldn't remember the Manchester airport and I was only there 2 years ago but as I saw the connection between airport and train station it came back to me. I had nearly 3 hours to kill I had booked a later train as was worried I would miss an early one and if I did would have had to pay a lot. I found some chair and pulled up a couple and put my legs out and relax set my alarm in case I dozed off I may have for a couple minutes.

I arrived to cold and raining I had to wait a bit in Euston Station as the rain was heavy. I headed to my B and B which was about 15 minute walk from Victoria lucky the rain at that point was light my room when I checked in well what a shock I walk in and I am like where is the bed I kept looking and thinking do I have to crawl over this stuff to get to the room as I saw a door but then realized that was the bathroom. Then I realize the bed turned on its side and the mattress on the floor and all sorts of things on the floor and I am WTF I was so sore and tired I was thinking do I have to put the bed together, so I walk back to the other building and had to tell them. The guy seemed really shocked, he gave me another room and it is a double it is really nice I have a bathroom of my own but have to cross the hallway to use it but it is nice. It is good size as the single was a cubby hole smaller than I had last time and I thought that was small.

I decided to walk to St James park but did not bring my sony I said well nothing to film in the rain and of course the guards came by on their horses wearing the winter blue I took photos but videos not got my token squirrel photos they are cheeky little buggers, but I love them. I walked around for awhile the rain was light thank goodness.

Tomorrow is the palace tour hope it clears up some, but I am not holding my breath as the weather reports are horrid sounding one month worth of rain in 24 hours.

I stopped at Marks and Sparks and got myself a prawn sandwich yummy had that with a cuppa tea for dinner in my room.  

Queen Victoria Memorial

See Ya Next Time London

Swan St James

Well my last day in London was a good one.  I made it back to St James Park my 4th visit this trip (yea I know but I love it.) I came out at Green Park the BUPA marathon was just ending so it was really packed. I walked by the Palace and the stage for the concert for the Jubliee was closer to being done. I felt bad for anyone who was on their first visit to London as the statues around the Palace, were becoming buried. I sat in the park for awhile. I finally saw the Pelicans up close, phew was beginning to think I had missed them.

I then decided to walk  to Charring Cross Station which turned out to be quite a hike a bit more than I was thinking. I did stop by Whitehall and saw a guard changing and took some photos.  Then I hopped the tube to get back to National Theater to pickup my ticket for Misterman. I panicked as I came out a different exit at Waterloo and wound up in a different area was afraid I would get to the theater on time to get my ticket. It was hot and humid and I was so glad I bought a top to change into. Then cooled a bit by the Thames and had an ice cream.

 
I really enjoyed the play again and I was really close to Cillian Murphy this time 6th row so I really could see his eyes nice and clear, so beautiful it was still enjoyable the 2nd time and I could catch some of the things I did not see the first time. He was just brilliant!

After that I headed back over to my new fave restaurant to have my final lamb meal and it was even better than the first visit. It was then time to head back to my hotel to catch the tube out to Heathrow and my hotel. I had done my research and was able to take the free local bus to the hotel but almost missed my stop. I checked in and relaxed for the evening and repack for my trip home.

I knew I would miss London but I knew I'd be back I was already thinking Sept as my air-miles would be enough by then if the right combination flight came up.

Eastbourne and Beachy Head

It was a great day there yesterday got too much sun though, and I did get a bit of a burn on my shoulders despite having sun block on. I did a lot of walking and I mean a lot and hill climbing it was great will be posting the photos next week.

I caught an early train and then I hit the tourist board I got a map and also asked about the special bus pass that takes you to villages/stops on the coast. Glad I asked as I was able to buy it there for 4 pounds instead of 6 you know me and deals. I headed off in search of the pier and it was really pretty there and by the English Channel the skies everything perfect.

Then it was off walk of the Southdowns way. I hopped the first bus and went upstairs for a good view a woman showing her family around let me share the front row seat. Actually the view up there was not that exciting and I missed stuff as a result, I mean the stops where to get off. There were no announcements of stops so you kind of had to guess the first stop I totally overlooked found that later Beachy Head hotel. The next of this light house the woman said nothing there. Boy was she WRONG I got off at the Birling Gap.

The view I saw

I headed up the hill and happened to stop and looked left to the right by chance and said shit and holy crap because of the wonderful unexpected view. I stood in awe and snapped away. I climbed higher and realized I was heading to this lighthouse that she said want worth it well it wasn't but the views were. Despite the warmth of the day the winds were unreal and I was walking right into them, believe me no easy task I continued climbing up and my eyes watered. I hit a really beautiful spot a group people were taking photos of each other out on this spot that was kind of out there. I asked if they would take my photo and the one guy said sure. Well stepped out to the spot and realized how high and scary it was and what a drop he really got into my camera as it was a professional camera as he called it where he had a basic point and shoot. He took a few photos and I was freaking out standing there so long, not to mention worried the winds would blow me over.

I could see the Beachy head lighthouse in the distance so I continued on I was walking backwards on the route and got further up and took my shots used my zoom really glad I had it snapped away. I finally decided that was far enough to go at that point because I had other places I wanted to visit so I headed back the route and up and down hills again but the wind was now at my back not at my face.



I stopped at the Birling gap cafe and had a pot of tea and a scone and relaxed as it was way too hot for me to sit outside. Then I went down the stairs to the beach got in the water just my feet though the waves crashed so I did get a tad bit wet. I sat on the stones this was not the kind of beach I was used to with sand but all stones and little rocks. It was nice but hard to climb back up barefoot as my feet kept sinking into the rocks ouch had to put on my sneakers and even that was hard. 

yummy tea

I saw the bus coming and ran to it but he never stopped despite it being a stop just carried on, I could not believe that so walked a bit more and after awhile I that saw another bus coming this time he saw me and I waved and he shook his head and did not stop. So what is with that, I wanted to know. I was going to try to walk but gave up as had no clue how far the next place Seven Sisters Sheep Station was the next bus stopped about 20 minutes later. I hopped on stayed downstairs to be sure I could get off no views there but across from the sheep station were a lot of sheep so I took photos and walked to the next stop East Dean. I was going to go along to the next village but there was nothing was marked so I did not know if it was right or left for the next area the bus would stop if they bothered to stop. So I missed one and just sat and waited for another I was quite tired at this point from up and down the hills.

I had the best fish and chips of my trip and I was looking at just fish as the chip order was way too big and the woman said a real sweetie by the way, said I will throw in a few chips for ya and we won't tell the boss.

I sat on a bench and ate had this visitor a sea gull who kept staring at me for my fish people would walk by and laugh as how close and attentive he was. I did give him a few tiny pieces. I walked the pier and more water coming in and snapped away, I just love crashing waves. Then I walked back to the train station looking at the town as I went and back to London.

I am getting exhausted the heat is starting to wear me down and in some ways I want to stay longer but getting worn out I have walked so much and I have no heat tolerance so imagine so in some ways ready to head home tomorrow but will hit the parks today St James and Regents Park see Cillian Murphy again 6th row center need to see those eyes again and then whatever.

yummy fish in chips in the back