A wonderful day in Paris!

We had a 1030 Viator guided tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  Great way to see it.  When we got to the top it drizzled.  The wind was quite cool.  When we finished our tour we found a hop on hop off bus tour that did a great tour.  After our bus tour we found a restaurant that served Hawaiian pizza!  Not an easy find in France.  While we were having our lunch we had a huge downpour and now the sun is shining!  We had an awesome day!

We made it to Paris!

Last night we watched Diana in her own words. I'm sure the Royal Family is not happy it was aired.  The tapes were made after the divorce and it was quite revealing.  I hope they show it in Canada!

Mark picked us up at 1230.  We drove through Hackney and Bethnal Green where some of my grandparents were born in the 1880's!

The Eurostar was awesome!  I'm glad we upgraded because the legroom was good and so was dinner!  We have checked into our hotel recommended by Paula and it's great.  Lexi loves the "beam me up Scotty" elevator.

Great afternoon with Tracy and Richard

Today Jean made blueberry muffins and we walked to Tracy and Richards.  Lindsay was there with her two workmates from Romania.  Lexi was thrilled to see all Tracy cats.  Tracy has four cats and two who live next door love to go to Tracy's  Tracy is known as the Crazy Cat Lady and Lexi loved seeing all her well cared for beautiful felines.  We had a great visit and Cec and Richard shared fishing stories!

Tracy, Lindsay, the two Romanian hunks and Richard (another hunk)

Homemade Blueberry Muffins

Richard showing Cec all his UK fishing apparatus

Another English Country Garden with Lexi petting Jaffra

Rascal

Jaffa

Jet

Beau

Ruby

A Day with Jane and Graham

Today we went to visit our long time friends Jane and Graham.  I met Jane in 1973 when I came to the UK for the first time with my mom. Jane was about Lexi's age and the goddaughter of my aunt. They invited us today to their home in Harpenden.  We took the overground train to Liverpool Station. From Liverpool Station we took the the Circle line to Farringdon and then the overground train to Harpenden,  It took about two hours to get there.  Jane and Graham were waiting for us at the station. They took us for a drive through Harpenden and then back to their home. They just completed major renovations in their home. I remember their house before the addition and it was nice before but now it's awesome.  Jane and Graham served a wonderful lunch, chicken with wine sauce and some beautiful fresh veg.  We had a Victoria Sponge and/or Chocolate Cheesecake.  Lexi loved the Cheesecake and smothered it with double cream!

Jane and Graham have visited us a few times and the most memorable was for their 25 wedding anniversary. We all went on a cruise to Alaska. They plan on coming back and we'd love to do another cruise with them.

Today the Princess 12 day British Isles cruise we were booked on left Southampton.  It was raining in Christchurch so there was probably rain in Southampton.  I hope it cleared up for sail away!

Fast train and it was so nice inside!

Train Station at Harpenden

I love the name of this pub!

Jane and Lexi

An English Country Garden

It's so large I had to take two pictures!  

On our way to Liverpool Station we pass Stratford and the London Stadium where the IAAF World Championships are being held!  We got home in time to watch Usain Bolt unfortunately come third. The spiral tower is where the flame was lite for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Intu Lakeside Mall

Today we went to one of Britain's largest shopping centers.  It's a nice bus ride from Romford Station on the double decker bus.  Nice mall, three levels and lots of shops.  I saw a pair of Sketchers that Cheryl picked up for me in Bellingham for US$29.00 they were £64.00 at Lakeside!  We didn't buy anything, except a £1 Cadbury's Oreo chocolate bar Lexi found.   We had lunch first and she ate well so I let her have it!  Lexi has enjoyed bangers and mash every day since we got here.

Over 250 Stores including Marks & Spencers, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Primark and over 50 eateries

Friday Fish and Chip day at the pub

Lexi's favorite meal and the peas are incredible!

Harrods

Cheryl asked us to buy tea from Harrods.  On my last visit I didn't get to Harrods in town but I knew I could get it at the Harrods store at Heathrow airport.  The selection at the airport is very small.  I asked them to let me know which blends they want so they went online and even got the number of the tea.  Harrods tea selection is massive!  Today we went into London to Harrods. We decided to take the bus to Hainault as the trip is very picturesque and we pass the Romford Golf Club.  From there it's the Central line to Holburn and then the Picadilly line to Knightsbridge.  Lexi is not liking the pollution, noise and cigarette smoke.  We only went to Harrods, had lunch in Romford and came home.  She is loving Colley Row as they serve Bangers and Mash.  It comes with garden peas. The prices are very reasonable for London. Yesterday they had a sirloin steak, tomatoes, mushrooms and chips/fries for £4.99!  Cec had the steak, Lexi had bangers and mash once more and Jean and I split a sandwich.  Two beers, lemon drink and a bottle of water came to £17.88!  Great food great prices!

Harrods Knightsbridge

Tea/Coffee section

Just a small part of the food floor!

On the double decker bus from Romford to Hainault.  Lexi always manages to get the front seat on the top

The Colley Row Inn

Day in London

Today we ventured into London.  It was warm and nice although we did get clouds throughout the day.  We took the over ground train from Romford to Liverpool St. Station where we changed Lexi's Adult Oyster card to a child/teen card.  Children in the UK don't pay for transit but visitors have to order an Oyster Card take it to one of six stations and they reduce it to a child's fare for only ten days.  So in ten days we have to go back.  Jean will keep the visitor Oyster Cards for any future visitors.  The Oyster Card is the same system as Vancouver's Translink Compass Card.  You can top up on a computer or at any station.

The clerk at the Information Desk at Liverpool Station was great.  After fixing Lexi's card and topping ours up, she sold us our Hop On Hop Off tickets and showed us where to get the bus.  We took the double decker bus to The Tower of London.  Many people waiting to get into the tower but we wanted the Original London Hop On Hop Off Bus.  The route would take two and a half hours. We boarded it and stayed on it for over two hours.  We got off at the Theater District and found a nice little bistro that had pizza which is Lexi's favorite meal. Unfortunately they don't do Hawaiian but she had one almost but without pineapple!  We then got back on the hop on bus and got off at the Tower of London where we boarded the Thames Cruise to Westminster.  We had a tiring but great day!