Good morning. It’s been a busy time since we landed early Monday morning. We made our way to our compartment hotel. They actually call it an aparthotel but compartment sounds more like it. The location is great. Just off the Strand, which is a main shopping and arts area downtown. Mark has just gone out this morning to pick up some seltzer water for me as I am dry as dust. There’s a kettle in our room and an espresso coffee maker. The cups hold about 3 ounces as there are no Texas-sized anything around here. So, we got ourselves organized for a two hour nap and set the alarm. We weren’t five minutes into it when the smoke detector went off with a loud blaring. There was nothing on in the apartment, so I don’t know what caused it, but it shut itself off after a minute or two. Damage was done and we were fully awake. So we tidied up as best we could and headed over to see Lyn & Tony via Uber. That is the way to go in this country. Uber has been a time and money saver. They are about 1/3 the price of the London black cab. Of course you can use the train and the underground but at this point, we were geographically challenged and Uber was convenient with door-to-door service. So we arrived and had a great visit with Lyn, Tony before the gang started to arrive. I think there were 17 of us having Lyn’s “little buffet.” She prepared so many things that the dining room table was absolutely covered with food. We had such a wonderful time and tons of laughs then got a ride back to the hotel with Carol and Holly. Holly was a great driver and kept up with all the cabs roaring around . And, I’d say 90% of the vehicles here are electric, 100% electric. Those driving a gas guzzling older vehicle are penalized at $23 a day!!! It has made a big change to the city as those who need to drive have bought the newer electric vehicles. The driver who picked us up at the airport and brought us to the hotel filled us in on many of the details. Fast (speeding) vehicles don’t exist here. 😂 If you go 3 miles over the speed limit, make that 3 km over the speed limit you will be automatically taxed by the ever present cameras along the roadways. If you are involved in an accident, cameras report it and an ambulance arrives automatically at the scene.
Just a little buffet get together said Lyn! The dining room table was full, overloaded. And just “a few” popping over. 😂 Carol arrived with a bottle of Scotch for us to enjoy a little tipple. It was a fun night.
Tuesday morning we met Flo, her husband, Peter and their son Hector at platform 10 in at Kings Cross station. There is an area called the birdcage where people meet. Before I could begin looking for Flo, she found me.
Flo and I by the coal yards … a nice redeveloped area right along the Thames river. We walked around and saw canal boats, enjoyed a coffee outside until it was time for lunch.
We had lunch at a Turkish restaurant called Arabica … fortunately Flo knew just what to order. There was plenty of different things to try. Little Hector was so good and we caught up with family goings-on. A great day.
We ended our afternoon at a pub at the Kings Cross Station. We were so busy talking they missed two trains. In the end, we got home in time to tidy up and go out to the Chinese restaurant with Lyn & Tony and the gang!
Big upstairs dining area in this ancient building which was originally a firehouse.
Before they all arrive, Mark and I walked around the area. Windsor Castle is right there.
Weird glass!
That’s it for today, it’s bedtime.
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