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  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 1

    London

    March 4, 2016 in England ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    Flight BOS to LHR 8am to 7:10pm. Flight was on British Airways and was smooth with a few spots of turbulence. Food was good too. A friend hooked us up and was able to block th middle seat so we had a ton of space.

    After arrival and passport control, we bought Oyster cards (can return these at the end and get our money back, plus the deposit for the card) and took the Piccadilly line to King's Cross, approx 40 min. Our apartment was about a 10 min walk from there, very easy.

    We're staying at Studios2Let in Cartwright Gardens. Our room is small but adequate. Kitchen is well equipped with cooking and eating utensils (several size saucepans, frying pan, microwave, hot pot, toaster, glasses & plates/bowls, silverware for 2 people, plus serving and cooking utensils). We had a few bags of tea provided but no other condiments. Next time we stay in an apartment, I would take salt & pepper, cooking spray and maybe a few other packets of condiments. We're going to the grocery store tomorrow morning.

    Dinner at Dishoom near King's Cross, a wonderful Indian restaurant. M got a mojito chai-ito and chai tea. Appetizer was a vegetable samosa. S got mahi tikka and M got cranberry chicken britannia. Garlic naan to share, along with roti and basmati rice. Everything was absolutely delicious and so well balanced. Prices were reasonable too.

    Bed around midnight though not very tired!    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 2

    London

    March 5, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F

    Woke up around 7am and got ready. Went to Waitrose grocery nearby in Bloomsbury. Took about an hour to buy things for breakfast and lunches for the week. We put groceries away and got ready for the day. Breakfast: toasted crumpets w/jam & yogurt. Lunch: PB&J (S), Ham & cheese w/mustard (M) w/grapes, doritos and oreos.

    We visited the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the British Library first. Then spent about an hour at Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross for photos. Wandered around and then headed over to the British Museum. The tour I wanted to do was sold out so we decided to just eat lunch in their cafeteria (got yelled at for eating outside food) and bought a small guide book. The museum was huge but very interesting and comprehensive. I was sore and tired from all the walking. We took a mid-afternoon break at 3pm for tea and scones which were delicious. We finished the museum and took a bus back to the apartment. Myron took a short nap.

    Dinner at North Sea Fish & Chips near hotel. Food was very good but service was slow and disorganized. Fish was very fresh and location was <5min from our apartment.

    Bed around 10pm.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 3

    London

    March 6, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    S slept pretty late. We got ready and prepared breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast w/jam and tea and fruit juice. We prepared lunches for the day and packed the day pack.

    Bought our travelcard at King's Cross and took the tube/DLR to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Our first stop was to the ship where we spent about an hour. It wasn't too busy and was fun and different from our usual choice of activity. We then wandered around the Old Royal Naval College and stopped in at the Painted Hall. We got lucky that Skittle Alley was open to the public (normally it's not) and played a game of bowling with old cannonballs like the pensioners used to do! We then found our way to Greenwich Market. Tons of food options and we regretted bringing our own food. We bought a few snacks and hot drinks to warm our bellies. None of the art really stood out to us so we didn't buy anything.

    We wandered around looking for the tourist info office, eventually finding it. The walking tour started at 2:15 and we went back to the Cutty Sark, ORNC, Painted Hall and the Queens House. It was repetitive but good to get a sense of the history behind what we'd already looked at. The tour was about 2hrs and we walked up a huge hill to the Royal Observatory/Prime Meridian. We took photos on the line outside the RO (didn't want to pay the steep entry fee). It then started hailing! We hurried back to the market because I had seen a baby onesie that I wanted to get.

    We took the tube back to the hotel and relaxed for a short while while we researched dinner options. We settled on the Marquis Cornwallis because they had a Sunday Roast (only to find out later that they stop serving it at 6pm). Since this is a pub, we seated ourselves and placed our order at the bar register. The waiter brought the food to our table. S got british lamb shepherd's pie and M got free range sausages, mustard mashed potatoes and a red port sauce. Also M got the Meantime lager (local brew). Both dishes were fantastic! Bought some snacks at a convenience store and back to apt to relax.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 4

    London

    March 7, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    Woke up and had breakfast in apt. Lazy morning. We made our way to the London Eye to squeeze that in but then decided against it so we wouldn't be rushing. We made our way to Tralfager Square to see the National Gallery for a free tour. The tour took from 11:30 to 12:30 and took us around the building to random (in my eyes) paintings where we were given the history and background at each piece as well as some comments on how to "read" the painting.

    The tour was interesting, very large group. After the tour we walked north to have lunch. We stopped into a Burger King and bought a drink and small fries so we wouldn't feel bad using their space. Had our sandwiches in a back corner! We then ventured to Covent Gardens to meet up with Billy for Sandman's walking tour at 2pm.

    Tour started at Covent Garden to Tralfagar Square. Down the mile to Buckingham Palace stopping at St. James Palace. From there we walked through the St. James park, back toward the way we came to Churchill War Rooms, from there a short walk to Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament. Billy our guide was very funny and informative. From there we walked to a pub (Slug and Lettuce) and had some snacks and tea to get warm again. We then headed back to the London Eye. Good views but overpriced and the line for tickets was long but the line to get in was short. If we didn't have the 2for1 offer, we wouldn't have done this for the cost.

    After that we had dinner at Punjab which had really good curry. Back to apartment.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 5

    London

    March 8, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Breakfast at apartment simple and quick. Early morning tube ride to the Tower of London. Got there at opening and there were NO LINES! We made a beeline for the crown jewels which were in display cases (no photos). Very few people there. Next while we were waiting for the 10am tour, we visited the coins and kings expo. At 10 we started the tour with Steve the Yeoman Warder. Steve brought us around some points in the Tower explaining along the way. Started with history of the Traitor Gate to Tower Green (where some executions took place), the queens' house, wellington armory, white tower and chapel. Saw the armory collection then had a coffee in the cafe and had our lunch there. Saw the bloody tower, torture chambers, walked the walk, beauchamp tower, before leaving we took a survey about our time there.

    Walked along the Thames and it was actually sunny. Back to tube to go to Sky Garden. Went up to Sky Garden for some views and drinks and a snack. After which we took a quick ride to the Florence Nightingale Museum across the river - small museum about her life and work. At 5:30 we went to St. Pauls' for Evensong, a choir service.

    Back to apartment to do laundry. They had free laundry rooms, we just had to buy soap from the front desk for 1 pound. The machines shut off at 8pm though so some of our clothes were still wet.

    Dinner was at North Sea - they redeemed themselves nicely. Everything was delicious and much better than last time.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 6

    London

    March 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Slept a bit later than intended. Barely made it to St. Pauls Cathedral in time to get the guided tour at 10am. Tour was ~2hr and only 5 people on it, though some of them were pretty annoying. It was very interesting and took us through the Cathedral floor and crypt. Afterwards we climbed into the dome, Myron went up all the way and Sherilyn went up to the second climbing level. We left St. Pauls' around 12:30pm.

    Train to Borough Market where we bought a delicious lunch and dessert (S - crab tortellini and chocolate ice-cream, M - venison burger and almond macaroon). We also got some souvenirs (spices) and gifts for family and friends. At 2:00 we walked over to Shakespeare's Globe for a production of "The Winter's Tale". A great play and use of the afternoon in an intimate unique setting. There was only lighting by candlelight and the acting was very good. The fact that we were not familiar with the play meant that we had to play close attention. The show lasted around 3hr including a short intermission. The seats were pretty uncomfortable and there wasn't much room to move around.

    After a short walk to the tube, we went to dinner at Patty & Bun a small burger joint. S got a basic burger and M got the special. Everything was tasty. We wandered around the area and got a little lost, but we got back to the hotel around 8pm.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 7

    London

    March 10, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Eggs & Bacon for our breakfast today. First stop was Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Probably the busiest most claustrophobic place in London. We were all jammed up against the gate and so many rude people were shoving and pushing for an hour or so. Would definitely not do that again. There also wasn't much I could see as I was behind a small group of people so I watched the entire ceremony on the person's iPhone as he was recording it.

    Afterwards we walked to Hard Rock for Myron's souvenir shot glasses. Then we had a picnic lunch in Hyde Park. Kind of a gloomy day but at least it didn't rain.

    We took the tube to Westminster Abbey and arrived with no time to spare to get the Verger Tour with Cath. This was definitely a highlight of the whole trip and so worth the extra money to get the Verger Tour. We got to see George Peabody's grave/memorial and many other famous people who are buried there. The tour also allowed us into the choir and some other areas that were not open to other tourists. We spent just under 2hr there, well worth a visit.

    Tube to Hamley's toy store. Bought toys for Baby P and Baby K. We didn't have much time but we had fun looking around. Soon after we went to Claridges for afternoon tea. Reservation was at 5:30p. We felt al little underdressed (M in khakis and black polo and S in a grey knee length dress and black tights). The food and service were impeccable and we felt very special. They even brought out a congratulations plate of cakes at the end. A great meal but very expensive.

    Back to apartment by 9pm.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 8

    London

    March 11, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Woke up late again today. We had run out of most of the groceries so we had breakfast at Bloomsbury Coffee House nearby. M got a full English breakfast and S got a sausage and egg on English muffin. Also sticky toffee cake and tea. Delicious! We then went back to Greenwich to buy the giraffe art that we couldn't stop thinking about. We wandered through the market again but weren't hungry enough to really eat a real lunch. We bought a few things and then headed back to central London. Tube to Gloucester Road. and lunch at a little Italian deli, brutti & boni. Tortellini pomodoro for S and tortolloni bolognese for M. A great meal.

    Spent 3.5 hrs at Natural History Museum and 2 hrs at V&A Museum. Much of the V&A was close to us, possibly due to being late in the day. That was a disappointment and we wish we could've stayed longer and seen more.

    Shopping at Waitrose for tonight's dinner (bought soup, salad and sandwich and had dinner in apt). and tomorrow's breakfast and lunch. We did some preliminary packing in preparation for leaving soon.

    Bed ~10pm.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 9

    Salisbury, England

    March 12, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    Early morning (6am) and quick breakfast before taking tube to Gloucester Road to meet up with Day Tours London. Our tour guide was Rosie for our day tour to Stonehenge and Bath. Started with a 2hr ride to Stonehenge. When we arrived at Stonehenge it was clouded in fog. We got our audio guides and took a shuttle to the site from visitors center. We circled the stones and spent about 2 hrs there before rejoining the bus and making way for Bath. Bath was an interesting city armed with some interesting history. Roman baths, buried and restored, covered by Georgian style bathstone architecture. We spent ~3hr in Bath, circling the town, really just looking at the buildings and window shopping. We crossed the "bridge w/ shops" and followed the River Aron down before making way back to the center of town. Got a few small snacks. M got a bath pie pasty with meat, onion and sweet potatoes in a thick pepper sauce. Was pretty good.

    Dinner was at Burger & Shake, up the street from our hotel. It was pretty good. More Americanized than the previous burger place we went to.    Read more

  • Postcards to BostonEurotrip VI - Babymoon
    Day 10

    London

    March 13, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    Woke up early again (6am) and spent about an hour getting to LHR from our apartment. We had a lot more stuff coming home than we did going to London so we had to check our luggage. Our flight was uneventful but we had the two middle seats in the middle of two other people, so that was kind of crappy. Still managed to get up and walk around a lot though. Made it back to Boston mid-day and managed to do ok with jet lag and stayed up until 8pm.

    Overall a great trip. London is a very safe city and we felt great walking around. The tube was very convenient and prices were similar to other large cities. Would definitely get a weekly pass again especially with the 2for1 offers at the expensive attractions (St. Pauls, Westminster, London Eye, Florence Nightingale Museum, Greenwich walking tour, Cutty Sark, Tower of London). The free museums were great too (British Museum, British Library, Natural History Museum, V&A Museum). Local markets were a great place to try different foods and we really enjoyed eating at Greenwich market and Borough Market. Staying in an apartment rather than a hotel and buying groceries was a great deal. We saved a ton of money on breakfast and lunches because we weren't eating out every day (at least 200 pounds). I felt more sore than expected because of the pregnancy but was still able to do many things. Overall we went a little over our budget of $5000 but still felt like we had a successful trip and budgeted well. It was not difficult to do London justice with that budget.    Read more

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