On Wednesday, June 8, Kevin and I flew to London (well attempted to that is). We flew from Colorado Springs to Dallas and then Dallas to London. In Colorado Springs, everything seemed great…we boarded the plane on time, pulled away for the gate on time, and then taxied out on the runway. We sat on the runway for an unusually long time, and the pilot eventually came on the intercom to announce a maintenance issue with the engine. We had to go back to the gate and wait on the plane, while the problem was addressed. Our layover in Dallas was an hour and a half and at this point we were sure we wouldn’t make our connection. The maintenance issue was fixed faster than any of us anticipated and we were on our way just an hour and a half after the scheduled time. The pilot made up some time in the air and we landed at 5:30pm in Dallas (our flight to London left Dallas at 6:05). At this point, we thought we just might make our flight, so we ran from Terminal A to Terminal D (and took the skytram). We got to the gate and the agent told us we missed boarding by 5 mintues! So close!! He tried to rebook us on an American flight later that evening but nothing was available. So we were rebooked on the same flight, just one day later. Because we missed our connection due to a maintenance issue, American Airlines was required to put us up in a hotel room that evening. We stayed at the Wingate hotel in Dallas, ate dinner and consumed drinks at the Westin, and crashed early.
On Thursday, we ate breakfast at Denny’s and bummed internet off our hotel until about 3:30pm. Then we took the hotel shuttle to the airport, checked-in (without bags – they kept our luggage overnight), proceeded directly to the pub and waited for our flight to board. Fortunately there were no more issues with our travels, until we landed. As I mentioned before, we never re-claimed our luggage in Dallas, so I was pretty sure our luggage would not come out on the carousel when we landed in London…I was correct! We went to file a lost bag report and the agent said he had good news for us…our bags were in London already (they came in the day before on a different flight) but they were at Terminal 3 and we were at Terminal 5. He gave us the option to go pick our bags up or have them delivered, and we definitely chose the first option. We took the Heathrow Express to Terminal 3, called American Airlines to come and bring Kevin back through security, and after a fire evacuation, we collected our bags! What a crazy 2 days!
We took the Tube from Heathrow to Kings Cross Station and hailed a taxi (in the rain) to our hotel. We were able to check-in around 12:30 and we proceeded directly to the room to take a nap. We slept for about 4 hours and then went out in the neighborhood surrounding our hotel for dinner. We found this little Thai restaurant that had fantastic food and ate early enough that we beat the normal dinner crowd. We walked back to the hotel to grab our Oyster Cards and then decided to go pub hopping on a Friday night in London! It was great! We took the tube to Covent Garden Station and walked over to a pub we went to last summer, The Shakespeare’s Head. Every pub we passed on the way was overflowing with people onto the sidewalks….it was very fun to observe. We had a few pints at The Shakespeare’s Head and then walked over to Leichester Square to do some more people watching, and find another pub. We each had one more pint and then went back to the hotel (so we didn’t miss the last train back).
My first pint of Strongbow in London (this year).
You gotta have one of these photos! Don't mind the trash in front of me!
On Saturday, we went to work. We stayed at a new hotel this time, so the closest rail station to us was Kings Cross (whereas we normally take a train from Waterloo). I thought it would be easier to take a train directly from Kings Cross instead of taking the tube to Waterloo and then getting on the train there. Bad idea!! We talked to someone at the ticket counter and they told us the cheapest way to get to Southampton was through the Victoria Station, so we bought the tickets. As soon as we purchased the tickets we realized the one way trip down there would take us 2 and a half hours, as opposed to 1 hour and 15 minutes from Waterloo….we doubled our round trip time because I was trying to save time….whoops! We got to Victoria Station and ran to catch the train that would get us there an hour earlier than what was quoted at the counter, and we made it! The ride there still took 2 and a half hours, but we got there an hour earlier that planned! We got on the ship and had no problems. We just had enough time to finish before the rain came and we basically got kicked off before the ship sailed. We certainly learned our lesson! We both napped on the 2 and a half hour ride back to London, went to the hotel to change and write some wedding thank you cards, and then went back out to the pubs! We didn’t leave our hotel until about 10pm, so most of the pubs were not serving food anymore…instead we found this great Indian Restaurant and indulged in more delicious food!! We went across the street to the Prince of Wales Pub, had a pint, and then had to hop back on the train at midnight. It was a long day!
The massive ship we worked on in Southampton! This isn't even the biggest in the fleet!
Platform 9 3/4 just outside Kings Cross Station. It has been temporarily moved during renovations.
The London Underground has some of the longest escalators I have ever seen!
On Sunday, we ventured up to Stratford-upon-Avon and Atherstone where some of our family lives, and where my Dad lived as a child. My parents actually were up there visiting as well, so we were really excited to spend some time with them and other distant family! We took the Tube from Kings Cross to Marylebone, then a train to Banbury, then a bus to Leamington Spa, and then a train to Warwick Parkway, where my family picked us up (Mom, Dad, Vivien and Nick – our English cousins). It took us about 2 hours to get up there, but it was well worth the visit. Mom and Dad rented a car while they were visiting and it was the only car big enough to fit everyone (7 people), so we got to experience mom learning how to drive in England. I have to say she did quite well!!! We drove up to Atherstone and picked up Vivien’s mom, Hazel, and then went over to the cemetery where my great grandparents are buried. You may remember this post from the first time I visited London. My grandmother’s dying wish was to be buried or scattered where her parents were buried and that is exactly what we were able to do during this visit! It was so incredible to have the whole family there to take part making her last wish come true! Every time I spend time with Vivien and Hazel, I learn so much more about my grandmother and her side of the family. It’s always so nice to hear such positive recollections of her, since she was so depressed and demented for the last 5 years of her life. It was a great ending to that chapter of life!
Just about to board the train up to Stratford-Upon-Avon
My Great-Grandparents headstone.
It was a very gloomy day, but perfect for the occasion. From Left to Right: Kevin, Nick, Vivien, Hazel, Dad and Mom.
Nona and Grandpa's ashes, finally were they belong!
Hazel's husband Derrick's headstone in the same cemetary. He is greatly missed!
When we finished, it was time for a drink, so we went over to the Red Lion Hotel, which is a place my Dad remembers from his time spent here (the last time my Dad was in England was 35 years ago). The next stop was The Rose Inn where Hazel arranged for us to have a traditional English Sunday lunch. It was so delicious…almost like a traditional American Thanksgiving meal! We had roasted everything – turkey, chicken, beef, potatoes, peas and other veggies and traditional Yorkshire Pudding! SOOOO Good!! After lunch we went to meet Aunt Alice who is not actually a relative on my side, but was very good friends with my grandmother. It was so nice to meet her and hear some of her stories too! Our time was coming to an end, before Kevin and I had to get the last train back to London, so we stopped at one more pub in Stratford and then Nick took us to the train station. It was an absolutely incredible day and to share it with my Parents and family made it that much better! Kevin and I will definitely be spending some more time up in that area when we come back next year!! We got back to London at midnight and the underground stations were closed, so we hoped on a double-decker bus and made it back to the hotel around 12:30am. AMAZING DAY!
Drinks at the Red Lion Hotel.
Such a neat experience to be there with my Dad!
From Left to Right: Me, Kevin, Nick, Hazel, Dad, Vivien, Mom, and Aunt Alice
We didn’t leave the hotel until about 2pm on Monday, so our day was a little short, but still fun. We went to Knightsbridge and had some Italian food for lunch and then spent some time in Harrods. I went up to the bookshop and Kevin had a flight of wine in the wine shop. We had planned to go see the musical Les Miserable on the West End that evening, but when we went to get tickets at 5:30 on Monday night, the show was sold out! I guess we will know to plan better next time! We went back to the hotel to drop off the heavy books, and then went back to Picadilly Circus for some shopping, dinner, and pubs of course. It was a very low-key day, but a great way to end our time in London.
Outside of Harrods...this store is massive! An entire city block and 7 floors high!
In a pub
My new royal wedding ring! When in London....Act like royalty! I love it.
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