So Anyway...

So, today was a pretty cool day despite my difficulties associated with the travel. I've struggled with low back, hips and legs pain for years, and needless to say, the pain makes all the walking a struggle. Anyway, I managed to grit through it to see Stonehenge and the town of Bath. We are now in Wales at our hotel and will go to Ireland tomorrow.
 
Another "real challenge" is sleep. On our flight over the Atlantic from. Atlanta to London, I developed a migraine and felt nauseous roughly 2 hours into our 7 hour flight. Fortunately things unfolded to bring me relief and eventually I could get strained sleep to survive the next 5 hours of flight. My migraine subsided and the long but rewarding 1st day in London unfolded. After we settled into our hotel room and got a wee bit of rest, we had a nice bus ride to a pub for fish n chips, and beef pie, yummy cheesecake and then a nice boat ride on the Thames with our great guide Sean. This man is the perfect fit personality wise for entertaining presentation of London facts and fun.
 
Today, Monday, we departed on the bus along the Thames in the direction from London to Stonehenge, on to Bath and finally Newport, South Wales. With Kathy having been over here several times in 20 plus years, we are on a well planned batch of excursions. Today in Bath, my most enjoyable portion came AFTER the main tourist attraction ( the Roman Baths) She wanted to go have Tea in a nice place called the Pump Room. This place was built with beautiful architecture and decorated inside. As we enjoyed the tea, salmon dish, and pastries, a trio of piano, cello, and violinist played amazing classical music. I am writing all this to you guys at 8:30+ AM Eastern US time because with a 5 hour head start to my day, I napped a good bit on our bus rides. Had a couple hours sleep after dinner, and now can use a 2nd dinner, but it is now 1:40 AM here in Wsles. The fun part is I have to be awake in another 5 1/2 hours. 7AM over here is roughly my 2 AM bed time at home.

Afternoon Tea at The Pump Room Restuarant, Bath | Searcys

Enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea by Searcys in Bath while listening to the Pump Room Trio at the elegant Pump Room Restaurant.
searcys.co.uk searcys.co.uk
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
Today, Monday, we departed on the bus along the Thames in the direction from London to Stonehenge, on to Bath and finally Newport, South Wales. With Kathy having been over here several times in 20 plus years, we are on a well planned batch of excursions. Today in Bath, my most enjoyable portion came AFTER the main tourist attraction ( the Roman Baths) She wanted to go have Tea in a nice place called the Pump Room. This place was built with beautiful architecture and decorated inside. As we enjoyed the tea, salmon dish, and pastries, a trio of piano, cello, and violinist played amazing classical music. I am writing all this to you guys at 8:30+ AM Eastern US time because with a 5 hour head start to my day, I napped a good bit on our bus rides. Had a couple hours sleep after dinner, and now can use a 2nd dinner, but it is now 1:40 AM here in Wsles. The fun part is I have to be awake in another 5 1/2 hours. 7AM over here is roughly my 2 AM bed time at home.
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We’ve done the opposite. Last time in Hawaii. Landed. Got our rental. Drove 45 minutes to the hotel. Checked in. Then went for food. About 9pm local Hawaiian time. Checked my watch which was still in central time. 2:00am. No wonder we were shot.

And so worth the time spent there. You guys have a great time. Soak it all in. Take lots of photos.
 
iblive said:
We’ve done the opposite. Last time in Hawaii. Landed. Got our rental. Drove 45 minutes to the hotel. Checked in. Then went for food. About 9pm local Hawaiian time. Checked my watch which was still in central time. 2:00am. No wonder we were shot.

And so worth the time spent there. You guys have a great time. Soak it all in. Take lots of photos.
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I'm letting Kathy take the pics. Her phone is 100x better than mine.

Here are a few in The Pump Room that others have posted.


Oh and @SG John was so right about scads of bicycles and left side of road driving.
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
I'm letting Kathy take the pics. Her phone is 100x better than mine.

Here are a few in the pump room that others have posted.


Oh and @SG John was so right about scads of bicycles and left side of road driving.
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Seeing Champaign’s flutes in some of the photos. If I remember right. I had a fish taco and a Mai Tai. It was good. Betting the food you’re having is gooder.
 
iblive said:
Isn’t it like 3am there?
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It's 10:40 Eastern, 3:40 UK time. We wake in around 3 more hours then have a bit of breakfast and then head out to where a Ferry will ride us over to Ireland. I'm excited now since I'm slowly gaining on the missed sleep. Between naps on the bus, and a few hours sleep after dinner. If I zonk out for 3 more, I should be recharged.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Yup. Trying to remember the pub name from Sunday evening. It was called Nags Head Pub.
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Which one? There are at least six Nag's Head Pubs in London. I've probably hit one or two. One of my biggest complaints about flying to Europe is that the flights get in so early. They want to flip the planes as fast as possible, and when my flight from Boston to Heathrow usually gets in at 6:30 and we make it to customs just as they're opening at 7:00, the out bound flight on that plane usually leaves between 8:00 and 9:00.

Kathy should know this, but I'll remind you anyway. Get to Heathrow three hours before your scheduled departure. The airport is huge, and there is a lot of walking involved to get from check-in, through security, then to the gates. You'll barely have time to grab a few trinkets at duty-free. I'm usually the first or second in line when the ticket counter opens at 5:00 to catch my 8:00 flight.

Have fun!

:cheers:
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Yup. Trying to remember the pub name from Sunday evening. It was called Nags Head Pub.
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It is 5:30pm back home, 10:30 here in Dublin.. We toured the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford before our bus took us to Kilkenny.. This was a fun town to take a trolley ride all around the sites. Stopped for a delicious salmon and veggies lunch a walk around a castle and then back on the bus to Dublin. After settling in at our hotel, we had a nice excursion off to a venue for Irish dancing, live Irish music and some delicious dinner.. Can't wait to Zzzzz and see more of Dublin tomorrow..
 
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