London – Post British Trafalgar Tour and pre-Best of France Tour
New Linden Hotel, Bayswater, London
7 September 2012 5:25pm
We have arrived, and come down in the world – literally!! We are in R.4 in the Basement! We do have a window that opens onto a small service area to the water/gas controls. It is better than the first room she sent us. Bed there only accessed from one side and nowhere to put our cases! We complained that we had confirmation from our TA that we would be on the 3rd or 4th floor as the rooms are bigger there she had told us. The receptionist said she could put us on the 3rd floor tomorrow but now I can’t be bothered shifting again! A real come down from the rooms we had on Tour. Marie (TA) said this was a good Hotel. By whose standard?
At the end of the tour we got off our bus at the Tara Hotel with another couple that were staying there for one night before going on another tour. What others would do such a thing??! We hugged farewell and wished each other good further travels, then the doorman flagged down a taxi for us and the fare was good – only £7.40. I gave him £10 and said to just give us £2 change.
Anyway, we are now here and have to find somewhere to eat. Also there is no wifi so we need to find a cafe close by – tomorrow – as I my tablet isn't charged.
8 September
6:30am and I have woken up. Very hot in the night, but at least we do have a sheet and not just a duvet. I slept on the right side as that’s where the light switches are, but it was peculiar in the night. Twice I nearly rolled out of bed thinking I was turning into the middle, and I had very strange dreams all night.
We went for a walk last night and passed several eating places before finding the Italian one the Receptionist mentioned. It was good! We had a glass each of the same Sicilian wine that we have at Nero’s back home in Whangamata! Small world.
We walked further down the road after dinner to try to find an internet cafe and/or Laundromat, but couldn’t find either.
9 September
7:06am was hoping to have a Sunday sleep-in but I guess we are too used to waking up early.
We had an eventful day yesterday 8 September; setting out at 9am and didn’t get back until 9:30pm!
First, we walked down the road passed the Prince Edward Inn, to Hyde Park. We walked down a leafy avenue of very nice large homes and discovered they were residences or embassies of foreign diplomats. Saw several ‘Bobbies’ outside some of them and outside the Israeli Embassy were two British Police with automatic weapons standing guard!
We asked one of the policemen how we got into Hyde Park and he pointed to a gateway just back from where we had passed.
Kensington Palace didn’t open until 10am so we walked on and saw an unusual looking ‘edifice’. We walked over to it and took photos of the amazing sculptures that were on the four outside corners and realised they represented the 4 main areas of the world – Africa, Asia, Americas and Europe. It was the Memorial piece Queen Victoria had erected for Prince Albert. He was sitting high up under a canopy and was all in gilt! This was opposite the Albert Hall where The Proms take place.
There were plenty of runners, bikers, walkers and dogs – lots of dogs!- in the park. It was getting very warm so we kept to leafy paths. Went across a road and saw Diana’s memorial ‘pond’ – a circular system of running water. We then went under the bridge that crossed the Serpentine and followed the path that led to the statue of Peter Pan. Saw two squirrels on the grass near the bushes but they were too quick for me to photo.
Then it was onto the ‘Italian’ garden that Albert had made for Victoria. Very watery with lots of fountains. We agreed we preferred our Hamilton Italian Garden back home in NZ.
We then went up to the road. We had come in a sort of circle and we were back on Bayswater Road, so we caught our first Double Decker bus to Oxford Circus! We sat upstairs because we could, but after that experience, we chose not to on other bus trips.
Found Nike and ordered our Grandsons’ football shirts. Man.U for the older one, and Arsenal for the other, with their names on the back. As they would take an hour, we decided to have an early lunch. Across the road I spied a place called ‘Garfunkel’s’ so, of course, we had to eat there! I spent my informative years at Varsity And Teachers’ College, listening to and singing along with, S & G. They were large meals with too many chips, but had a nice cool apple juice. (Update: before I sat down to type this I had put on my favourite S & G Tape – yes, you younger readers – a tape,and I still have our old stereo in this studio that can play them)
After collecting the shirts, we got another bus down to St Paul’s. Amazing place! We found a large plaque for Governor Grey, first Governor of NZ!! Also saw Nelson’s edifice. I did not want to walk up some 500 steps, some narrow and winding, to go up to the dome. Its not the ‘up’ that concerns me as much as the coming down!
When the bus had stopped for St Pauls it also mentioned that it was the stop for the Millennium Bridge, so we walked down to it, then across. By this stage the day was very hot! We saw the boat landing place so decided to hop on one and go to Greenwich. We found that we could get it cheaper if we used our Oyster Cards – very useful! It took about 40 minutes because it stopped several times on both sides of the river. We had run out of out water, so we bought some nice cloudy apple juice on board.
We went and visited the Cutty Sark! Very, very interesting, especially when we got right to the top and saw the masts, sails, ropes etc, and all the little bunk rooms! Fascinating. Also of great interest was the collection of figureheads that were in the area that surrounded the boat’s massive keel. We bought a cloth carry-bag with the Cutty Sark depicted on it which proved very useful in carrying extra purchases.
We thought we would take the bus back rather than the boat, so we talked with a very helpful fellow in the Information Centre, who gave us a large map that had all the bus routes and stops printed on the back. Good thing too as the bus we did finally find to take us (no.188) had a broken stop information screen, so Eddie had to read the stops so we’d know when to get off!
Before that though, I was in need of a toilet and we had also finished our juices and were thirsty again. We found a Waterstone bookstore with a cafe upstairs. There was a toilet, but it had a combination lock. Found out that if you bought something, the code was on the receipt. We got another juice – pear this time, and had a quiet sit. I also looked for a copy of a book I wanted “84 Charing Cross Road”, but they didn’t have it in stock.
Then it was our bus trip. Took about 1.25hrs! Got out at Holborn Station. The info. Guy thought it would only be a short walk to Oxford Street where we could catch the Bayswater bus, but while checking our map a fellow told us that Oxford Circus was a long way away and we should get the tube. We didn’t want to do that, so we found a bus to Oxford Circus instead. By this time it was 7:30pm and we were getting tired and hungry. We had to walk several stops to find the one that went to Notting Hill Gate. We should have got off there, but when the bus sign and voice said Leinster Stop we thought that should be ours, as the New Linden is in Leinster Square. We walked down Leinster Gardens and spied a Hotel with outside tables so we went in! Nice place too. Large Indian contingent at tables over from us, that we decided were organising a marriage contract, or at least arranging some introductions for one party’s three sons!
The food was delicious and we had a nice Pinot Grigio from Italy. We didn’t feel like a lot to eat so only had a mains, and the waitress arranged to exchange the vegetables for salad, for me. Lovely. We found out she was from Poland. We asked the maitre’d (he was keeping the Indians supplied with drinks), how to get to Leinster Square. We were only about six blocks away! His directions were good and we got back around 9:30pm.
There was a nice young man on the desk this time and I asked if there was wifi, perhaps, in the lounge. ‘You didn’t get the password?’ he asked. He gave it to me and when I asked if this was just for the lounge he told us for the rooms too. We should have been given this when we arrived! So a long, eventful but rewarding day. Now we only need to find a Laundromat and we’ll be ‘good-to-go’!
Later: Now for Sunday.
We found a Laundromat on our way back to Kensington Palace, and also found the bus stop for Oxford. We walked down the leafy ‘consulate’ Drive again and into the Palace Gates. Got there just after 10am which was a good thing as many people were on their way including a Tour Group! Horrors! J
Rooms were amazing and the history and times well explained and presented. I felt sorry for Victoria – so young, vibrant and happy with her Albert, then losing him after 23 years of her reign. She subsequently spent 40 years in mourning as she was so attached to him.
Vicki got the history a bit wrong – Queen Ann had 17 children who died but Prince William did live until he was 11, so she had one child to care for and love for a time. The way Vicki told it, all died at birth or shortly after. A very sad life.
When we were walking around one of the King’s room, the Salon, where courtiers waited for their petition to the King, there were two young people in period costume. When we looked at the playing cards and old rules sheet on the table, they asked us to play. The rules stated you played for land or assets, so we told them we had a racehorse back home. The game was called ‘Commerce’. Three cards dealt and three up on the table. Best hand was 3 of a kind, flush, then pair. We lost! But they fervently promised they would look after our horse!
The gardens were lovely and we ate lunch outside on a cool courtyard. We then wandered back to the Hotel. We went with our washing to the laundrette. Chatted with a nice 82 year old who is a local councillor! Heard all about her family tree. She helped us sort out how the machines worked, so we now have beautifully washed and dried tops, underwear, sox and pyjamas all ready for France.
Its now 5:45pm. We didn’t have an afternoon drink at cafe next to laundrette – smokers outside! Also decided against the Prince Edward – smokers again! So we’re going down the way we went the first night and find a cafe for an early dinner. We had a nice meal in a French style cafe this time – practicing?!
I’m still coughing and feeling chesty. Need to find a chemist and get some “nice” as our Granddaughter calls it (Vick vaporub)
10 September, The New Linden
5:15pm and we are back from our Oxford adventure! Left here just before 9am and caught the bus almost immediately. The trip by bus was good. 1.25hrs. the driver calls our each stop so its easy to know when to get off.
After a bit of wandering and looking we found Broad Street and talked with the young man offering free walking tour starting at 11am. It was 10:45 so we found Boots and got the Vicks and then checked out the info. Centre, but didn’t see anything we particularly wanted to buy as a memento.
We went back and caught up with Tom, the Tour Guide. Two young students also joined in and it was apparent fairly early on that they, especially the red-haired Archeology student, were making a play for him! He was full of information and funny stories. Talked fast and walked fast, but it was all very interesting. Trying to understand the College systems was rather confusing but fascinating. The tour took 2 hours. We tipped him £5, and he had arranged to meet the two girls later at the Pub!
We found another Waterstone Book Store, as was in Greenwich, and had a nice panino sandwich each of different fillings so had half of each others. Also shared a nice lemon tart. The latte was in tall glass cups with handles low down. Very hot and very tasty. Toilet system the same with code on receipt. On the ground floor I checked out the biography section and found my book! Helene Hanff’s ’84 Charing Cross Rd’. I started reading it on the bus back!
We walked down a road to see the Oxford Castle but its all been converted to restaurants etc. Part of it has been re-developed as County Hall. Only a small piece of wall was left of the original.
It started raining as we were driving back. The day had been overcast all day and a little windy. Sky got blacker and cars coming from London had lights on, but when we got to our stop all was OK and we could walk down Ossington Road without a problem. Looked on line and a flat in that Road was for sale for £2,500,000!!
Later: Meal at Prince Edward as quite nice. Had to settle for a NZ wine! Not to our standard but OK. It was nice to spend our last night in England at a ‘Local’.
Relaxed when we got back and watched a Poirot and then New Tricks(without Jack). The latter had no ad breaks and the earlier one only 3. They both took the hour, so, to fit the programmes in at home (4+ ad breaks!) they would have to cut them! How annoying!!
11 September
The ‘girl’ on reception said not to ring for a taxi – just wait outside and flag one down. We went out earlier to make sure. After 10 minutes and no cabs, a passerby told us that down in the ‘cross street’ (where our two restaurants were) we would get better luck, so we trundled down the road. A few minutes later, after a couple of occupied cabs went by, we got one. Very nice driver. Lived in London all his life, had never been to Oxford, but had been to Australia!!
Got our passports checked at the station (St.Pancras), and our bags scanned and then it was just waiting. Bought a packet of Mint Polos – now wish I had bought more, and then we found our coach and settled in for our trip to Paris.