Surprise!

Tonight while hanging up clothes in Son Peep's closet, this jumped right out and hit me in the face:


Miniature Double-Decker Bus from Adventures in London

... and I thought How appropriate! because yes, this is the actual bus I bought for Son Peep while visiting Europe - the same trip that I've been blogging about over the last several days.

Memories.

December 9th, 2004: London back to Italy

Now for our return to my folks home in Italy with more adventures in store. No photos this time around. (Original journal in regular text, comments italicized below.)

LONDON -> ITALY
Thurs - 12/9/04

• woke @3:45 a.m. & went back to sleep until 4:15 a.m. Cleaned up & got ready to catch shuttle to airport for Italy. Hope there will be breakfast after missing dinner yesterday... my growling stomach woke me up while sleeping. (But it was the best night of sleep yet!)
• we went outside & caught the shuttle at 5:30 am sharp, then drove straight to airport
• at airport, we checked in & I went to the store to buy the London double-decker bus for kids.
  Oh yes, that's right. I didn't actually purchase it the first time I saw it in the store. Got it this time around instead - less to carry in luggage while touring London/Paris.
• went through security, then walked quickly to our terminal where they began boarding
• "first-come, first-serve" seats, but we got a row of 3 open seats.
  Never had that experience before - no assigned seats on an airplane? How bizarre.
• Mom & I were REALLY hungry, so Mom broke out her chocolate bar that we shared pieces of together
• after take-off, the attendants sold food & I used my last 5£ from London ATM to buy a blueberry muffin & coffee
• mid-flight I purchased a Ryanair airplane set for son
  ... and later he thought I just bought him a toy plane with a boy's name on it. No, that's an actual airline, bud!
  
• we landed with a "bump"... Mom didn't enjoy that!
  She hates to fly, and the bumpy landing didn't make her experience any better.
• on way out of airport in Italy, we met Ginger (our ride - a friend of Air Force friends)
  Air Force peeps are always around to help, rain or shine.
  
• Mom & I hit the "toilette" and were surprised to find SEATS!
  Italian bathrooms are not known for being all modern like that.
  
• went back to my folks house
  
• took a 20 min nap, ate quick sandwich lunch & began re-packing
• @1:30 we went to the local mall to "re-charge" phone cards
• Dad charged the phone cards while Mom & I did some window/browsing
• I found the Hello Kitty equivalent in an Italian store - since they wouldn't take credit card, M bought a few of the "Mitty" items for daughter's xmas present from her
  With all of the toy planes & trains I bought for the youngest, it was nice to find something for his sister.
  
• stopped by another no-seat, no-toilet paper (in just one stall) and no-soap bathroom. (YUCK.)
  Why? Is it that hard to upgrade Italian bathrooms from middle ages to 21st century?
  
• Dad returned and we were able to call back to the States from mall - it was great to finally reach them even though they were leaving for school (not much time) It's been SO LONG!
• we left mall and went out to Padengni Castle near their house
  Not sure if link is to the right castle, but it looks very close.
  
• returned to the house so Mom could change shoes (cobble stones)
• back out to Sirmione for shopping (stationery)
  I could've spent days in Sirmione - so nice and resort-like by Lake Garda.
  
• restaurants not open til 6:30 pm :(
  What is up with these late-eating Italians?
  
• at 5:45 pm we drove toward their house again to find an open restaurant, then decided to cook pasta at home
  Nothing like home cooking in Italy when restaurants open too late for us Americans.
  
• Mom & I cooked Italian penne w/meat sauce & it was awesome! :)
• shower/hair/pack more - bedtime! (get up at 5:15 am tomorrow)

Next: Returning home from Italy.

December 8th, 2004: Paris to London

Time to say goodbye to Paris and head back to London where an extremely welcome surprise awaited. (Original journal in regular text, comments italicized below.)

PARIS -> LONDON

Wednes - 12/8/04

• Woke @7:30 a.m.
• Bfst - (me & Allen) downstairs hotel, croissant/bread/coffee
• Left suitcases at hotel until metro to train
  No hauling luggage around Paris for us.
  
• WOW! Metro to Musee d'Orsay - Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Manet - Impressionists (favorite)
  I've always been a big fan of the Impressionist art movement, so this museum tour was a treat.
  
  
  Standing in front of Musee entry
  
  
  The central aisle
  
  
  Pierre August Renoir
  Portrait de femme, dit de
  Mme Georges Hartmann
  
  
• Viewed artwork & shopped (books, notepads)
  When I asked museum clerk if she spoke English, I'll never forget that arrogant reply, "A leetle beet." Note to self: when in France, be ready to speak French.
  
  
  In front of Thomas Couture,
  Romans of the Decadence
  
  
  School kids on field trip
  
  
  Artist duplicating Renoir's
  Dancing at the Moulin de la Galette
  
  
• Ate at bistro (ham/cheese/Coke Light), @1:45 - late
  "Avec fromage" - yes, I actually asked for cheese on my baguette in French! Go me.
  
• Briskly walked to Metro station & took metro to hotel where we picked up our bags.
  Read "speed walked to station".
  
• Walked thru Paris to Gare Du Nord to catch Eurostar
• With headache setting in (dehydration & lack of caffeine/food too late for lunch), bought an espresso at the coffee shoppe and drank it at shoppe while watching people catching trains
• Shopped at station -> water/newspaper & Godiva chocolates
  The box of chocolates was for hub's office - box lid had a nice picture of the Eiffel Tower.
  
• Hopped on Eurostar & read the "International Herald Tribune" newspaper while Mom & Allen slept.
• No dinner... went thru metro & took bus thru London after arriving
  Tried to dispose of my water bottle, but there were no garbage cans to be found due to security restrictions. Asked a station employee to throw it away for me.
  
• Took Victoria line to Stansted Express, then Express to Stansted Airport
• Bushel & Sack shuttle picked us up - Mom & Allen went back w/driver to main office/restaurant for dinner @8:45 (really 9:45 before resetting clocks at London station!)
• I stayed back at the room for a shower, light snack and IBUPROFEN for headache
  The late/missed meals and lack of H2O had finally taken toll on me.
  
• When we had arrived at hotel, I couldn't believe it - my own room!!!
  And the hotel people actually left packets of "digestives" (e.g. "graham crackers") that I scarfed down nicely. Alleluia to my own room w/crackers!
  
• Mom & Allen had a double bedroom, and a shared bathroom connected them w/my 2 twin bedroom. It was a good time to shower up and get ready for waking up early again to catch flight to Italy on Ryanair (4:00 am to be exact.) So, off to sleep at 9:30 pm, hoping M&A don't wake me up when they return from dinner.
• Heard them arrive @10:00+ pm, and my headache had not gone away... not as bad as I started falling asleep
  No period at the end of that sentence, almost as if I fell asleep while writing. So tired.
  

What a whirlwind. Next up: Italy awaits.

December 5th, 2004: From London to Paris

(info is unaltered from my long lost journal with italicized comments below original text)

LONDON --> PARIS
Sun - 12/5/04

• Internet from hotel (checked email)
  Computer room had only a couple desktop PC's, both completely spyware-ridden and with pop-ups galore, but they did the job for checking email. No complaints.
  
• Shopped for souvenirs at Victoria Station
  Bought miniature double-decker bus for son; turned down leather/fur jacket purchase for myself.
  
• bfst at Victoria's Station - Garfunkel's, same waitress, not happy w/us (seated ourselves, order wrong)
  Lordy.
  
• Waterloo Station - Ivana Trump sighting
  Talk about a luggage brigade. Never had I seen so many oversize designer suitcases roll behind a single passenger in my life.
  
  
  Sign above ticketing area
  
  
• Starbucks in Waterloo - we searched & finally found it! They had to have one - there are Starbucks everywhere - at least we saw them on every corner in London. Hazelnut Latte Grande.
  
  
  Perfect way to start the day!
  
  
• Bought hat in station
• Eurostar boarded at 1:30 - we had a carload of kids on a field trip. (they all spoke French, so we assumed they were returning home to France.)
  
  
  Wearing new black hat
  
  
• Lunch from food car - ham & cheese & "flapjack" bar w/pecans & raisins
  
• Kids got off after 1st stop - quieter :)
  Thank goodness for that.
  
• Set off alarm in bathroom accidentally
  Oops. User error.
  
• Fog in Paris on arrival
  
• Went through Paris to Hotel Altona
  I remember walking along the streets feeling very afraid for my life, complete darkness with vagrants sitting on sidewalks along street. At least we found our hotel so we could drop off our luggage. Lugging it all over Paris wasn't all that fun.
  
• Took metro to Eiffel Tower, photos
  
  
  Eiffel Tower
  
  
  'Paris 2012' Olympics
  (possible future location)
  
  
  Standing under tower
  
  
• Dinner at pub - Quiche Lorraine/Cabernet (wht) - Smokers!! :P
  We experienced the true dining experience with diners "lighting up" and smoking up the pub after their final meal course. Mom & I put on a good coughing production - hard to breathe!
  
• Took metro back to room
• Saw glittery Eiffel tower
  
  
  Eiffel tower lights
  
  
• tried to call home
• Called from hotel desk - clerk spoke little English - talked w/people around
  At this point, I actually tested my high school French on the hotel clerk but didn't get much further than 'Bon soir' and 'Merci beaucoup'. Finally connected back home but had to talk at front desk without much privacy.
  
• Bad time :( SNORING & loud neighbors
  Where were those earplugs when I needed them most?
• @3 a.m. finally slept
  ... even after so much excitement. Such an amazing night in Paris!

Tomorrow - even better.

December 4th, 2004: Hangin' Out in London

Saturday - 2nd full day in London, England:
*Personal comments to the journal are italicized below original text.

• Got up early (1:40 am/then 8:00 am) - TOAST for bfst (we didn't know)
  What "we didn't know" was the hotel did NOT offer continental breakfast as we expected, not a very cool thing for 3 starving Americans.
  
  
• Went through Victoria station - ATM £100, some souvenirs & all day bus ticket
  
  On the bus still waking up
  
  
  My folks make such a sweet couple
  
  
• Westminster Abbey Cathedral (inside) souvenirs & shopped at store
  
  Westminster Abbey
  
  
  Standing in front of Westminster Cathedral
  
  
  
  
• Shopped at Westminster Abbey bookstore (souvenirs)
• Line too long at Wm Abbey (photos)
  
  Line Outside Cathedral (no thanks)
  
  
• Bus to Victoria Station - another bus to Old Bailey Road
  
  
  
• Lunch at Bailey's Cafe (Italian) - bought for all @£20 (xmas gift)
  Focaccia bread sandwich w/turkey
  
  Lunching at Bailey's Cafe Deli
  
  
• St. Paul's Cathedral - went into entrance (£7/no way), was able to see enough
  
  
  
• Walked around backside of courtyard - statue of John Wesley, brown pigeon, etc.)
  
  
  
• Walked down Oxford ("SOHO") - very crowded, lots of young people college types
• Saw Jesus preacher
• Almost hit by bus
  
  "Kentish Town" - possible family ties?
  
  
• Called & left message on voicemail at Picadilly Circus
• Finally found Buckingham Palace after 2 buses/walking
  
  
  
  Buckingham Palace
  
  
• Shopped at tea shoppe & bought gifts (chocolate, coffee)
  
  Taking a Diet Coke rest
  
  
• Phone call home (finally connected)
• Shin splints kicked in (me)
• Over bridge by Big Ben watched Eye of London (aka Ferris Wheel)
  
  The London Eye
  
  
• Allen took photos of Parliament at St. Thomas' Hospital
  
  Big Ben & Parliament from hospital parking lot
  
  
• Back on bus toward Victoria
• Stopped for dinner @8 pm at Shakespeare's Pub
• Caesar salad w/chicken & Pinot (yum!)
• Back to room
• Allen emailed hubs from hotel
• SLEEP (loud neighbors "square dancing above us")
  Never travel without earplugs.

Next up: off to PARIS!

To London!

Here I sit, kids in school and not having me run around like a headless chicken trying to get supplies together, cat stretched out on the floor in my home office doorway leaving me with an entire day to take care of business and whatnot. (Always wanted to use that word in a sentence - "whatnot".) Alrighty then! Back to that long lost journal where I'm about to take off from Italy to London and beyond:

Friday, December 3rd, 2004

• Fog delayed London flight
  Meaning: we reached the airport but the fog was so heavy we didn't leave until well after midnight. Uggh, as if I wasn't jet-lagged enough.
  
• Took bus to Bergamo, Italy
• Flew to Sanstedt, London
  Picture the three of us walking the empty early morning streets trying to get directions to our hotel from ANYONE, including cabbies who (one) was nice enough to stop and give us some sort of clue as to where we needed to go. Fortunately, we were able to navigate via the map system posted throughout London.
  
• Bus to Victoria Station, London
  That was interesting - you would not believe the people we ran into along the underground bus system. Peddlers, mostly.
  
• Walk from station to hotel (not Hanover 1st night)
• Sleep at 4:30 a.m. (very tired)
  "Very tired" being the understatement of the century after the all-nighter and a half.
  
• Woke up early - 8:40 a.m.
• Tour Bus (open top)
  
  Mom kicks back in upper level of tour bus.
  
  
• Trafalgar Square stopped (photos)
  
  Mom and Allen pose in front of fountain, Trafalgar Square
  
  
• Sherlock Holmes Pub (fish and chips)
  
  Me in front of Sherlock Holmes pub - best fish & chips
  ever tasted!
  
  
• Photos at Lord Nelson Monument
  
  Mom and Me
  
  
• Whitehall, horses, Scotland Yard, Downing Street, Cabinet Buildings, Parliament, Big Ben
  
  The infamous Big Ben
  
  
• WOW!
  
  
  
• Bus to London Bridge/Starbucks
• Walked across London Bridge
  
  Warming up w/Starbucks latte on bridge
  
  
• Walked to London Dungeon
  
• Girls w/halos
  No idea what this was all about... 'halos'?
  
• Bus over London Bridge
  
  Random passengers atop bus over London Bridge
  
  
• Dropped off at London Tower
• Shopping at gift shoppe
• WOW! Boat ride down Thames
  
  Me, Mom, Allen on boat in Thames River
  
  
• photos
  
  London Tower view from Thames River
  
  
  City of London view from Thames River
  
  
  View of London Eye from boat in Thames (dark!)
  
  
• Off at embankment, on the bus
• Bus to Victoria Station
• Walked .5 mile to Hard Rock (50 min wait for table, skipped dinner & shopped at store)
  At this point, I started experiencing painful shin splints possibly due to dehydration. Ugh. But the walk was worth buying Hubs a Hard Rock Cafe - London t-shirt!
  
• Walked back to Victoria
• Ate dinner at Garfunkel's in mall (spent 15 pd/40 M&A, stiffed waitress - no split ticket)
  That's right, we actually stiffed the waitress for not splitting our bill. Such rude Americans? Yikes. Well, at least I was able to get a taste of my English heritage with a meal topped off with peas, a favorite.
• Shopped for pop.
• Walked to Hanover Hotel.
• Called home - tried from 9:40-10:40 - couldn't get out!! :(
  For an entire hour straight, we tried and tried to get a phone connection back to the States to no avail. Finally, sleep took over.

*Big Huge Drum Roll Here*

As we barrel into Back-to-School week, I'm feeling like that DRUM ROLL is following me around as we check off everything on our 'To Do' list in preparation for it all. I know, I know. Where's that Italy journal? It's on the way - no worries. In fact, here's Day #2, Thursday December 2nd, 2004. Not too detail oriented, but keep in mind that I'm headed toward my next destination where it gets all wild & crazy:

• Went to Desanzano (Mom & Dad's place)
• Left at night for Ryanair to London

As you can see, not much time for journaling but I do remember weighing those repacked bags on Mom & Dad's scale to make sure we didn't exceed weight limitations. Then we were off and running - London, England here we come!


















My mom proudly displaying the luggage
tags made by her fabulous grandchildren.