Annette's Visit to London (Part III) - Go West Young Man [and Woman]

On Friday morning, we rented a car and drove west. At first we were considering spending 2 days in the Cotswolds but decided we were feeling a bit more adventurous. So, we just kept driving. We stopped for lunch in Bristol - visited their lovely cathedral and had a nice walk around.



Then, we went on to Wales and decided to stay in Cardiff (Caerdydd). We arrived a little late to see the castle that evening, so we settle for a nice walk around town. We had dinner at a theatre turned pub with a good view of the passers-by on the street below. The prices were so much more reasonable than London! We spent the night at The Big Sleep - an interesting B&B with a hostel feel in a converted office block. Evidently, John Malkovich is a silent partner in the venture. His impact is apparent in the various pictures on the walls, including in our room.











On Saturday morning, we had a lovely breakfast and then headed to Cardiff Castle. We had a good time touring the Victorian living areas and the Norman keep on the grounds.

After the castle, we started the trip back to England. We spent a few hours driving through the Cotswalds to find out what the fuss is all about. They were nice quaint villages and lovely countryside - though we are sure we have seen quainter and lovelier elsewhere. It was a nice time.





We ended the day with a stop at a pub for dinner and then Annette had to be dropped off at the airport for the long ride back home.

Annette's Visit to London (Part II) - The Bloody Tower

After we flew back into London, took the train and the tube back to the apartment, we headed off to see the Tower of London. It is supposed to be one of the best things to see in London and it did not disappoint.

We started with a beefeater-led tour and then were free to explore on our own. There were many exhibits and reenactments to enjoy.













After that was done, we hit the half price ticket booth in Leicester ("lester") Square and decided to see Stomp. London is a fabulous place for seeing shows - because they are plentiful and no one looks at you twice if you show up in jeans and an old navy fleece. Stomp was very entertaining and a nice way to wrap up the day.

Pisa

After having our fill of Florentine art and churches, we headed on the Pisa. We heard they have some sort of tower there that leans. After a short train ride from Florence to Pisa, we made our way to the Square of Miracles and there it was. It really does lean.



The first order of business was taking the obligatory pictures of holding up and leaning on the tower.











With that done, we moved on to a visit in the cathedral, which was beautiful.

We chose not to climb the tower as it would have cost us 15 euro each. My mother tells me that I have been there, done that, at the age of 7 so I do not feel that I have missed anything.

Bright and extremely early the next morning, we arrived at the Pisa airport for our 6:35AM flight back to jolly old England.

Florence

Ah, Tuscany. Such a wonderful place!! We arrived around 4pm in Florence and still had plenty of time to walk around after checking in to our hotel. We stayed near the train station and all of the important sights were within walking distance. So we, along with about a million tourists of all varieties (many Americans), headed to the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and to see the statues in the Piazza del Signore.



On the way, we passed through Cararra - at first we thought there were glaciers and then we realized it was mountains of marble.




The next morning, we were ambitious and climbed up a hill over town for the nice views before the museums and churches were open for visitors. There were great views and a charming church at the top of the hill. Then, we headed down to see what there was to see. We started with Santa Croce, the final resting place of Michelangelo and Galileo (once he was allowed in by the Catholics).













Next, we tried to see the original David (having already seen 2 copies) but the line was just too long. So, we hit the museum at the Duomo, with part of the original facade and a fantastic unfinished Pieta by Michelangelo.





Of course, throughout our time in Italy we had many stops for the famous gelato. They just do not make it anywhere else like they make it in Italy. Wes would have even had it for breakfast if the shops were open that early.

Cinque Terre

Early Sunday morning, we head on the tube, then the train...all the way to Stansted airport. It was a long ride but we made it. Then, we flew over the Alps all the way to Genoa, Italy. There, we caught yet another train and were on our way down the Italian Riviera to Riomaggiore. The scenery along the way was great and at least we arrived around 3 in the afternoon.







Riomaggiore is one of five small villages that make up the Cinque Terre. We visited this area back in 2000 when we were backpacking - so long ago!! It is possible to hike the full distance between the villages, perched on the hills over the Meditteranean. Angela and I did it all in one day back in 2000. This time, we were less ambitious and had a later start. So, we did the first two short hikes on Sunday evening and then headed back to Riomaggiore for dinner. The food was fantastic!! You do not get better pesto anywhere in the world.





We stayed in a small apartment up the stairs in Riomaggiore (everything seems to be upstairs in these villages). It had a great view.





On Monday morning, we got an early start so we could do some hiking without our bags before checkout time. We were alone most of the time on the way from Vernazza to Monterosso - about a 2 hour hike. It was beautiful - the pictures speak for themselves.








After spending some more time in the villages and having lunch, we were on our way to Tuscany.

Annette's Visit to London (part I)

After sending Wes on to check it out, I (Annette) decided to head over for a visit. When I arrived Thursday morning, Wes met me at Paddington station and we dropped my stuff of at the apartment. Then, I walked with him to his class and headed off for a day to entertain myself while Wes was in class from 9 to 5. I visited the National Gallery in the morning, met Wes for lunch, and then headed to the British Museum in the afternoon. It was a perfectly beautiful spring day in London - you could not ask for better weather.











The next day (Friday), we went to Knightsbridge to see the museums and, of course, visit Harrod's. We spent the morning at the Natural History Museum, stopped at the V&A for a quick look before lunch, and then hit Harrod's in the afternoon. In the evening, we went with Seth and Tisha and some of their friends to Brick Lane, a strip of Indian food restaurants.










Saturday we got a bit of a later start as the jet lag was finally catching up with me. We hit the Tate Modern before lunch as I had heard it was good. Generally we are not fans of modern art, but they did have a very good collection and it was interesting to see all the different styles. Some of it was just stupid (a single pink fluorescent bulb at an angle is not art), but a lot of it was quite good. After that, we walked around the area a bit and then went to the market at Portobello Road. There was an eclectic mix of goods available - many of them the same things we have seen in the markets of Thailand for 1/5 the price. We ended the day with a little TV back at the apartment as we had an early start for the flight on Sunday.