Noelle also uploaded a small collection; she’s got funny captions.

Be sure to also stay tuned to my daily photo blog; photos from this trip should keep me stocked for a few months at the very least.

And lastly, I signed up today for a French language class! Au revoir, and thanks for reading!

I have some loose ends about my travels that I haven’t yet logged in this blog, yet, so I wanted to take some time to do so. No, I didn’t hear “cheerio” in London, but I was called darling and love a few times; cheers is used frequently, such as a replacement for “thanks;” thank you is used in different ways than we Americans use it—for example, when purchasing items at a store, the cashier thanked me first thing when I brought my items to the counter, and on a game show similar to Wheel of Fortune, a contestant told the Vanna White which letter he wanted and she thanked him; the lady checking my passport at Gatwick said “lovely” when everything looked ok; I bought a cookie and the cashier called it a biscuit; and of course I was told many times to “Mind the Gap” in reference to the space between the subway car and the platform.” Oh, and the automated voice in the cars reminds people to “please take your litter with you when exiting.”

Both in Paris and in London, I observed that restaurants do not rush customers to finish so that they can make the most profit from the maximum customers in a day. Instead, in Paris it was very prevalent that a waiter did not bring out my next meal course until I had completely finished the previous one. In fact, when I didn’t finish all of my salad during a lunch outing, the waiter looked puzzled and asked if I didn’t like it. After that, I was very paranoid to leave food on my plate, which was difficult because my stomach is not very big. When you are ready for l’addition (the bill), they don’t bring it to you until you ask for it. Dining out is an experience for the French, and to a slightly lesser degree the English, and it should not be rushed one bit. Noelle and I often were out to dinner for up to three hours. Breakfasts were at least 30 minutes, and my first one in Paris lasted an hour-and-a-half.

I already miss my full, freshly prepared English breakfast. With the few coins I had left, I bought some English breakfast teabags at Gatwick and have already consumed two teapots, of course with milk and sugar. I made myself some hot chocolate this evening, but it doesn’t compare to the French chocolat (in a bowl!). I just need to go back; that’s obviously the answer.

I should report that I think all is lost with my beloved camera lens. But other than that, nothing terrible happened to me. My left foot has not gotten any better—I’m still limping—so I might have to schedule a doctor’s appointment.

Now that I’m back, I can also report that surprisingly I spent less money in London, about $150 less. I still owe this to the fact that the city’s museums are free which is where I spent most of my time.

Did I mention that I figured out the London bus system? Riding on top of the double-deckers is a great way to see the city, not only the sites, but also the people and traffic below. I am amazed at how bus drivers maneuver those vehicles.

I hate to say it, but I need to go to bed because the real world is waiting for me tomorrow.  Thanks for reading; I do hope you enjoyed the read!  Be sure to stay tuned for more photos.  I’ll post an announcement here when I’ve got some more up.  Until my next travel adventure, au revoir and cheers!

Attendees are asked to remain silent during the actual ceremony, when the key keeper is escorted by four soldiers (in those funny, tall hats) to the front gate to lock up.  When they march back, a fifth soldier, who has remained behind says “Halt!  Who goes there?”  “The keys.”  “Whose keys?”  “Queen Elizabeth’s keys.”  “Queen Elizabeth’s keys may pass.”  Although I couldn’t see the soldiers during their march away from the crowd, toward the front gate, I enjoyed hearing their loud shoes click in time against the pavement.

Going backward in time, my morning began at the British Museum.  What a grand place containing so many worldly artifacts—the Rosetta Stone, wonderfully preserved mummies and mummy cats, the Parthenon’s Elgin Marbles.  China’s Terracotta Warriors are temporarily exhibit there, but I passed on paying for it.  Although the U.S. dollar is devalued quite steeply here, compared to even its value to the euro, I have actually spent less money in London.  I credit that toward all of the free museums.

To kill time this afternoon, I took a second (free) visit to the National Gallery and joined the 14:30, free, one-hour tour of some highlight paintings.  Thankfully, each tour is different, so I learned about some new paintings compared to the tour I took a couple of days ago.  Holbein’s “The Ambassadors” is quite fascinating; the painting is full of possible allusions.

After, I hopped on a bus and met Noelle at restaurant Richoux for a 16:00 High Tea.  We each enjoyed tea with sugar and milk (quite lovely!), different finger sandwiches, baby scones with clotted cream (YUM), and a dense fruit/spice cake.  Coming in at $30 a piece, this outing served as our last meal for the day.  And of course, I held out my pinkie.

Today’s events rounded out my last day on this fabulous trip.  And as our last London view, we walked over to the pier, after the Ceremony, to take in Tower Bridge in its full nighttime glow.

NOTE: This is my 4th post today, so be sure to rewind and read the rest!

During my last morning in Paris, I visited Le Bon Marche, a department store.  Wow, I have never seen such a place.  I usually stay away from department stores because items are jumbled together rather than neatly displayed.  Le Bon Marche, however, was so tidy, impeccable even.  Everything was accessible for the eye from the aisles.   Louis Vuitton and other high fashion names have boutiques here.  I looked at a scarf for purchase; whoops, 99 euros ($150).  How about a plain, black wallet?  At least $100.  The mannequins were dressed in outfits that are very stylish, but you would never see them in the U.S.

The best way for me to describe American fashion, after seeing Paris strut its stuff, is with the word ’sophomoric.’

In London, my notions about people here being less fashionable have been correct.  They aren’t as sloppy as Americans can be, but this is not a fashion mecca like Paris.  Casual jeans are more prevalent here than in France’s capital.  Thank goodness, because my feet have needed daily switches between boots and shoes.  Unfortunately, I won’t be surprised if I have inflamed Achilles’ tendons; I limped today.

French breakfast: Usually experienced at a cafe/restaurant that serves a fixed breakfast of choice coffee/tea/hot chocolate, baguette piece, croissant, and orange juice.  Very simple.
English breakfast: As I said in a previous post, sausage, bacon, egg, toast, beans, tomato, and tea/coffee.  Very substantial.

French lunch: I tended to eat a somewhat light lunch, because dinner ended up as the big meal of the day.  Soup, salad, or sandwich.
English lunch: Because we have been fed such large breakfasts, I’ve had a snack for lunch.  Today, I had hot chocolate and a torte.   Yesterday consisted of a small bowl of soup and piece of bread.

French dinner: All restaurants have a fixed-price dinner serving similar food, some offering a few different options based on price (18, 22, or 26 euros).  These dinners usually included two or three courses.  Food I ordered included fish soup, frogs’ legs (still green), beef Bourgenion, chocolate mousse, creme brulee, goat’s cheese salad, and wine.
English dinner: You can get any kind of food in London, but we’ve mostly stuck to traditional English fare.  On night one, I defaulted to fish and chips sprinkled with LOTS of vinegar and salt (yum).  I’ve had better f&c in Minneapolis compared to this local pub we went to though. Last night included a beef and ale pie. I have consumed a total of 1.5 pints of cider while here.  I know, I should really focus on moderation.

Tomorrow, Noelle and I will enjoy high tea at 4:00pm.  Pinkies up!

After a full (literally) English breakfast cooked at the hotel—fried egg, sausage, bacon (Canadian), half of a tomato cooked, beans, toast, and tea—I set out to take in Rick Steve’s (guide book of choice) Westminster Walk, from Westminster Abbey to Trafalger Square. Not halfway through, I veered off the suggested path to catch the changing of the guards. Rather than wait by Buckingham Palace, as the crowds do, I staked out a spot at St. James’ Palace where the new guards depart from. With the rain, only a partial ceremony took place and I left before it finished.

After finding a store that sold umbrellas and making a purchase, I headed for St. Martin-in-the-Fields for their lunchtime free concert. A pianist played almost an hour’s worth of Chopin, Schumann, and Listz. After growing up with many sound recordings on public radio by Sir Neville Mariner and the Academy of SMitF, I enjoyed finally visiting the first place where the Academy gave its first concert and after which it is named.

With the National Gallery next door to the church (both of which are right along Trafalgar Square), I popped in there for some more art. Most art museums in London are free which will help ease the horrible exchange rate (2USD = 1GBP, roughly). A couple of my favorites include Caravaggio’s “The Supper at Emmaus” and Delaroche’s “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey.“

By the time I exited the museum around 16:30, the rain had stopped and the sun was even showing itself. Continuing on the tour of free opportunities, I made it back to Westminster Abbey in time for Evensong (admission to WA is at least $20, but Evensong is free). The 40-some people in attendance got to sit in the Quire (choir) pews where various important people sit during coronations. I believe that leaders of the countries within the British Empire also sit here, for plaques reading “Canada,” “Australia,” etc were affixed above a few seats. The service lasted about 40 minutes with music led by the Lay Vicars, the men (vs boys) of the choir. The first few songs were chanted with melody, but later they broke into wonderful, 4-part harmony with the top line sung in falsetto. During rests within the music, you could hear the voices echo down the nave and transept. Absolutely magnificent to experience.

On my way back to the hotel for a hot shower, I got to experience rush hour in the Tube (subway). When a line came, each car was already jam-packed, but at least a couple of people would squeeze their way into the car and barely miss the closing doors. I finally got on when the third line came around, but I was basically sardined with a mass of people. I had no need of holding onto a railing, because I was snugged into my spot, almost face-to-face with an armpit. It seems like the London Underground has more problems with crowding, delays, and break-downs than Paris (where I experienced only one delay), but I don’t know if that is because the first week in January just isn’t a busy time for the metro, or if I never traveled in Paris during rush hour, or if London has less lines. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the experience.

Yesterday, I started off with a trip to Trocadero Square for a first close-up view of the grand Tour Eiffel. Wow. I am amazed at how Gustav Eiffel completed such a feat. It’s made of plain iron (thanks for the correction, John!  Mucho appreciated ) but the architecture is still very graceful and beautiful. I only spent 15 minutes waiting in the ticket line, where I bought a ticket to the 2nd level (1st, 2nd, top), and then another 8 waiting for the lift.

Sunday was the first sunny morning of the week, so I enjoyed an amazing view of the city. I could see the Seine snaking its way through Paris, the Sacre Coeur crowning the hilltop of Montmarte, the City center and its skyscrapers far from historic Paris, Notre Dame and St. Chapelle Cathedrals with their spires poking at the sky, and everything in between.

I grabbed a quiche and apple tarte, both fresh, along Rue Cler (a famous street of savory foods and goodies) before meeting Noelle at Musee d’Orsay. The Orsay is located in an old train station and now houses Paris’s vast treasure of Impressionist art. Degas’ ballet class paintings, Monet’s waterlilies, Rodin sculptures, van Gogh portraits and starry nights—I saw them all.

I didn’t get to everything I wanted to see, but those are saved for my next visit to Paris. Au revoir, Paris. Until next time.

NOTE: I have posted a couple of messages quite quickly after another. Be sure to click “Previous Post” at the top left to be sure you haven’t missed anything, or scroll to the bottom and view “10 Most Recent Photos” (yes, it should say ‘Posts’ instead of ‘Photos;’ sorry).

As for England, I’ve tried to think of at least the general stereotypes of its people.  For one, English people are sometimes characterized as having bad teeth (Austin Powers and other comedies) and being somewhat funny- or odd-looking.  Compared to the very well-dressed French, I imagine the English folk to be more plainly dressed (jeans and t-shirt or sweatshirt) and more relaxed in their ways.  Language, I’ll laugh if I hear ‘cheerio,’ ‘right-o,’ ‘indeed,’ and the like.  I’m used to hearing Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman speaking with the British accent, but I’ve never been surrounded by masses of British people and wonder if the accent will overwhelm me.  At the moment I am typing this while on the Eurostar to London, I am sitting behind a few British teenage girls.  They are plain-looking to me, and their accent makes me feel like I’m listening to very proper 4th graders.

I can’t decide whether or not I think London will be cleaner than Paris, not that Paris was anywhere near dirty, except for the dog poo everywhere.  I guess I envision the Mary Poppins London with chimney soot polluting not only the skies but also building facades.  The slides that my dad showed me of his time in London, back in ‘62, shows a very dirty St. Paul’s Cathedral, but I believe it’s been well cleaned since then.

I do intend to hear “Mind the gap” at the train stations and to see red phone booths everywhere.