A friend that I used to work with at Gentry in Calgary, Jane, came out on Friday morning for about 10 days. I had to go back to work on Friday afternoon so she did some sightseeing downtown and then we went to my favourite little curry house just off Piccadilly Circus for supper. £7.50 (approx. $16 CAD) for a three course set menu - can't beat it! I know you Canadians are thinking that's expensives, but not for London!
The next day we met up with the twins (it was so great to see them!) and their mom, Sharon, and her fiance, Jeff, at Hampton Court Palace. It was Sharon's idea to have a day out together. I love Hampton Court Palace and Jane was enthralled. The girls were great, but a bit hyper because I was there. We had a great time! Then Jeff drove us all in his people carrier (mini-van in Canadian) to the Chiselhurst Caves, over west of Bromley. They are a series of chalk caves that were mined hundreds of years ago. In WWII, they were used as alternative living quarters during the London Blitz. Up to 15,000 people lived there at a time. It must have been awful. A great day had by all, and then I went and spoiled it by getting car sick on the way home! First time ever. Not sure why, but there it is!
Early Sunday morning, Jane and I headed out to Paris on the Eurostar. I love taking the train - it's so much easier! We stayed at my favourite hotel - Roma Sacre Coeur. It's in the heart of Montmartre (think Moulin Rouge and Picasso), and right beside a Metro underground station that has two lines stopping there. We wondered through a district called Le Marais, which was very intriguing, and then across to Notre Dame. Jane was blown away by the sheer magnitude of it! We walked down to the Latin Quarter and came across a church called St. Severin, where mass was just starting. Jane is Catholic and wanted to attend, so I took her pack and amused myself for an hour (not hard for me in Paris!). I would have gone, but of course it's
all in French, so I wouldn't have understood a word. She know the mass, so it was at least familiar for her. Anyway, we went for supper then in the Latin Quarter and then jumped on the Metro to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. It is quite spectacular and pictures just don't do it justice. Then we jumped back on the Metro, went a couple stops to l'Arc de Triomphe, which is also lit up at night, as is the Champs Elysees. Then back to the hotel and bed!On Monday, we slept in a bit as neither of us had a good night (not the beds, they were comfortable, we just couldn't get to sleep!) and went to the Eiffel Tower. Jane went up by herself as I've already done that twice! She walked up, too! I went back to the Champs Elysees as my camera battery had died and I needed to get a charger (left mine at home...doh!). Couldn't buy one for love nor money! So, no pictures! Met her back at the Tower and we headed back to the Champs Elysees via the Pont Alexandre III. Up the Champs Elysees to the Arc, pictures and then down on the Metro to Montmartre. Toured around there some - Basilica de Sacre Coeur, Place du Tertre (artists market), windmills, hilly windy streets, Place des Abbesses, and ending up on the Avenue de Clichy, which is the red light district in the area (tons of sex shops, etc.) and also where Moulin Rouge is. We had supper down there waiting for it to get dark so the neon looks cooler and then walked along the street. Back to the hotel and bed early because we had an early train back. Which we missed because yours truly set the alarm wrong! So, we didn't get back into London until 11 am yesterday and I had to get to work! Jane went to the Tower of London for the rest of the day.
My friend Nicole came over last night for supper and we yacked. I discovered that Dec, one of my guinea pigs, has some sort of skin thing going one - lots of scabs and dry skin - so I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow morning. That's one thing cheaper here - it's only going to cost me about $28 CAD! In Calgary you paid $50 just to walk into the vet's office!
Anyway, I really have to get back to work! Just wanted to update everyone! Jane and I are going to Spamalot tonight, so I'll post a review tomorrow!!
2 comments:
Okay, I'm coming to visit you! Even just hearing all those names and places makes me want to strap on my backpack.
And every time I hear the word 'Bromley' I hear it in an accent, but I'm not sure which it is exactly. Probably off of Coronation Street.
You are welcome anytime to the Hotel Penner. You even get a complimentary room, based on your extended familial connections!
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