Monday, February 16, 2009

More London Delights

Journal for Wednesday, Feb 3, London, 3rd day of the Big Snow (The only reason I've still included the "big snow" reference is because they were STILL carrying on about the snow that fell on Monday. The headlines read "Day 3: Garbage in London piles up." (!?) If it was piling up, it was "invisible garbage" and it was only because they were using this as an excuse to take days off from work.)

We got to do some really wonderful things today! First, we headed back to the Portrait Museum just to see some of the exhibits we'd missed two days earlier. Then we used the Original Bus Tour as our way to make if from the central part of London to the Kensington area to be picked up for our London Music and Rock Legends Tour. Good plan; bad execution.

It was beginning to look like we'd miss our Music Tour unless we hailed a cab. So we did, and Dianna and Emily hopped in, Brian said, "Look, there's our bus!" and the girls hopped right back out again. (We're such dorks!) We were late for the tour, but apparently were the only ones who'd scheduled and our guide had circled the block a few times to wait/look for us. He was NOT pleased, but warmed up as the tour went on.






Because I have absolutely no brain neurons dedicated to music knowledge, I can't even tell you what it was we saw. I just took the pretty pictures.

And this one I know to be Abbey Road, and of course Brian, Dianna & Emily sweetly accommodated me for the obligatory Imitation-Beatles-Stroll-Across-the-Road. It must drive area motorists nuts with all the people crossing back and forth for photos.

We head back to the little white van waiting for us.

We ended the tour at Hard Rock Cafe. Dianna made fun of me for being the only one "toasting" with the drink.



See? Aren't I sounding like a more normal tourist now? Tomorrow I'll show you a few shots from our "Ghosts, Gaslight & Guiness" walk through central London.

Oh! And thanks to Nancy Devine (a follower on my blog), I have 2 new sidebar widgets. You can see the date through a human calendar, and you can translate my blog into a bunch of other languages. (I'm hoping the translations are real, and don't say things like "Twinkies are the Devil's Spawn".) Nancy, on her blog, is very creative in her writing and is a techno-wizard!

ETA: I wanted to add this info from the mini-bus Rock Legends tour website to list some of the places we were taken:

On this small group tour by minivan you'll visit London's famous clubs, rock hotels, record labels, management offices and studios. You'll see the house where Jimi Hendrix lived and died, where Freddie Mercury and Queen hung out, and Led Zeppelin's London HQ. You will also see sites connected with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Cream, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, the Clash, Coldplay, Oasis, Mama Cass, Georgie Fame, Elton John, Jimmy Page and the Yardbirds, Cliff Richards, the Sex Pistols, Bowie, the Faces, Bee Gees, the Who and many, many more! Plus, there's a visit to Sticky Fingers restaurant, owned by Bill Wyman, former Stones bass player.

The rock legends tour also focuses on the most important Beatles sites, including homes belonging to Paul and Ringo, Apple HQ, EMI Studios and Abbey Road, where you can have your photograph taken on the famed zebra crossing.

16 comments:

Jason said...

Oh that looks like fun! Great shots, TFS!

Sharon said...

I am laughing only because I would get the same kind of looks if I ever took my kids somewhere. But I do know who Bill Wyman is. ;)

Reds said...

Another great day in London!! Love that you took all these tours to get to know London! And, by the way, did the French translation thing... and it's not too bad!! ;)

bianketti said...

You are getting some amazing shots of your vacation! What a wonderful experience for you to share with your family!

Maria said...

Nice picture of you, Angela! The kids look great, too.

Becky Anderson said...

Looks like you had another great day, and I might be mistaken, but I don't see any snow. Didn't you say they were having another snow day? Anyway, love the Beatles shot!

robin said...

What a fun trip. I have never been to London, but would love to go someday! I would be right there with you on that shot of Imitation-beatles-stroll across the road! I would probably be a "dorky" tourist, too!

Suzy said...

It's weird to see the driver on the wrong side of that van! Great shots! I'm loving visiting London through your lense!

Meaghan said...

It sounds like such a great vacations. I love all the pictures!

Lou said...

What a fun trip. I'm a fan of your Beatles shot! I'm a sucker for that kind of thing too.

Lauren Hartman said...

I love reading about your trip, looks like you all had such a good time!

Diana said...

oh wow all those photos make me want to go and visit. just so that i could do the beatles walk too LOL

Anonymous said...

I just love the one you got of them walking on the sidewalk. And you guys are so cute together in the last shot. What fun!

Becky said...

Doesn't that guy walking by Brian in the first photo look so European? Looks like another great day!

Jeanne said...

What fun! Great photos and wonderful commentary to go with them. This is WAY better than looking at someone's vacation slides! Love it!

S.Kremer said...

Sounds like you all had a great time! Thanks for sharing your story:)
~Shawna (shawkrem)