In 2020, when this trip was initially scheduled, I had booked to entries into St. Paul’s Cathedral, one for me and one for Melanie. As we have discussed, that trip didn’t happen, so when it came time to organize this trip, I looked at seeing if I could use the passes. There wasn’t anything of note on the website about the topic, so I sent an e-mail into the contact address on the site. It took a week or, but they responded and simply said I could use the passes that were originally sent out at any time, including the extra’s we had paid for. With only one minor exception…
the Eye
I’ve been to London numerous times now, and I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for “the Eye“, or more precisely “The London Eye”…. The amusing part is it’s been owned/sponsored by a different entity virtually every time I have visited, which is admittedly every 2 years (except for that blasted Covid thing). Currently, lastminute.com is the name to grace the wonderful attraction. Can’t help but wonder who will be the next one. Anyway, after leaving the home of the world’s most famous detective, I made my way across London for my 1700 booking on the The Eye. When Melanie and I were scheduled to come over in 2020, I had…
221b Baker Street
So, from last time, after wandering around in the rain for a bit, fruitlessly searching for one of the London Landmarks with an open booking schedule, I refocused my search a little closer to where I was. And there it was, 221b Baker Street, the “home” of the worlds most famous (imaginary) detective, Sherlock Holmes. Being a bit of a Holmes aficionado, I headed in that direciton. It was a few short blocks away, and the first thing I noticed what that there was an extended queue (line, for those non-Anglophiles) waiting to enter. Dang. Right next door is the “London Beatles Store”, albeit obviously for sale…: Being a Beatles…
Regent’s Park
After a hearty English breakfast at the Melia White House, I poked my head outside to get a feel for the weather in ‘ye Old London. Ich. Cold, damp, rainy, dreary. Welcome to London…. Not to fear, I’ll do the various museums today and stay inside, mostly. Firing up the handy tablet I find that our friend Mr. COVID has driven another interesting perturbation into the London tourist experience. Booking times for museums. No booking, no entrance. Yippie ki yay. It was Sunday morning and and open bookings amongst the desirable venues was not be found. Great. Plan B. The hotel is literally next to Regents Park, so, donning my…
Portobello Road
Way back, when I was in college, the last summer before graduation, I decided to do a study abroad session courtesy of the UNO Innsbruck International Summer School. This is a 7 week summer school program in Innsbruck, Austria. I was in need of 2 courses of “fine arts” to complete my engineering degree, and this seemed like a great way to get that done. As part of the study program, they were offering a 3 week tour starting in London, heading down through Paris, across through Pisa and finally winding up in Innsbruck. So the summer began with a plane ride to London with the 40 or so other…
The Historic Ai Church
We’re back to Greensboro today. As you have probably surmised, I’ve been spending some quality time there over the last 6 months or so. There are some interesting historical tidbit’s in the areas to be discovered. We talked about the Old Mill of Guilford a while back. Along the same road, and not far away from the mill is the Historic Ai Church. It’s at the corner of NC-68 and Alcorn Road in Oak Ridge, NC. I had driven by the place numerous times, and this morning, the sun had not quite come up, and I had a few minutes to spare, so I stopped in to see what photographic…