Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 - Getting Off the Ground & London Walk-about

London – Ireland Vacation

05 Aug – 21 Aug  2011

Friday, Aug 5, 2011   ---   Flight Delays

Well, it happens all too frequently these days – delays in air travel. After getting a message that our US Airways flight to Philadelphia was delayed, we were not too concerned since we had a long layover and time to make our London conn

ection. By the time we got to the Indy airport the delay was substantial and there was no way to connect to the flight to London.

That resulted in a need for US Airways to find us other carriers to get us to our destination. This ended up having us to split up on two different paths. Debbie and I along with Tim and Chris Lawson were booked on United through Washington DC and Chan and Michele Saysana being booked on American through Chicago. The cascading events – more delays in each our respective itineraries, reconnecting in London, arranging our pick-up with the limo service – made for some challenging moments, but, hey … we are on vacation with no specific schedule for Saturday in London.

 Saturday, Aug 6, 2011   ---   The Conniving Constable

 We got to our hotel near Oxford Street at Marble Arch around 2:30PM. Shortly thereafter we struck off for a walk to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Along the way to Buckingham Palace, we passed the US embassy that included a park for President Roosevelt and statues to Eisenhower and Reagan.

 

 We also walked through the Green Park, which had a memorial walk for Princess Diana that had enormous sycamore trees lining many walkways.

The highlight of the walk was when 4 of us passed a large white mansion-looking building behind a high iron fence with two constables guarding the entrance. We saw the symbol on the gate and on the building over the large front door of the building. We concluded it looked like the symbol for Saudi Arabia or Jordan. The constables confirmed that it was the Saudi embassy. While we were walking 50 feet ahead, Debbie and Chris came by and suddenly yelled, “Hey, you guys! This is Madonna’s house !!” The other 4 of us turned in dismay only to see the constables laughing behind them. We yelled back that it was the Saudi embassy, and Debbie and Chris sucked up their pride and chided the constables, and we all had a good laugh.

We emerged at Buckingham Palace and took in the sights there, including a long-shot view of Big Ben over the trees in St. James Park.

St. James Park had some spectacular gardens and flower arrangements.

After a short stroll to Westminster Abbey and some picture taking there (it wasn’t open) we strolled a little more until we found a real English pub where we ordered fish and chips and beers/drinks – except Chan who ordered the specialty burger (burger, cheese, ham, sausage, fried egg, onion rings, tomato and lettuce on a very large bun).

The service concept is a bit weak here in the English Pubs. We had to place our orders at the bar, and when I asked the bartender if they took American Express, his reply was a curt, “Most people who use American express can read,” as he took my card. I guess I was supposed to see a sign somewhere. Hmmm.

 

We got a big kick out of the street signs in various areas as we walked through London.

The walk home was stalled for a few minutes by a pop-up shower where we all stood under tree (some of us had umbrellas and water-proof jackets). After getting back to the hotel and some hot drinks, we all retired after the long flight and walk.