Last Day in London

 Last Day in London:

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”  Dr. Samuel Johnson 

A false fire alarm gave us an early wake up call. We did go back to sleep for a tiny bit, but then got up and got ready for the day.

We enjoyed our breakfast so much earlier this week that we decided to return to the Rivercafe for another great meal. Lynn had toast and eggs and I had beans on toast, sausage, tomato, and hashbrowns, always super excellent.

As we were leaving, we had the most wonderful chat with the owner who gave us ideas for what to do today. Battersea Power Station was suggested. We also had a nice conversation about life and just the enjoyment of life. On a side note, his 85-year-old father is still working there simply because he says “what else would I do”. He joined us in the conversation. It is a fun family owned and operated business where they serve the best. I am sure we will be returning to this café for a great breakfast in the future.

Off to the District Line we went, to find the Northern Line to take the underground directly to the Battersea Power Station. The power station is filled with shops, mostly high-end shops, and an exhibit on its history.

Here we took a little break and got a soft drink, and did some Internet business such as getting our boarding passes emailed to our hotel to be printed out.

From here we decided to go to the mall and have a walk. We took the tube to Embankment and visited the Cabby Shelter  there to pick up a bacon butty. The cost of a bacon buddy now is 4 pounds. I remember days gone by, I was able to get one for a pound 50. We save the sandwich for our picnic on the mall. 

We walked along the mall watching the avian life till we found an open bench, where we sat and ate part of our bacon sandwich. We continue walking The Mall until we came to Buckingham Palace where we turned around and headed back with thoughts of going to the Sherlock Holmes pub.

I feel the Sherlock Holmes pub is a bit of a touristy thing, and knew of another pub in the area named the Ship and Shovell. This is somewhat of a unique pub as the alleyway splits the pub into halves, yet it is connected underground by a tunnel where their kitchen is now located.

Here Lynn has a ginger beer, and an elderflower soda, I had 2 pints of the Furry Ferret cask ale. I almost forgot, we did have some chips as a snack. We thought we might go over to the Mayflower pub which is a ways out from where we were but changed our mind and decided to take a walk from Embankment to Westminster along the Thames. 

At Westminster, we boarded the District Line, taking the underground to Gloucester Road, our tube stop. 

Now in the room, we are preparing for a travel day home tomorrow, re-packing clothes, and all the chocolate Lynn bought. 

Getting a bacon butty 

Battersea Power Plant

Look kidsBig Ben, I know what it really is 😁

Churchill War Rooms

Off to Dover and Back

 Day three and four off to Dover:

Our day started not very early, but we made our way to a bakery across the way named Paul. Here we had coffee and pastries for breakfast. Very good coffee I must say.

Back to the room to  gather items for a trip to Dover. We took the Piccadilly Line to St. Pancras Station. There we boarded the 1204 train to Dover.

We arrived in Dover a little after 1 o’clock and dropped by our hotel, the Travel Lodge to check in. They are very strange and strict about check in time so we split up. Lynn took off for Poundland, and I went to Blakes.

At Blakes we watched the rugby games and just enjoy the evening with folks we know there, it was a good time.

I must mention that Blakes has excellent fish and chips and that is what we enjoyed for evening meal.

After the rugby game, we enjoyed another pint and then headed back to our hotel, calling it a day, but first some stuff for me at Poundland  where we got some cakes for dessert.

We woke the next morning and prepared ourselves for a days travel. First, it was off to a little café named Chapmans for breakfast. Lynn had toast and eggs and I had a bacon sandwich. Both were good and the coffee was just fine. Then it was off to the train station to wait for a train to London.

We had the fast rail service, our trip was just a little over an hour into Saint Pancras. Here we jumped on the Piccadilly Line, taking it to Gloucester Road, then, at our hotel we dropped off our bags and prepared to go out for the day.

As it is the Lunar New Year, and we knew the celebration was going to be in Trafalgar Square we decided to head there in hopes of finding street food for lunch. Sadly, we did not find any street food. The crowds were very heavy, and I mean very, very, very, very, very heavy more so than Beijing on the national holiday in China..

From Trafalgar Square we walked to Chinatown, which was even more packed and at times we weren’t sure if we were going to make it out alive.

From Chinatown we made our way to Piccadilly circus where we got on the underground and went to Paddington station in search of the man inside the clock. With the help from a station attendant, we found the clock, quite interesting and worth the trip over to find it.

Lynn was desiring to go back to the Tower Hill area for an evening meal. I suggested we try the Temple Station and walk up to Fleet Street where we could go to either the George or the Old Bank of England.

We ended up at the Old Bank of England, having a pie sampler plate. There was leak and  onion, chicken, and a steak and ale pies, all we’re good. Lynn reminds me that the leak and onion had cheese, actually it was maybe one of my favorites.

We then walked back to the Temple Station and took the District Line back to our hotel. 

We have no set plans for tomorrow our last day in London, but will probably start the morning at the Rivercafe for another great breakfast.

In St Pancras station

Dover Castle is really there

Cabbie shelter

People every where 

I presume

How did he get in there