London day 1

We are here! We left Fredericksburg at 5:30 pm yesterday 8/16 and encountered the always predictable 95 traffic backups.  However surprisingly we arrived at Dulles airport in a hour and a half-7:00 pm.  Not bad actually for a summertime Friday.  We were checked in and thru security in no time.  We proceeded to one of United's clubs and relaxed and had a few snacks.

At 9:05 we boarded our flight. Wow can I just say it...business first is the way to go for over night flights.  We were immediately offered something to drink and both of us got water. We took off at 10:00 pm and to our surprise the pilot told us that due to a good wind we would be making the trip in 6 hrs instead of 7 hrs and 20 min. So the race was on for the flight attendants to feed us a 5 course meal. Yes I was shocked at the amount of food.

 Ice cream sundaes and fruit plate for dessert.

 Then Michael and I reclined our seats into the bed position and slept a little then it was time to eat again. They served a light breakfast but it filled me up! 

 Breakfast

 Then we landed at Heathrow.  We got thru Customs got our luggage and found our driver. David's and Grace's driver was not there yet so they went for some coffee while we headed to hotel all the while believing that we had early check in! Not!!!! We could check in but rooms weren't going to be ready till after 3:00 pm!  Now remember we flew all night and really wanted showers but instead we had them hold our luggage

 Michael's lunch today....cooked sardines! YEP I said that and he ate that!

 Michael fell asleep after eating lunch!

We went in search of some food and an Oyster ticket this is for their rail service The Tube like our Metro but I thought it was better!  We needed a restroom break and had to pay to use it. Michael said he couldn't wait like a little boy stomping his feet.  Wayne had a pound he gave us girls and Michael to go and now we  know in Europe potty breaks are not free in public restrooms! Once we boarded the train it took off quickly and Freida promptly falls back into the lap of a nice young man who gives up his seat to her. Nice strategy Frieda to get a seat!  ;).  We took the tube all the while we were "minding the gap". Unlike our metro the tube does not meet the walkway. You could easily step off into the gap between the tube and the walkway.

 Freida boarding The Tube

 Michael boarding The Tube

 Map of the Tube system out of legos!!!

We got off at Green Park and walked thru Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace.

 I was so excited to see the Palace.  We went thru a view gift shops then the Buckingham Mews -where the Queens cars and carriages are kept and maintained as well as her horses. Very interesting.

We all decided we were just too tired to go anymore. We back tracked and got on the tube back to hotel for dinner and sleep. We discovered that the restaurant we were going to eat at didn't open til 7:00 so we didn't eat there. All back in rooms and sleep is going to engulf me in a minute. More pictures to come just need sleep. LOL

More adventures tomorrow so stay tuned!