We arrive in Espana!!

When the taxi dropped us off at Gatwick, we tried to use the machine to print our boarding pass, but it just wouldn't work. A British Airways rep told us to go to any counter further down the line. When we got up to the desk, this rep told us to go to a machine and print out our boarding pass. He was not pleased when I told him that we had tried several times and that another BA employee had sent us to him.  He checked us in and we were off to security. Of course my artificial hips set off the scanner. Not a surprise. The female security guard used the wand up and down my legs and arms. It went off below my right hip in two places - I found I had a British penny buried at the bottom of my pocket. Then the pat down - I have had this done before, and it always seems odd to be standing there almost spread eagle as the security guard pats my whole body down - especially under the breasts and between the legs - with the whole world looking on.

The flight to Malaga from Gatwick was uneventful - only a couple of hours - we landed about 1:30 pm. We managed to get through immigration or whatever with hardly a glance at us. No body scanning, no pat downs. No language problem at all. We got carts at the baggage carousel and collected our luggage without a hitch.

Julie had said that she would meet us at baggage claims - but now I was wondering whether that would be inside or outside. I couldn't remember whether she was collecting us or the car first. As we were looking around, I remembered that she had given me her "Russian" cell phone. I pulled that out and saw a text that she was there. We figured perhaps she had the car and was outside so we started for the door.  I heard my name called as I was texting Julie that we would go outside the door to look for her. Beth spotted Joan and Charlene calling us - they are Julie's friends who were on lookout for us while Julie skirted the perimeter.

I think I have said that Spain was never high on my destination list - I'm not sure why - certainly not because of the language barrier - I have been to Italy a couple of times and survived. Irish and British accents can sometimes be very difficult to understand. Spanish is one of the romance languages based on Latin - I loved Latin when I was in high school - I think I got my highest mark on the college boards in Latin - so I can figure out the meaning of a Spanish word here and there. Maybe it is because when Julie, GeeGee, and I did that tour of central Europe "back in the day" as my kids say, there were countries that I had seen then that I wanted to return to see in more depth. Whatever, once I knew I was coming here, I started researching Spanish history - I had forgotten that it was more than just Ferdinand and Isabella sending Columbus on his way - and more than just a foray by the Moors into the country. Like anywhere else, Spain has a distinct culture and history, but also shares international problems and concerns. I am particularly interested in the current situation since Spain belongs to the European Union like Ireland where we have a house and some property. As we stepped outside the airport, I was feeling really excited!

After a detour to pick up the rental car, Julie and Joan collected me, Beth, and all our bags. We were on our way! As we drove from Malaga to Marbella, I couldn't help but be struck by the colorful buildings - everything is so vibrant and looks so clean. Buildings are white, light beige, cream colored, pinkish, mustard - an occasional blue. There are buildings up the sides of the mountains - all the way up! There are tall palm trees everywhere. And the foliage and flowers are magnificient! There were many signs in English - Julie had said that the Costa del Sol was a British "colony" - there are many British living here and many others have holiday homes. The major industry seems to be tourism which reminds me of Sneem but on a much grander scale.

I love these flowers!

One of the buildings in the Marriott resort.

This is the view from our balcony. We could look out at this fountain and watch people having their pictures taken by it.

Ahh, here is someone taking Beth's picture.

We were room 2115 in this building.

This is at our doorway.

I have never been to a resort before - I'm not a sun and surf kind of gal - except for Cape Cod - and here I either go to the beach very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. I have had too many bad sunburns in my life. So I prefer cool temps and occasional rain on my vacations! This place is gorgeous! It is self-contained - there is a market for groceries and other necessities, a gym, two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, sauna, restaurants, AND the Mediterranean!! The resort is right on the Mediterranean Sea. With Africa in the distance. You never have to leave the place! And the apartment was gorgeous!

Julie and Joan were in charge of the laundry. I had forgotten about doing laundry in Europe - it takes hours!!! When I lived in Sneem, I used a quick cycle that took 30-45 minutes. Any other wash cycle could take 2-3 hours!! So when J & J called for laundry, I was more than happy to oblige with the clothes I had worn in London. Beth and I had expected cooler temps in London but ended up wearing our lighter clothes because of the unusual Indian summer that England was experiencing. So I was running out of light clothes. There was also someone here to clean the bathroom every day. I was in heaven! How could I ever go home!

Beth and I shared a twin bed room. Julie had the master bedroom - after all, it was her time-share. And Joan had the other twin room. 

So we settled into our room and then headed out to the outside bar for a drink before dinner and to meet up with Charlene and her four friends from West Virginia. It was warm and sunny. 

We had a nice dinner - bottles of wine were flowing. Julie - who has quite a bit of Spanish - ordered the house wine. She explained the one plate, two plate menu - similar to Irish and English "starters" and entree - or our appetizers and entree. I had a scallop starter and then seafood. The food was fresh and delicious. 

The folks from West Virginia had flown to Madrid and taken the train to Malaga where Charlene picked them up. They were a very friendly group - football fanatics. We were all heading to Tangiers in Morocco in the morning. We were all looking forward to it.

After dinner Julie, Charlene, Beth and I were going to head to a local convenience store for enough groceries to get through breakfast. Joan and Julie were not going to Tangiers so planned to do laundry and go to a large grocery store while we were gone. Beth realized that she had lost her prescription eye glasses - during dinner she thought. Not the best way to start the stay in Spain. She looked for them but could not find them. We started prayers to St. Anthony. She was worried about returning to work if she did not find them. I gave her a pair of Christmas Tree Store glasses that I had brought - that helped somewhat. But she never did get them back.

We picked up some scones, jam, and yogurt for breakfast, bottles of water - bottles of wine for tonight. Julie told us that this part of Spain was a desert, and we could become dehydrated quickly so we needed to drink plenty of water. I had not brought any suntan lotion so wanted to get some before heading to Tangiers. I almost dropped dead when a bottle cost 18 euro!! about $25!!! SPF 50!! I thought $10 a bottle over here was bad! Wow! I wondered how people could pay the prices of food in this shop! I love ice cream when I am in Ireland and England - ice cream cones, Feast Bars, Choc Ice, ice cream sandwiches. Magnum bars were almost 4 euros!! I bought an ice cream bar that had vanilla ice cream, caramel, almonds, and milk chocolate - all my favorites - and it was 1.90 euros - almost $3. What a bargain!!

We went back to the Marriott. The parking garage was horrifying! Small, narrow parking spaces between big pillars. I would never be able to pull into one of them in my best days!! Never mind back in like Julie and Charlene did!! And it was so clean that the tires squeaked when they turned on the cement!!

We went upstairs and had a glass or two of wine. Yakked for a while. We had to be ready by 9:30 am when the private tour guide would pick us all up. I set the alarm for 7 am. I can't remember if I took a shower that night - I would take a shower at night, and then Beth would have the bathroom in the morning. I would run in before her for a couple of minutes - especially to slick down my hair which would stick up all over my head after sleeping on it when it was wet. I now know how I would look in a Mohawk!

I got things ready for the morning and jumped into bed. I could hardly sleep thinking of going to Morocco!

Nothing can beat Westminster Abbey!

We have a busy day ahead of us today so we do manage to eat breakfast at 8:30 and are heading for Westminster Abbey at 9:30. Another sunny, warm day - I am so surprised at this Indian summer here in London! I would much prefer cool and overcast weather! But people have told me that they had a warm to hot, dry summer once it finally arrived. Then there were a few days of rain, but that stopped the Sunday we left Logan. Monday the warm weather returned, and the forecast is for another couple of days of the same.

As we step out of the hotel and turn right onto Tothill Street, the steeple of Westminster Abbey is straight ahead of us.

Westminster Abbey above, and below is 

street sign on the building across the street.

Mailboxes have the royal seal for Queen Elizabeth. If and when she dies, mailboxes, litter bins, gates to the palaces, everything with the E II R will be replaced with the new king's initial. Imagine what that will cost!!

The Sanctuary was part of the Westminster Abbey complex and is located closest to our hotel. It is for sale now. I imagine that is where our hotel got its name - Sanctuary House Hotel.

Beth on right heading toward Westminster Abbey on the right and St. Margaret's Church on the left.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Beth has to make a detour back to the hotel. I take the opportunity to pop into St. Margaret's Church which is part of the Abbey property. The Abbey is reserved for the Royal family while the gentry (as they would say in Ireland) attend St. Margaret's Church. I know Sir Winston Churchill was married here. I had read a lot about the Gilded Age when I was researching my Newport, Rhode Island ancestors. I know that some of the daughters of the newly rich Americans of that time were married off to impoverished titled Englishmen - the Americans thought they gained some prestige, and the English gained a wealthy dowry to help keep up their estates. Downton Abbey is based on this. 

St. Margaret's Church is also famous for its blue sundials.

I have read about Winston Churchill, his father Lord Randolph Churchill, and his mother Jenny Jerome. Her father was "The King of Wall Street" Leonard Jerome who was involved in the stock market and in developing the railroads; he was a partner of Cornelius Vanderbilt in different enterprises. He married his three daughters off to Englishmen who then acquired the daughters' fortunes.

St. Margaret's was built in the 15th century by the monks of Westminster Abbey - which at the time was a Catholic abbey - for the local people who were disturbing the monks worshipping in the Abbey. You can feel the history when you walk in the door. And you walk on history because people are buried beneath the floor - you walk on their gravestones which make up the floor. The carvings and statues are fabulous. I wish I had more time here to sit in a bench and take it all in, but I don't want to miss Beth. So a quick adieu to this beautiful church.

As Beth walked up to the entrance to Westminster Abbey, I was struck by the sign warning that pickpockets will be prosecuted. We had seen the same type of sign at the Changing of the Guard. 

Doors where we went through security and entered the abbey.

No, that is not Beth near the grass, but the view of the Abbey toward Tothill Street.

I had thought that St. Margaret's Church was fabulous, but words cannot describe the historical magnificence of this abbey! I can't fathom the age of places in Europe. Boston is one of the older cities in the USA, but is only a few hundred years old. I cannot grasp that this building was started by King Edward the Confessor, one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings, back in the mid 11th century!

We missed the Verger tour at 10 so decide to wait for the 10:30 tour. I had read that the Verger tour was the only way to see the tomb of Edward the Confessor so I really was hoping to take it.  I guess a Verger is someone who helps with the care of the church and helps with the ceremonies. Our Verger leads us through the highlights of the Abbey. He takes us up to Edward the Confessor's tomb - he died in 1066 just before William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings, and the Normans took control of Ireland.

Henry V is also buried here - behind Edward. A new series on PBS about 4 of William Shakespeare's plays started the Friday before I left for London. Jeremy Irons is playing Henry V, but I won't be home to see it. The view from this area down along the Abbey is amazing.

We see the chapel where Elizabeth I and her sister Mary are buried. And across from them is a chapel with Mary, Queen of Scots.

We see the memorial to FDR about whom I have also read a great deal, but I missed the memorial to Winston Churchill. We see Poet's corner with the statue of William Shakespeare, plaques for the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens among others.

We see the Coronation Chair - it looks just like an old wooden chair but is centuries old and has so much tradition attached to it! We saw pictures of young Queen Victoria sitting in it when we visited Kensington Palace.  We walk in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth and the other monarchs before her to the altar where the coronation takes place. We saw the old TV clips of Elizabeth's coronation at Buckingham Palace where we also saw her anointing gown and coronation robe. It all fits into place here.

I hate to leave. There is so much to see that it would take a week, but we saw the highlights. We stop in the gift shop for a few purchases. 

We had planned to go to the Churchill War Rooms next and then the Tower of London. But it is after 1:30 pm, and I don't think we have enough time to do both. So we buy an ice cream cone and sit in Parliament Square and watch the people go by for a few minutes. 

David Lloyd George was prime minster when the Anglo-Irish Treaty was negotiated and signed ending the Irish War of Independence but causing an Irish Civil War.

Before Winston Churchill led the United Kingdom through WWII, he was one of the negotiators of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, had opposed Home Rule for Ireland.

Then we head for the Westminster Pier for a ferry to Tower Pier. There is something about being on or near water - whether a river, pond, lake, or ocean. It was a great day for a ride down the Thames.

We just miss the last Beefeater tour so we head straight for the Crown Jewels. I have climbed through the towers twice before but have never seen the jewels. So that is our first stop. I am surprised at how small some of the crowns are. But they are fabulous. And the size of some of the diamonds in those crowns!! they must be very heavy.

This building houses the Crown Jewels.

Guarding the Crown Jewels.

We poke around the grounds. We listen to a Beefeater talk about Nazi Rudolph Hess being held prisoner here before being returned to Germany to stand trial at Nuremberg.

No, they aren't taking Beth prisoner!

I am sitting outside people watching as Beth shops for some souvenirs. The drawbridge is raised to allow several large ships to pass down the River Thames. I am thinking about the last time I was here with my kids. We lost JB, my youngest, in the tower of London. I don't think he was in middle school yet. Mairead and I were in line for the Crown Jewels while Mike and JB were climbing the walls. JB went out an exit and couldn't get back in. Not such a great mother!!

We catch the 5:30 pm ferry back to Westminster - our last ride on the Thames. We are feeling very sad to be leaving in the morning. There is so much history in just this one city!!

I stop at the pancake/crepe vendor at Westminster Bridge and have a crepe with strawberry jam for Mairead.  Then we head toward the hotel to meet Patrick at 6:30. A last look at Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square.

We drop our things in the room and head down to the pub, but it is jam packed with business men and women - and it is very noisy. So we wait outside for Patrick - my husband's first cousin is Helen Rogers, and Patrick is her son. He arrives from work near St. James Park, and we go into the Blue Boar next door which is a little more quiet. We have a very nice visit with Patrick. I think it is always nice when you travel to meet a local contact. We have a drink with Patrick who then heads off to supper with his girlfriend. We head off to pack our bags. Helen calls for a chat - she is very good to call me periodically  - I think it is important for families to stay in touch.

This is the end of our stay in London. We take a cab to Gatwick Airport on Friday morning at 6:30. That is an interesting drive - we are able to see some of the outskirts of London.

We go through security and board our plane. Malaga, here we come!

The Guards changed but no luck with afternoon tea.

Wednesday morning Beth and I both have an English breakfast. It is delicious! Rashers, sausages, black pudding, grilled tomato, scrambled eggs, baked beans. What a way to start the day!

We head to the bus stop to go to Buckingham Palace again for the Changing of the Guards. A woman from the Big Bus Company meets us to let us know that the Hop On Hop Off bus will not be stopping on our street today because of construction. So we walk to Buckingham Palace which surprisingly is just a short distance away! With all the one way streets plus all the construction in London, sometimes it is difficult to gauge the distance from one place to another on the buses.

When we get to the front of the Palace, crowds have started to gather in front of the gates and on Victoria's statue. I find a place for Beth in front of the gates since she has never seen this ceremony before. 

Beth found the tourists very rude and pushy. Some held tablets between the poles on the gates to take pictures thus blocking the view. Others elbowed their way through the crowd to get close to the gates. 

I can't stand in one place for too long - my hips rebel despite two hip replacements. So I walked back and forth between the crowds at the gates and the crowds lining the street. What a sea of humanity - so many colors, tongues, sizes and shapes! 

Gates at Buckingham Palace

We waited about 45-60 minutes before things got started. It was a hot sunny day. It takes about 45 minutes for the whole ceremony. I was sweating bullets by the time it finished!

Active duty soldiers are assigned to guard the Queen, Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace further down the road. Today there are 2 guards on duty in front of Buckingham Palace - if the Queen was at home, there would be 4. She must have forgotten we were coming. Troops have guarded the monarch and the palaces since 1660!

The old guard (going off duty) at St. James' Palace marches down to Buckingham Palace. The new guard and its band march over from Wellington Barracks, which is between our hotel and Buckingham Palace. They enter the gates of the palace. The band plays a few tunes. New sentries take over. The old guard from St. James' and Buckingham Palaces march back to Wellington Barracks. Some of the new guard remains at Buckingham Palace while some march back to St. James. All over.

MEM in front of Buckingham Palace.

Beth in front of Queen Victoria's memorial across from Buckingham Palace.

Statue on Victoria's memorial

After taking some pictures, we jump on the bus and head to Piccadilly Square to find the Vodaphone Store. I want to buy a phone to call home - Julie had given me one but I couldn't figure out how to work it.

Statue of a horse's head - no one could tell me its significance.

NFL in London?

Shop being renovated near Piccadilly Circus.

 

We get off in Piccadilly and check out the Eros Statue. Beth's husband had spent time around here when he was a college student.

We buy some magnets and postcards from a street vendor before walking down Piccadilly Street to the Vodaphone shop. After waiting in line for a while, I ask for a phone that I can top up as needed. There is a cheap one for 15 gbp. The clerk tells me that I will have to pay roaming charges if I use it outside the UK. When I say I am still interested, he says that he has no Sim cards and that I have to go to the Oxford Street Vodapone shop to buy one. I said forget it, and we decided to try to have afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason's - we have no reservations, but I wanted to have a formal tea once while we were here.

We went into this exclusive shop which was started in the 1700s. Queen Elizabeth II opened a tea room here last year. We head upstairs to the tea room. It must be my rucksuck and capris. The woman in charge can barely find the time to talk to us. "A cup of tea, Madame?" "No" I say - "Afternoon tea." She tells us that they have no openings at the moment but if we come back in an hour, they can accommodate us. I think she is relieved when I say no. 

Most people know that I am very low key, very patient, BUT, boy was I PISSED by her attitude. I hate to have anyone look down on me - think they are better than I am. I even want to be sitting up in my coffin during my wake so no one looks down on me and says how good or bad I look. Everyone deserves respect. I am fuming!

We go into a pub a couple of doors back. I order tea and instead of a scone, fruit salad with ice cream to cool me off!! I try to let this anger go - it was not easy!! But the fruit salad and ice cream are delicious!! 

Next time I'll go to Selfridge's!!

Pub where we had tea - a few doors down from Fortnum and Mason.

Very nice door man that we passed - he agreed to let me take his picture.

We jump back on the Hop On Hop Off bus and pass through Trafalgar Square. We decide to go to Tower Pier and grab a ferry back to Westminster.

Blue rooster in Trafalgar Square on one of the pillars.

Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

New film about Princes Diana is coming out.

We get off at the Tower of London and grab a 99 - that is a vanilla soft serve ice cream cone with a piece of a Flake bar in the ice cream.  We eat this as we look around this area of town. Then we walk down to the pier and jump on the ferry for a boat ride back to Westminster Pier. 

Tower Bridge from the ferry.

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast who saw action in WWII.

St. Paul's Cathedral from ferry.

Westminster from the ferry.

Pancake/Crepe vendor on the stairs to Westminster pier.  When we were there in 2000, my daughter Mairead would get a crepe every morning - with Nutella I think!

We looked for directions re how to make an international call in this phone box - no luck.

When we return to the hotel, there is a message from my husband's cousin that her son would meet us at the hotel at 6:30 tomorrow evening.

We drop some of our gear and then walk around looking for a place to eat. Our pub is overflowing with business men having a pint or two after work. It is very noisy. They are also outside on the sidewalk with a cigarette in one hand and a pint in the other.

We finally decide on the Blue Boar next to our hotel - it is not as crowded as the other places. But it is more expensive.

When we finish eating, it is almost 10 pm. Time to head home, shower, and start packing up some things - we have to be at Gatwick Airport by 7:30 on Friday morning. We stop by reception and book a taxi - I couldn't face the Tube at 6:30 am for a journey to Gatwick.  

So tomorrow is our last day in London - Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, and the Tower of London are on our agenda - and then we are meeting Patrick at 6:30. It will be a busy day!