Tea at The Palace

Okay, so it wasn’t a fine dining experience at The Ritz tearoom, but I enjoyed it.
Dave had actually discovered the Orangery online and thought he’d treat me to an afternoon tea there at Kensington Palace. Who am I to argue?

After a disappointing tour of the interior of Kensington Palace, I was looking forward to sitting and enjoy some tea. It was sunny, but the wind was quite chilly, so a pot of tea would be a nice reward.

The Orangery is a lovely, long white room with two banquet rooms at either end. Tall windows allow rays of sunlight to waft through to the brilliant orange plants set at each table as a centerpiece. They add a real pop of color at each table in an otherwise colorless room.

We arrived for the afternoon, which started at 3 p.m., around 3:15. We did have a wait about another 15 minutes before getting a table, but I didn’t really mind. They handed us menus to look at prior to being seated and that helped me decide which tea to have.

Dave is not a tea drinker and didn’t seem anxious to start now, so he ordered coffee. I ordered the Pimm’s Afternoon Tea because it offered a few more items and a different selection of tea. I had no idea what a Pimms was and had to look it up later.

After another short wait, the tea was delivered in a simply solid white teapot along with cream and white and brown sugar. I don’t like anything in my tea, so I never used either of those. A creative strainer was included as well. I had never seen one like this and would like to find one of my own! It took me a second to realize how it worked, but it wasn’t rocket science.

The sweet and savory treats brought on a 3-tiered tray stand included some lovely finger foods filled with sweat delights, as well as a large, fluffy, warm scone with clotted cream. And there were four different kinds of sandwiches including cucumber, ham and cheese and a salmon one. I split the sandwiches with Dave.

I also enjoyed the Pimms!! Delicious.

The only thing that wasn’t so pleasant was the man sitting directly across from our table who didn’t realize his pants hang quite low as he was sitting at his table. Yes….Dave took a photo!!

I enjoyed the tea and would have loved to check out every tea room in London, but time and money did not allow it. Maybe next time!

Westminster Abbey, Kensington & Buckingham Palace

Sunny skies greeted us this morning on our last day in London. It was stil windy and cool, but no complaints. 

The staff at our hotel was very helpful in reserving us a spot in this morning’s Verger-Guided Tour of Westminster Abbey. It’s a 90-minute behind-the-scenes look at some of the places and stories that the general public aren’t generally allowed to see and hear. We needed to get there early so we set out on foot because it’s just down the street. A VERY easy walk from our hotel. 

A brilliant blue sky provided a very colorful backdrop to this striking ancient Abbey reportedly founded in the year 960. We stood in line and in awe at the magnificance of the buildings around us. Crowds were starting to gather as we were allowed in and purchased our audio tour. We didn’t use the audio tour as much because the Verger tour was so good. 

We met our tour-guide, verger David Mott in his clergy robes, and our small group of about 15 was led to several special places throughout the large abbey and we were told some wonderful tid bits that others would have missed in their audio tours. 

Our group was taken behind the main alter into Edward the Confessor’s Chapel. Around the year 1060, King Edward founded the church on this site. The Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor is the spiritual heart of the Abbey. Surrounding the shrine, which contains the saint’s body, lie five kings and four queens. 

After King Edward’s death in 1065, his reputation as a holy man grew. Miracles were said to have occurred at his tomb, and in 1161 he was made a saint. The shrine was rebuilt by Henry III in 1261 where it was encrusted with gold and jewels. However, due to the healing properties this holy man was said to have had, people would slowly pick out the gold and jewels, so the only ornate part left of the shrine is towards the top, where people could not reach. 

Hundreds, if not thousands, of famous politicians, royals, artisians, and spiritual leaders are buried or memorialized throughout the Abbey. One cannot help but step on memorials as they’re laid out on the floor beneath you. Quite sad really. Apparently Winston Churchill refused to be buried there saying “I’ve had people walk all over me in life, why have it done in death”. 

I’ve been readying a lot about the Tudor age with a particular interest in Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VIII’s oldest children. Although not the male heirs he had hoped for, they proved to be very memorable rulers, but with very fundemental differences. 

Both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are buried here at the Abbey in Henry VII’s Lady Chapel built in 1516. Elizabeth’s tomb is actually on TOP of Mary’s, which is quite sad. But at the end of Mary’s reign, she was known as “Bloody Mary” due to putting to death some 300 ‘heretics’ who refused to recant their Protestant faith. I found Mary’s life to be quite sad, and then to add insult to injury, her more famous sister is buried on top of her. 

Our verger guide told us Queen Elizabeth’s effigy used a death mask as well as death mask on her hands. She had very thin, long fingers. And the pearls she is holding are her real pearls. Fascinating. 

Queen Elizabeth’s tomb is large – but not quite as large and ornate as that of her rival for the English throne, Mary, Queen of Scots who was eventually executed in 1587 on Elizabeth’s orders. Mary’s son, James I, erected this grand tomb for his mother while he was ruling England. I find it ironic that only in death does she preside in England. 

On our tour, we were also allowed to sit in the roped-off Quire area. The Quire (choir) is a ‘church wtihin a church’ where we learned the history and symbolizm of each and every decorative element in the quire. Including where the current Queen Elizabeth II sits when she attends service there. 

At the end of our tour, we viewed the coronation chair, which has seen better days, but is the oldest piece of furniture in Britian still in use for its original purpose. Commissioned in 1297, the chair has been badly abused over the centuries and lost much of its original luster, but I’m glad they’re not “redoing” it and leaving it. Yes, it’s not pretty, but the history of that chair is highly significant. I have not heard if it will be used for Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee services. 

David, our verger guide also tossed in his participation in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton last April which was held in the Abbey. David gathered and led Princes Willian and Harry from a side chapel in the Abbey into the main hall for the wedding and he told us where he sat during the service. I immediately downloaded a BBC Video of the wedding on iTunes for us to watch later and look for him! We thought that was pretty neat. 

Dave and I wanted to stay at the Abbey all day. There is so much to see and so much history in these sacred walls that we just did not leave enough time to explore everything we wanted to. Our verge tour was wonderful and we’re so glad we did that. However, Kensington Palace was to be our last stop in our London adventure and we needed to make sure we left enough time for that in the afternoon. 

We reluctantly left the Abbey, hailed a cab and headed to Kensington Palace where the present buildings we now see were first occupied in 1689 by King William III and Queen Mary II. Later Queen Victoria grew up, lived and loved there. I had been reading the wonderful letters of Queen Victoria (vol. 1 of 4!) so I was anxious to see the newly redsigned Victoria Revealed exhibition. 

I have to say this is THE only part of our London trip that was a complete and utter disappointment. Perhaps it was because we had previously been through some of the grandest, historical buildings in England that had original woodwork, stonework, artwork and tours worthy of their status, but this was terribly lacking in almost every department. 

Disorganized, sparse, and cheap are three words that would describe it all. Yes, they did have some wonderful historical items from Victoria’s era, but they were few and not much in the way explanation on what some things were or how they were used. That is unless you wanted to sit somewhere and read the Xeroxed booklets stapled together to read about it all. Many things that were displayed had no explanation on what it was, where it was used, who used it, or when it was used. 

And the ‘tribute’ to Diana? Just sad and a poor tribute to a wonderful woman. The cartoon wallpaper leading to her one room of tribute was cheap looking and almost mocked her beauty. The single room set aside for Diana was little more than a display of 5 or 6 of her dresses. This woman was far more than clothing. She helped so many people. She lived in that house, raised her children in that house, including the heir to the throne, and the thousands of floral tributes as Kensington’s gates after her death should have been an indication that more than one room should be used. I do hear that Wiliam and Kate will be living there. I hope they’re happy and never step foot in this room. What a shame. Maybe other people find the wallpaper in good taste a lovely tribute, I just don’t. 

Even the supposed royal rooms of William and Mary were cheaply decorated and painted. Perhaps they were originally like that, but I seriously doubt the modern art hanging from the chandelier’s is original to the era. Just very odd. 

The ONLY wonderful about Kensington Palace wasn’t in the palace itself, but outside. The garden was wonderful. Truly beautiful and a nice respite from the strangeness inside. I don’t know if one is able to pay admission to just see the garden, but I wouldn’t waste my time again inside. 

Dave and I also had a nice tea at The Orangery Restaurant at Kensington Palace. I did enjoy the tea very much, but Dave had issues with our server, so he didn’t enjoy it quite so much. I go into more detail on m tea blog.

After the disappointment of Kensington Palace, we walked back through St. James Gardens and enjoyed the wildlife that Henry VIII had originally brought in for his own personal hunting ground. Yes, I know they’re not the ORIGINAL animals, but there were some odd birds there to say the least. It was a lovely walk which then brought us back to Buckingham Palace which was much less crowded than it was last Saturday when we arrived. 

Dave and I walked up to the main gate and took many photos. The construction work around Buckingham Palace was a bit distracting and more than a little annoying for drivers in London because the roads were blocked off. The work was being done for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. 

As we were standing there, four motorcycle cops with lights flashing arrived at the front gate. Hmmm….they looked remarkably similar to the other night when we saw the Queen! So, we staked out a spot along the gate by the entrance hoping to catch visible proof of a royal this time! I did get video of the Land Rover leaving, but had no idea who it was until after they drove by. It was Prince Andrew and what we all assumed was one of his daughters in the back seat. Andrew was sitting on the opposite side, so it’s very diffciult to tell who was in the car. Oh, well…we tried! 

Dave and I walked back to the hotel, had a lovely dinner in the pub, then headed back to the room to pack.

Windsor Castle, The Phantom, and The Queen

Today was our first train trip! We hired another cab to pick us up at the hotel and take us to the train station. We knew we were going to have to make a train switch in Slouth as well so that was getting us a tad nervous. 

The train station was quite busy and our gate number wasn’t showing up on the big board which was a little unnerving, but about 10 minutes prior to departure it showed up on the board and an exodus of people descended to the tracks. 

Unfortunately, we had to sit backwards, but it wasn’t a long train trip. We arrived in Slouth and had a short wait for our final train into Windsor. Everything went very well. We arrived on time, walked into town and BOOM, there’s your darn castle right there in the middle of town! I was shocked by two things…that it was right there so close to the town and that there was so much of it! I had no idea Windsor Castle was so large. 

The town of Windsor is lovely. I would love to spend more time there, but we had a castle to see and it was starting to sprinkle again. Dave and I purchased the audio guide which was very helpful and a terrific tool for touring. Well worth the price. Although it makes everyone look like they’re carrying around cell phones attached to their ears. 

Windsor Castle has been around since the 11th century and has been the home of 39 monarchs. It’s currently one of the official residences of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and she and Prince Phillip spend most weekends there. 

Unfortunately, we were unable to take photos inside the castle and that’s a shame because some of the rooms and royal collections are outstanding and overwhelming in scale and scope. Truly jaw dropping. 

One of the highlights was going into St. George’s Chapel which is a beautiful example of artestry and craftsmanship. And it’s also a beautiful place of worship and reflection as several famous people are buried there. 

The current Queen’s parents (King George VI  & Elizabeth the Queen Mum) and her sister Margaret are buried there as are King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. But one very surprising burial site as that of King Henry VIII. 

I knew he was buried there, but was waiting for them to point out the statue, or tomb, or memorial to him. Suddenly, while walking in the choir (or quire), I realized the dark slab I was standing on said “Henry VIII”. I stepped back and read the following: 

~~~~~ In a Vault beneath this marble slab are deposited the remains of Jane Seymour Queen of King Henry VIII (1537), King Henry VIII (1547), King Charles I (1648), and an infant child of Queen Anne. This memorial was placed here by command of King William IV in 1837 ~~~~~ 

I was really shocked that a King who had such an amazing history and reign had such a plain, non-descript burial place. Apparently he DID have a much more grand place in mind, but the country ran out of money to complete it. Kind of sad really. I know, I know…he was a horrible husband and killed a lot of innocent people, but he surely was bigger than life in all respects and this was so plain and simple. 

A wooden window seat built for Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was particularly interesting and intriguing since it was built in the 1400’s. Prince Charles and his 2nd wife Camilla had a celebration of dedication and prayer at the chapel a few years ago as well. 

The grounds around the castle that the general public is allowed to see are beautiful and one can only imagine the larger views the royals must have there. It’s a large working castle with over 160 regular employees that also live on the grounds. I’m not sure I’d like tourists walking by my front door on a daily basis. 

The state apartments and banquet rooms were beyond amazing and to know they’re still in use today and the amount of preparation that needs to be done for state visits is astounding. So much attention to detail. They sure know how to do pomp and circumstance well. 

As we left the castle our stomachs were growling. After a short walk through the village we stumbled upon The Carpenter’s Arms pub. Built in 1518. The pub cellars have many passages that lead to Windsor Castle which were used until the early 19th Century but have now been bricked up. Dave ordered one of their home brews and I ordered a Guinness and some fish & chips, which was fantastic! A giant piece of cod. 

A short walk back to the train station and we caught our trains back to London without incident, although a really ugly, dark cloud moved in over the castle and we got a tad wet at the train platform on the way out. The train travel was relatively painless. 

We had a quick dinner at the pub, a brief hail storm passed, then we grabbed a cab to the theater for our night with the phantom! Our show of choice was PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. It has been at this same theater, Her Majesty’s Theatre, for 25 years. The theater itself was much smaller than I was expecting at a seating capacity of only 1,200. One change from the theater productions I’ve been to on Broadway is that they offered sides of champange prior to the show (at a cost of course) then they were taking drink orders for intermission and they offered small containers of ice cream at intermission. We DID have some ice cream at intermission mostly because it was so toasty in the theater. 

Our seats were amazing! Could see the entire stage, no obstructions and at one point, even in the first balcony, 3 rows back, the phantom was literally at eye level with us while suspended in the air on a piece of scenery. WELL worth the extra money we spent and the show itself was fantastic. The actors and singing were phenominal except for one character who had such a thick french accent I couldn’t understand a darn thing she said. I know we should have gone to see a more recent less-seen production, but I wanted to have a feel-good, big-theater experience and you can’t miss with Phantom. I had never seen it on the stage either, so to see it in the original theater it started in made it a really fun night at the theater. Dave loves the show and the music too. 

After our ride back to the hotel, we realized it was beautiful out and was still relatively early, so we change into some more comfortable clothing and shoes and walked down to Westminster Abby, Parliment Square and the Thames. The city lights were beautiful and the blue lights of The London Eye really stood out. 

As we were getting ready to cross a road onto the Waterloo Bridge, four motorcycle police officers were closing down traffic (not that there was much at 11 at night) and a sedan followed closely behind them. As the sedan passed by, Dave, myself and two other people next to us realized the woman sitting in the back of the car was THE Queen Elizabeth! Talk about completely taken by surprise and a wonderful unexpected event! We were shocked at our luck. Unfortunately, no photos can prove we saw what we saw, but we both know it WAS her. The young man next to us was British and he said he had lived in London all his life and never saw the Queen and we’re there one night and see her! LOL Pretty neat. 

The weather was finally turning around to some warmer temps and less rain, so we were happy about that.

Tower Of London

We ate breakfast down at the pub. Neither one of us have ordered up that big English Breakfast just yet though. 

Dave arranged an early taxi ride over to St. Paul’s Cathedral this morning. The cab (mini van) picked us up right at the hotel. Another interesting and fast-paced cab ride to our destination. 

As we arrived, we noticed some baracades around the perimeter of the cathedral. As we approached someone who worked there, we were informed the cathedral was not open and available to the general public today because the Dali Lama was in town all day! What? When did that happen? 

Well, apparently because of security issues for the Dali Lama, it was kept pretty quiet. In fact, this woman probably shouldn’t have even told us, but she did. We weren’t the only ones that were taken surprise as larger tour groups were arriving and also being turned away as Dave and I were trying to decide what to do with our morning. 

Our plan was to visit the Tower of London later in the day, so we decided, since it opened at 10 this morning and it was already after 9, that we’d get another cab and head over. It was also starting to rain. 

Before we even got to the actual Tower, we discovered the Tower HIll Execution Site outside of the main Tower structures. This small brick-paved monument marks the site of the infamous scaffold at Tower Hill. The first permanent scaffold was set up in 1465 during the reign of King Edward IV. But the first recorded execution was that of Sir Simon Burley in 1388. It was on Tower Hill that most of the prisoners held in the Tower of London and condemned to die would meet their ends. Executions within the Tower were reserved for royalty and not in view of the public. Executions on Tower Hill were for the nobility and the public did attend. The Tower of London was used to imprison only the aristocracy. Some of the more notable members of the nobility who were executed here include John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, 1553, His grandson Lord Guilford Dudley, 1554, Sir Thomas More, 1535, and Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, 1540. Everyonen always assumes the everyone executed here was actually within the Tower grounds. 

Dave and I then set out to venture into the tower in the rain. We purchased the audio tour, which is very helpful in learning about the structures you’re passing. And there is so much history and stories associated with the Tower of London, that it would make for a far lengthier blog entry than anyone would care to read. So…I’ll try to condense some of the main things that struck me. 

As with a lot of the historial buildings in London, there are many different eras represented at the tower. Roman remains were discovered they believe to be from AD 200, then everyone from Willian the Conqueror (1066) to King Edward (1300’s) to Henry VIII (1500’s) have expanded and reinvented the towers. 

The Tower Green, where Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey were beheaded is now the spot of a beautiful monument that simply reads: 

• Gentle visitor pause awhile 
• where you stand death cut away the light of many days 
• here jeweled names were broken from the vivid thread of life 
• may they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage 
• under these restless skies 

It’s a very simple, small monument outside the Chapel Royal surrounded by manicured green lawns. Very unlike the gruesome past this patch of land has witnessed. 

Tower after tower showcases how London defended itself, recreated itself and built itself into the world power it now is. Politicians, royalty, and the nobility were held captive, tortured and ruled within these walls. Oh, the stories they could tell! I loved walking the old stone hallways and narrow, curving staircases sharing the footsteps with historical figures. 

We saw the Queens House where Anne Boleyn stayed prior to her coronation and where she stayed the night before her execution. For some reason i was fascinated by that Tudor-style building. Do we say it’s a “Tudor-style” building when it was actually BUILT in the Tudor era? LOL We also saw the Traitor’s Gate where it’s reported that Anne Boleyn was brought in by boat before her imprisonment at the tower. 

The creative and ornate wall carvings created by prisoners were also fascinating. Most were in latin, but they did a great job of displaying plaques transcribing what they actually said. I suppose it was early forms of graffitti, but they are far more profound. Really striking. 

Then we checked out the Crown Jewels. Dave had read you could see the jewels, then come back around to view them as many times as you wanted, so we tested that theory and it worked! The breathtaking collection is beautifully displayed in dark rooms with pinpoint lighting hitting the jewels at just the right spot. The moving sidewalks create constant movement so people are hogging up on piece. It’s very well done Dave and I walked around 3 different times so we were able to get even closer views of certain items. 

It was a very rainy day for the most part, so everyone was very anxious to get inside. It was crowded, but we spent all day there so I guess we should thank the Dali Lama! 

Instead of hiring another taxi, we took advantage of our London Pass and headed back to the Westminster dock via boat on the Thames. A quick and easy way to get around and within an easy walk back to the hotel. 

Dinner at the pub downstairs soon followed then to bed for an early start the next morning.

Hampton Court

Another sunny, but cool morning greeted Dave and I on our 2nd full day in England. Breakfast at the hotel is included with our stay, so we headed down to the pub/restaurant for a quick bite to eat. 

They had a continental breakfast setup with fresh baked goods, cereals, fruit and juices. We only found out AFTER we filled our plates and settled in our seats that we could order a full English breakfast off the menu. Maybe tomorrow because we had a train to catch! 

The woman at the front desk gave us a tip on where to catch a taxi, so we walk about a block and Dave hailed a cab. The driver, again, was terrific and very friendly and helpful. 

After purchasing our train tickets at Waterloo station, we boarded the train for Hampton Court. A very nice older couple boarded the train right before it shoved of and say across from us facing us. They had been in London the day before for their daughter’s birthday and asked us how we were enjoying our holiday. I guess we oozed tourist. LOL 

We enjoyed a very nice chat with them until they hopped off on their stop. So far, every Brit we have encountered has been friendly and very helpful. Genuinely lovely. 

After several more stops, we pulled in to Hampton Court. It is a short walk across the bridge to the entrance of Hampton Court Palace and what an entrance it is! 

The guide book touts Hampton Court as “two palaces for the price of one”. The rose red brick Tudor palace is indelibly associated with King Henry VIII. And the Baroque palace, first occupied in 1700, has some of the world’s greatest gardens around it. 

The major areas to explore included the early life of Henry VIII to his magnificent state apartments of the 1530’s which include the huge tapestries that line the walls of the Great Hall. It is believed that the tapestries were first hung there in 1546. 

We also saw Henry’s massive kitchen and surrounding food prep areas where over 1,200 meals were prepared for the royal court. Massive is really an understatement! 

We saw the haunted hallway where Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard supposedly haunts. She was convicted of adultery and beheaded at the Tower of London. 

Then there are the apartments of William III and his young wife Mary II which are some of the grandest, and richly decorated rooms in the palace. 

So much to see on so many different levels and on a scale I have never set eyes on before. There were also priceless pieces of artwork both painted on the walls and hanging on the walls. 

Some of paintings WERE the walls. Of course a few gift shops were strewn amongst all of the elegance, but it was such a beautiful day and everyone was so nice. Even the crowds weren’t that large. 

There are at least four large courtyards throughout both palaces which allowed for some beautiful resting areas… And we DID need to rest. A lot of walking for sure. 

The only interior area we did not see was The Chapel Royal because it was a Sunday and was in use for services the entire day. We hear it’s stunning though. 

The gardens, the gardens, the gardens! Oh, are there gardens here! There are 8 or 9 gardens and we only saw about 5 of them… and each one improved itself after the one before it which was amazing. 

Stunning fountains with giant, highly manicured trees. Beds filled with herbs, perennial flowers and small topiary holly trees. The Pond Garden and the Privy Garden left me speechless… Or at least asking Dave to “make me one of those, honey!” 

What a special day to surround yourself with such oppulance and grandeur. Steeped in history and lovingly maintained for future generations, it is a must-see in my book. 

After exhausting all of our camera batteries by taking so many photos, we caught our train back to London. We spent a lovely 7 hours at Hampton Court Palace, but were now very tired and ready to retire for the night. Not before having another meal at Fuller’s Pub at the hotel though. 

Tonight Dave tried the sausage, apple, & onion pie and I opted for the fish & chips. I’m not going to lie though…I was highly disappointed with the fish. Much more bland tasting than I was expecting in London, but the Guinness was good! LOL 

Dave arranged for a taxi to pick us up tomorrow morning for our trip to St. Paul’s Cathedral and we both collapsed.

London, Baby!

Wait…the sun is up already? But we haven’t slept and I look horrible! Well, apparently the pilot says it is morning and we’ll soon be landing in London. Dave and I are exhausted but excited and soooo looking forward to getting off this cramped plane and its grumpy, crusty flight attendants. Yes, I said crusty. 

After hearing some resent horror stories about lengthy waits for US travelers getting through customs at Heathrow airport, we had both expected a terrible experience once we landed, but it really wasn’t that bad at all and only took us about 45 minutes to get through. 

We found our luggage still circling the luggage carousel waiting for us. Checking our luggage and only carrying on one small bag a piece was really a smart way to go. I’m still constantly amazed at the piles of **** people bring on board airplanes expecting it all to fit on overhead bins. 

The weather in London the last couple of weeks has not been ideal, but today we find ourselves in an historic city bathed in sunlight. We hailed one of London’s famous London’s Black Taxis and headed to our hotel.

And We’re Off

The day started like any other, except when I asked Dave if he’d like to go to England, he actually said “yes!” this morning! Well, then…let’s go to London by God! 

After loading our suitcases up, Dave packed up the kitties and took them to their little vacation home away from home at The Cat’s Inn whe Lexie & Smokey will enjoy luxury accommodations sharing town-house unit. 

The taxi Dave arranged picked us up at the house. Let’s just say the driver and his car left a little to be desired, but he got us to the bus station safely and on time. That’s all that mattered! 

We ate our previously store-bought sandwiches at the bus station, then we boarded our south-bound ride to Portland where we picked up another south-bound bus to Logan Airport in Boston. Let’s just say bus travel has improved significantly since I last took a bus trip. Free Wifi, a full-length movie was shown and water was offerered. A very comfortable and easy couple of hours for our first leg of our journey. 

Upon arriving at Logan airport, we quickly checked our only two pieces of luggage, made it through security without incident (no, the metal coils & stent in my brain did not set the metal detector off), then we made our way to the food court for dinner and watched the planes take off until our boarding time. 

This is the first time I have flown since 2005 and I was a little nervous. Dave and I were both expecting a large plane, but it turned out to just be a LONG plane. We were both surprised at how narrow the seats were, even for a plane. Neither one of us weree looking forward to sitting for six hours, but even less so once we sat in these seat! Dave sat on an aisle and I was in the middle. Our hopes we’d have the whole row to ourselves were soon dashed, but the young, thin young man who sat next to me was very nice, quiet and well behaved. We SO lucked out. 

As much as Dave and I both new we’d have to try and get some sleep on the flight, it was not meant to be. I believe we felt we both did some “heaving resting”, but that was it. Seats wer uncomfortable, people kept bumping Dave whe they’d walk by and meals were served at odd times. I’ve NEVER eaten lasagne at 10:00 at night, but I did on the plane. The food was actually quite good and we both enjoyed our meals. 

The in-flight movie was WE BOUGHT A ZOO. I really didn’t have any desire to watch it, so listened to music on my iPad and tried to read, but my eyes were so tired I couldn’t concentrate. Dave listened to Pocasts on his iPad. Oh, the joys of modern technology! 

A six hour flight, but we lost five hours……to be continued on Saturday when we get off the plane.