Best French Kiss Ever (Au Revoir) About This Page:

[chezp]

Oh gosh, that night seems yesterday - it can't be over three years already, surely?

[lauriep]

Ooh, a cliff-hanger. What happens next??

[DouglasE]

Originally, Chez, Mark and I had agreed to meet at the bed and breakfast I was staying in. The good news for me was that I was navigating the tube like a pro. I didn’t take one wrong turn, one wrong move. I could not have arrived any sooner. I finally arrive at Victoria Station. I noticed just outside the station is the theater where “Wicked”, the musical is in previews. I would have loved to have arrived earlier in the day in time to see that show. Idina Menzel who originated the role of Elphaba on Broadway was back in the role in London. She is amazing. I walk very briskly over to my bed and breakfast, which is only about a five minute walk away from the train station. At this point I know I'm sweating quite a bit because I'm doing my best to rush, rush, rush. The great thing was that the owners of the B+B Belgravia were quite gracious. They gave me Chez’ cell phone number and let me use their phone to call them. Chez and Mark had stayed as long as they could and headed out to the London Eye. We had an appointment for the last flight of the night at 9 o’clock. I called them and let them know that I had dropped my stuff at the B+B and was on my way to meet them at the Eye.

I went over to Victoria Station. I got onto the tube and got off at Embankment. At this point it is nearing 9 o’clock. I literally ran across the bridge at Embankment and ran over to the London Eye. I'm hearing in my head, "Run! Forrest! Run!"



There was no sign of Mark or Chez. Right after arriving at the Eye, Big Ben started to chime. That’s how I know I was there for 9 o’clock. I wandered all around to no avail. I kept on looking and there was no sign. I was getting more and more pissed. I now realize I am a creature of the 21st century. I am so used to having a cell phone. I didn’t take mine because it would not work over in Europe. Plus, there would not have been enough occasions to warrant getting one over there. But the whole time I’m wandering around the Eye I’m muttering to myself and pissed off about not having a phone. I guess I was waiting for Chez and Mark for about 40-45 minutes and I see them getting off the giant wheel. I was just happy to finally see them. If I hadn’t, I was about to head off on my own and experience the nightlife of London. I’m a shy guy, so I don’t know how much fun I would have had all on my own. We started chatting and making our way over to have dinner. Chez and Mark are always very easy to talk to. I love Mark’s energy. Chez filled me in on their adventures in the city so far.



It’s funny how different cities have different personalities. I would say that Paris is elegant and delicate. London is stately and majestic. I really didn’t have a chance to appreciate things as I raced across the bridge to meet Chez and Mark. That was something more like out of a scene in a movie. Now I had the time to catch my breath and take in London. Parliament and Big Ben are something to behold. You really just need to see things in person. No matter how many photographs or videos you see, it just does not do justice to being there in person. The three of us hopped onto the tube and were whisked over to the neighborhood of the restaurant for which we had reservations.



Big Ben






Think of my crappy old camera as taking an impressionist painting of Parliament at night. It did wonderful in daytime; but not the greatest with low light conditions.

[DouglasE]

In 2006 Chez made the following post:

We hopped on the tube and got off at Victoria and quickly found our way to Belgravia bed and breakfast, which is where Douglas was staying the night. We had said that we would meet at 8.00 and we were there about 10 minutes early. I was hoping that he would be there by now, but when the door was answered, we were told that he hadn’t made it there yet.

We went in and were offered a cup of tea and a biscuit, both of which were very welcome, as we were hungry and tired by now. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] The couple who ran the plan were very friendly and so was there dog. I’m not much of a dog fan, due to the fact that I was attacked by one when I was a kid, but this Tibetian terrier was gorgeous, but he certainly knew that we were eating biscuits and turned his beautiful eyes on us as we ate. That is one thing I am not good at – pleading animal eyes, although I was good and didn’t feed him.

We waited and chatted to some of those staying there, who included a couple from California and an Australian woman, but by 8.25, we could wait no more. We figured if we didn’t leave then, we wouldn’t make it back to the London Eye by 9.00, so we sadly headed off, leaving our mobile phone numbers with the couple to give to Douglas as soon as he arrived.

No sooner than we got on the tube and we had a message from Douglas, but of course the signal kept cutting out, as we were underground. When we finally got off at Westminster and walked over Westminster Bridge, we heard the message that he was leaving and would meet us at the London Eye. We just hoped and prayed that he would make it in time.

We went to the boarding area and asked the woman there how long we had before it closed for the night and she told us that we had until maybe three or four minutes past 9.00 before we had to board. We stayed near her, so that she could tell us when we absolutely had to board. We kept looking and looking for Douglas and couldn’t see him anywhere. I took the opportunity to get a few more photos, both on the way there and as we waited.


The London Eye

Trees lit up at the base of the Eye

Looking across the River to Charing Cross station

County Hall

Looking at the Eye

Houses of Parliament

Eventually we were told that we had to go and the woman promised us that if she saw Douglas in the next minute or two, she would send him up. We cleared security and were asked to go up. We stopped again to look around, but again we couldn’t see Douglas, so we walked up to the capsule and told the guy there that we were waiting for the last capsule of the night. He told us that this was the last one of the night, so we had no option but to get on. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img] I was so sad that Douglas missed this, but we had done everything we could to wait for him.

[DouglasE]

In 2006, Chez continued to report the following:

Saturday 9 September – part five: a real taste of Italy

We walked with him over Westminster Bridge:



Then we caught the tube from Westminster over to Holborn, with a change on the way. We were out of there a few minutes before 10.00 and easily found the restaurant where we were booked by 10.00. As our dinner was booked for that time, we hadn’t done too badly getting there.

NEXT: Our Italian dinner in London

[chezp]

Oh I love the way you've mixed our two repors together. I really that night so well and the disappointment that you weren't able to join us on the London Eye. We were just both so glad to see you when we got off - I remember Mark saying "yay, there he is!"

[PrincessSharon]

Glad you got to do some shopping in Paris, even if it was only window shopping. And even though I wouldn't want a 17 hour layover, it is nice that you were able to see some of the sights of London. How great that you got to meet up with Chez and Mark! Sorry you missed out on going up in the Eye, that's a neat experience. Can't wait to hear about dinner.

[goofysdtr]

Looking forward to hearing your take on the dinner! I remember reading the thread with Cheryl's take on things, but thanks for putting them in this thread . . . my memory isn't THAT good!

[Colexis Mom]

Great updates!

[DouglasE]

I don't think I've mentioned that by the time I reached London I had basically run out of memory for my camera. I was able to take very few pictures. So unlike me!

Chez continues her report of our evening together thus-ly:

We were booked at the Italian Kitchen in New Oxford Street near our hotel (that’s why we booked that particular hotel! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] ) and it was a charming little place and felt very Italian. Let’s just say that it was fairly obviously though that the staff weren’t Italian, but despite that, the food was superb and tasted very authentic. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

I had fried zucchini to start with what I call a genuine tomato sauce, the type that only Italians can do [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] followed by linguine with salmon and asparagus. Mark had the Mediterranean vegetable soup to start and the lamb cutlets for main course, while Douglas went for the pasta with shrimps and chilli. I did think about having that, but the “chilli” word put me off and judging by Douglas’ reaction, I made a good choice.

Chez did a great job at describing dinner. I just want to add my two cents. The food was really tasty. I give kudos to the chef. I especially liked the pasta dish. When Chez says "my reaction" I have no doubt that I was rather vocal. I have a tendency to make noises of enjoyment when I like a meal. The chilli probably had added some spiciness to the meal; but not spicy hot. I definitely do NOT like spicy hot food. To give a Disney frame of reference it would be more akin to the spiciness that you experience at Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot. The service was so-so. The waitress was not a native English speaker (but not Italian either) and it did cause for some minor confusion.

]



Mark and I both passed on dessert, but Douglas got the Tartufo, rich chocolate truffle cake with caramelised oranges in Grand Marnier, and it looked delicious, but there was no way I would have done it justice. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] It was a great meal and reasonably priced too, although I did have to complain that they had included the price of the wine we all had. We had an offer that it was free when we ordered two courses. Just as well I brought the evidence of that offer with me, so that I could argue the point

And argue she did. It was necessary. First we tried explaining things to our server. Then, the manager needed to get involved. In the end, we got the offer that was advertised online. It was because of the offer that we were eating in this establishment in the first place. We had a million and one choices in London.

I got my way in the end and saved £12 off the bill! It only came to £54 (about $97) for the three of us, which is great value for dinner in London and especially when you compared it to how much lunch for the two of us had cost.

All too soon it was time to bid farewell to Douglas, but before that, we grabbed a quick photo of the two of us together.



I had noticed that a bus ran from right outside the restaurant back to Victoria coach station and that was right by where he was staying, so he got that back instead of the tube, where he would have had to have changed at least once. He promised that he would be back and would spent more time in London next time

Mark and Chez at dinner



I could not believe that there was a bus that stopped right in front of the restaurant that would take me to only a few blocks from my B + B. How convenient was that!?! That is just the pure definition of serendipity. The nice thing about that bus ride was that Victoria Station was a major stop for the bus. Most of the bus ended up getting off at that point. The whole time on the bus, I had my eyes peeled wide open so I wouldn’t miss signaling the bus operator that I needed to get off. I needlessly was worried. But I was traveling on my own in a city that I had never visited. I loved reconnecting with Chez and Mark. That was my favorite part of being in London. The night was just too short.

[chezp]

Oh that night was too short, wasn't it? It was such a shame we didn't get to spend more time with you, but I am so glad that we caught up with you.

[Colexis Mom]

Great night!

[Sandra Bostwick]

This is just wonderful! So many interesting photos, but I think I like this one best.

[DouglasE]

As soon as I got to my room at B+B Belgravia, I crashed in my bed. That bed was wonderful! Oh my god, it felt so good. It was the best bed of my whole trip. The B+B was clean, crisp, and modern. I went directly to sleep because I was getting up early in the morning for an early morning stroll through London.



Before I knew it, that travel alarm clock was beeping its little heart out. I immediately leaped out of bed and slipped into the shower. It was Sunday, September 10 at 7 am, when I stepped out of the door of the B + B on Ebury Street. I walked about a block or two down, when I saw the most unanticipated sight. A well-dressed couple was going at it like dogs in heat as they were pressed up against the front façade of a building. His suit appeared to be well tailored and she was wearing a lovely floral print skirt as far as I could see considering his hands had hiked it up to her hips. I just kept on walking. I must say I was tempted to take a picture. But that is something I just don’t think I would forget. Moving on, I walked a couple of blocks over to Buckingham Palace. From Buckingham Palace I walked by Westminster Abbey. Moving closer to the Thames River I walked over to Big Ben and Parliament. I crossed Whitehall and noticed the Winston Churchill statue in the park. Too bad at this point I have used up almost all of the memory for my camera. I just didn’t have enough to take too many pictures of London. I walked up Whitehall toward Trafalgar Square. I missed stopping by Downing Street to see #10, but that will just have to wait for my next visit. Trafalgar Square always seems so incredibly busy in all the pictures I’ve seen. Today, it was just me and the pigeons. No one is awake on an early Sunday morning in London. The light was wonderful. It was so peaceful. What a wonderful way to explore London, when you only have a few short hours. From Trafalgar Square I made my way to Leicester Square and Piccadilly. Eventually I made my way to Soho. It’s funny how gritty Soho can be on a Sunday morning. I’m sure the attraction is all the people watching that can be had. I took a tube ride from Piccadilly back to Victoria Station.

Westminster Abbey


Guard duty



Trafalgar Square



Oxford Street deserted on a Sunday morning



I almost forgot to tell you. Chez has a relatively new camera. It is fancy, schmancy. When it focuses on its subject, it shoots out what looks like an array of laser lights in a net like pattern. Mark said, we were being “targeted”. That’s exactly what it is like. Of course, I now want a new camera. When that will ever take place is beyond me. (This was written back in 2007. I can now tell you I purchased a new camera in the summer of 2009). Yes, I know that the price of digital cameras have become quite reasonable. But I also want a new bed, a new laptop, a new place to live, new shoes, a new wardrobe for the winter, a new winter coat…you get the picture. (I still want all of that).

The second B of B + B is breakfast. The price of my room included breakfast. Too bad I had to get back to Heathrow to go home. I only had time enough to grab a muffin on the run. The couple that runs the B + B was wonderful with me, very warm. I would return there in a heartbeat. In fact, the breakfast spread that they had would have satisfied any American. You know how picky we can be about our breakfasts. If you are interested in staying in London, I highly recommend, “B + B Belgravia”. It’s right in the heart of the city. It is run by very warm and hospitable folks, clean, modern, and reasonably priced (for London).

I had purchased a round trip ticket for the Heathrow Express so I did the reverse of my trip the previous evening and made it to Heathrow with plenty of time. In this day and age it is extremely important you follow the recommended guidelines for arrival at airports. The time gets taken up by waiting in the lines to check-in, security, customs, etc.

I would love to spend a long vacation in London. I don’t know when I will be able to do that. It’s quite expensive. The exchange rate was around $2 for every pound sterling. So my spending power was cut in half. We’ll see when I can pull that together. Right now I’m toying with the idea of a variety of options (Costa Rica, Barcelona and the beaches of Spain, Germany & Austria). We shall see. While I definitely could get away time wise, money is always an issue for me. My next little jaunt is a week in Scandanavia. I won a sweepstakes so it's mostly being paid for by Travelocity! On a final note, I want to thank Chez and Mark for their wonderful generosity.

NEXT: A look back at what I took away from my trip to France

[chezp]

What a great morning - and you picked the right time to see London quiet. We've commented how dead the capital is on Sunday mornings. While the rest of the country has shops opening at 10.30 or 11.00 (we're still only allowed six hours trading until Sunday shopping laws), in London, nothing opens until 12.00, which always amazes us.