Pies, Pubs, and Proper Pleasantries

Hi Auntie,

Well, we’re back in London staying at the Grosvenor House Hotel, which is on Park Lane in the Mayfair District of London.  The house was owned by the Grosvenor family – the Dukes of Westminster—for over a century.   After the military asked to use the house during WWI, the Grosvenor’s sold it and it was then turned into a hotel.

coffee at Grosvenor House

Amanda and Noelle at Buckingham Palace

Anyway, as you can see we enjoyed the surroundings more that we anticipated.  Most enjoyable were our cups of coffee that we had the first morning in one of the common areas of the hotel.

Noelle was eager to show Amanda London, so on the first day we rested and stayed nearby the Grosvenor House – meaning, we were across from Hyde Park; just down the street from the London Hard Rock Café; just across Green Park from Buckingham Palace – which is down the street from Horse Parade and the War Rooms, of which St. James Park (my favorite) runs into.

It was important to me to see Horse Parade, as it is just fabulous.  From Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty can look right down ‘the mall’ to Horse Parade, which is where the Calvary would assemble when needed for battle.  The Horse Parade procession continues, and is held everyday of the week at the beginning of the changing of the guard for Buckingham Palace.

Horse Parade Procession

Horse Parade

To give you an idea, if you were to stand in the street they refer to as the mall, facing Buckingham Palace, then directly behind you is Horse Parade.   So, as I said, the queen can look from her palace to her Calvary--and vice versa.

Waiting for the changing of the Calvary

The day's Calvary

Horse Guards leave for their trip to Buckingham Palace, then through the Wellington Arch

Horse Guards, without a doubt, is my favorite.  The colors of the guard are so vibrant against the London landscape.  It was very moving to me to just be walking along and see them in the distance, at different times -- sometimes walking in procession, and sometimes galloping in procession.  This, the daily event, is interesting because they go down the road and cars just drive right along beside, behind, and around.  Commonplace for the Londoners. Enchanting to me.

After exploring this area we all went into a PUB for a pint.  A very enjoyable afternoon.

Amanda's First English Pub--The Blue Post

Looking for another perfect pub in Shepherd Market

Ye Grape--another pub I like

The next day we took the train out to Greenwich where Noelle showed Amanda around.  Greenwich is such a charming village.

Harrod's Department Store

We also visited Kings Arms (my favorite Greenwich Pub) and I did laundry while Noelle showed Amanda around Greenwich Park and the University.

Fun was had by all.  After a meal at the original Hard Rock Café and a visit to famous, Harrods’s Department Store, we said farewell to Amanda. 

We all agree that we can’t believe how quickly our three weeks in Italy went.  It was a ton of fun.

St. James Park

Big Ben

A flower stand tucked away on a London Street

 Now, on the heels of the crowds for the funeral of Lady Thatcher, the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings, the incoming crowds, preparation, and increasing security for the London Marathon--which originates in Greenwich, right by Noelle's dorm-- we have decided to spend the next few days in Edinburgh, Scotland.

I'll be in touch.
Lu