This blog entry about our United Kingdom and Ireland vacation will use my notes from the Funforless tours, Caribbean Princess cruise ship, Delta Air Lines, and my hotel and restaurant notes for 2013.

Notes about events prior to our departure.  We printed our Delta boarding passes on 31 July.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites Airport North in College Park, Georgia, on the 31st and left our car in their secure parking lot until our return from the U.K.  

Comfort Inn & Suites Airport North

We contacted our credit card companies about our travel overseas.  We added to our AT&T package for international travel and for our cruise around the U.K.  We got two backpacks as recommended by Funforless tours.  

We got $120 for tips per person to give to our Funforless tour guides for them to dispense to our coach (bus) drivers and local tour guides.  We got 200 pounds for the U.K. and 50 euros for Ireland and France.  We could have used more euros.  We got a converter adapter kit at Wal-mart for the 220V electricity.  This was not needed for the electricity for our Apple laptops or iPhones, but for other electronics such as our battery charger.  The plug adapters were needed for all electronics.  Throughout the tour we each had a receiver to hear what the local tour guides had to say, both on and off the coach.  So we paid $10 each for insurance for the receivers.

Friday 2 August 2013

It was a long flight on Delta from Atlanta to Heathrow in London.  We left the U.S. in the evening on Thursday 1 August and landed in England the morning on Friday  2 August.

The flight itself was fine with mini-pretzels and diet Coke and Fresca. Our departure and arrival were on time. We were provided blankets, pillows, and earphones as well as a yummy supper and breakfast!  Ei watched "Rapunzel" while I started and finished reading "To The Grave" by Steve Robinson. I did not sleep at all :( 

Steve Robinson

After landing, we had to get in a very long line to show our passports and landing cards.  That probably took 45 minutes.

We lugged our luggage and bought round trip tickets for bus H53 to our hotel, the London Heathrow Marriott.  The hotel had sliding doors, which is always nice for handling one's luggage, and an automatic revolving door.  We had a nice room (2075) with two queen beds, two comfy chairs, and desk with chair.  It was interesting that there was no top sheet on our beds, so we had to request them. We learned that this was typical in Europe as well as on our cruise ship. Only having the comforter on top was too warm.   We had very comfortable beds and a full bathroom.  There was no microwave and the fridge had no freezer section. We learned that this was typical in Europe, too.  A buffet with the TV on top contained the fridge.  The wifi was expensive, 15 pounds for 24 hours!  But using the wifi box on the desk and plugging it into the laptop I had 60 minutes for free.

London Heathrow Marriott

London Heathrow Marriott Lobby

London Heathrow Marriott Lobby

We were able to check in upon our arrival in the morning, which was very nice. David and Goria Powell visited us in the afternoon.  They were full-time missionaries at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City when we were there. Now they were on another full-time mission doing records preservation in London.  

David and Goria

David, Goria, and Eileen

We enjoyed supper in Allie's American Grille.  We shared the crispy lemon calamari which were good but more like little fish sticks.  We were served the Classic Allie's Popover Pudding (pastry-like hollowed-out bread) baked with gruyere cheese and served with horseradish sauce.  Eileen had the fish and chips with mushy peas.  I had the Allie's burger with cheddar cheese, smoked streaky bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a little gherkin along with fries.  They had ketchup, mayo, and malt vinegar bottles on the table, so I could mix the ketchup and mayo for the fries.  This made something like the fry sauce we liked in Utah. Eileen overheard a couple near us mention the rain in Ellijay!  We went over and met Paul and Joann Robblee from Marietta who had once had a place in Coosawattee.  They're in a different tour group but will be on the same cruise ship.

Saturday 3 August:

We were up early and took H53 back to Heathrow to meet our tour group.

There were red, blue, and yellow coaches (not buses as in the U.S.) for our tour group.  The colors matched the flags held up by our tour guides.  Yellow was for the group that arrived on 31 July and would leave for the U.S. upon disembarkation from the ship on 16 August.  Each coach's passengers were divided into several groups.  Ours was group 1 and consisted of the Bailey's, Callister's, and Smart's.  This made it easy for the tour guide to check on everyone being present.

Funforless Guides Glenn Rawson and Rob Prince

Our red coach

Eileen and Ben

Dick and Saundra Smart

We enjoyed meeting Dick and Saundra Smart as well as Robert and Diane Prince.  The Prince's were tour guides and worked for Funforlesstours.  Rob has been in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Diane is currently in the Choir.  Glenn and Debbie Rawson were tour guides and Glenn presented our lectures on board ship.  We met Kenneth and Sherry Peck who knew Jim and Linda Speidel from our mission.  They also served in the Family and Church History Mission where Ken served in the Training Zone and Sherry in the FamilySearch Center in the Joseph Smith Building.  Later we met Scott and Barbara Callister, Kathy Poulsen, Doug and Carla Stephen, Paul and Beverly Krey, Dwain and Wilma Thatcher, and the Loftuses.

We enjoyed Windsor Castle but the lines were far, far too long which almost ruined the experience!  They were very long to enter the grounds and then very long to get through security.  We learned that some event was going on in London, so many came to Windsor Castle instead.  

Windsor Castle

Eileen and Ben

Changing of the Guard

Eileen ready to enter the castle grounds 

Coldstream Guard and Ben

St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle

Runnymede was nice.  No lines!  We enjoyed supper in Allie's American Grille with the Smart's.

Ben and Eileen at Runnymede

Sunday 4 August:

The buffet breakfast in Allie's American Grille was very nice!  We took our coach to Stonehenge.  Each of us (or one of us per couple) came up front and told about ourselves.  Dwain Thatcher told a joke about an Irishman drinking three beers every Friday for himself and two buddies and later cutting back to two beers because he joined the LDS Church!  K. Newell Dayley and his wife are on our tour.  He is a prominent Latter-day Saint composer, hymn writer, and musician.

K. Newell Dayley

Stonehenge was nice especially due to the free audio guides.  We couldn't approach the stones as we could 36 years ago but we learned a lot more thanks to the guides.

Diane and Rob Prince

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

Salisbury Cathedral was impressive but a service going on prevented us from entering and admiring the interior.  There was awful modern art sculpture on the grounds and even inside the cathedral :(

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

Eileen, Ben, Saundra and Dick Smart
on the approach to the cathedral

Diane and Rob Prince
on the approach to the cathedral

Boarding the Caribbean Princess cruise ship in Southampton went very well.  All the luggage went from coach to stateroom without us being involved and was in our room before us.  Our stateroom was C722 and the Smart's were right next door in C726!

Caribbean Princess

C722

C722

Eileen on the balcony of C722

We enjoyed the Palm Dining Room table 21 with Gilbert and Marilyn Abbe, Karolyn Pendleton, Janice Woodhouse, Melanie Taylor, and Barbara Yelland.  The Smart's were at table 2 with the Peck's.

Manuel, Chip and Marilyn Abbe, Karolyn Pendleton, Janice Woodhouse, Melanie Taylor, Barbara Yelland, and Eileen

Dick and Saundra Smith on formal night

Monday 5 August:

Each morning we enjoyed breakfast in the Horizon Court Buffet.  Our first port of call was the Channel Islands.  We took tenders to St. Peter Port on Guernsey. We rode buses to the Little Chapel 

the Little Chapel

the Little Chapel

Inside the Little Chapel

the Little Chapel

and back to Castle Cornet.

Castle Cornet

Ben and Eileen in front of Castle Cornet

Ben on the ramparts of Castle Cornet

Eileen, Saundra, and Barbara and Scott Callister

The local guide on the bus was very good and the local guide, Angie Perry, who was French, was very good at the castle and our walk through town.  She pointed out the home of author Victor Hugo, the Hauteville House, who lived on Guernsey from 1856 to 1870 in exile from France.  She mentioned his book "Toilers of the Sea," which takes place primarily in Guernsey.  I am reading it at present.

the white Hauteville House atop the hill

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

We visited the town parish church where I got a slice of Guernsey Gache bread to share with Eileen.  It is a local dish of Guernsey. It is a special bread made with raisins, sultanas, and mixed peel. In Guernesiais, gâche means cake.  Wikipedia

Guernsey Gache bread 

Parish Church of St. Peter Port, capital of Guernsey

Tavern next door to the church

Plaque to the savior of Canada who was born here

Guide Angie Perry

There was a terribly long line waiting to take the tenders back to ship as two tenders broke down :(  Well over an hour in line and the ship sailed an hour late!

We had been told to snack for lunch along the way.  But it would have been great fun to lunch in a local pub and enjoy some Guernsey Bean Jar.  The traditional Guernsey Bean Jar has been around for centuries, and still proves popular today. It is a cassoulet-type bean dish. Wikipedia

Guernsey Bean Jar

We were too tired for the formal dinner, so we ate lots of good food in the Horizon Court Buffet.  The desserts were the best!

Tuesday 6 August:

We had a very enjoyable lecture about St. Patrick by Glenn Rawson.  He gave interesting, inspirational lectures on board ship.  The ship docked at the port of Cork, Ireland.

Dick and Saundra Smart, Barbara and Scott Callister, Ben and Eileen

Titanic Memorial

We enjoyed the bus ride to Blarney Castle and return.  We took pictures on the grounds of the castle but did not get in the long line to enter the castle and kiss the Blarney Stone.  We enjoyed the company of the Smart's and pastries and chowder from Christy's Pub.  We visited the Blarney Woolen Mills outlet.  We stopped at St. Fin Barre's (Anglican) Cathedral in Cork as we traveled in our coach.  Very impressive to behold!

Blarney Castle

Ben and Eileen at Blarney Castle

Eileen and Saundra on the castle grounds

Near Blarney Castle

St. Fin Barre's (Anglican) Cathedral, Cork

Wednesday 7 August:

We had a very enjoyable lecture about his involvement with and development of the Joseph Smith Papers by Glenn Rawson.  D&C 124:1 "For unto this end have I raised you up.”

We enjoyed very much the coach to Glendaloch Medieval Monastery in County Wicklow and the ancient monastery itself.  Very very green terrain!

Eileen amongst the ruins

Kenneth and Sherry Peck

Eileen amongst the ruins

Celtic cross

Playing for donations

Ben amongst the ruins

Ben amongst the ruins

We enjoyed the coach back to Dublin City and the Book of Kells exhibit at Trinity College Library.    

The line at Trinity College Library to view the Book of Kells

A page from the Book of Kells

Bust of Shakespeare

Trinity College Library aka the "Long Room"

Bust of Socrates

Molly Malone

I liked the statue of Molly Malone!  She is remembered in the unofficial anthem of Dublin City, entitled simply "Molly Malone," "Cockles and Mussels," or "In Dublin's Fair City."

You may watch it and listen to it on Youtube (click on Skip the Ad) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNdU6bGE5E.

Back on board we and the Smart's went directly to the Princess Theater for the Irish music and dancing by "Gaels Afloat."  Then we had supper together in Horizon Court Buffet.  You may listen to the group sing "Danny Boy" at the following link:

https://myspace.com/gaelsafloat/music/song/danny-boy-10655726-10456910

Thursday 8 August:

I had breakfast in Horizon Court Buffet.  We arrived in Glasgow, Scotland.

Our coach driver was Liam Campbell and our tour guide was Tom Gaskie.

Eileen, Tom Gaskie, and Ben

Ben in costume

Rob Roy

Ruins seen along the way

We enjoyed very much the coach to Stirling Castle and the castle itself was awesome!  It was nice to see a statue of Rob Roy as I had read the book by Sir Walter Scott not long ago.  We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier in front of Robert the Bruce statue.

Ben and Eileen and the
statue of Robert the Bruce

There was also an eight-foot bronze infantryman, which was erected by the men of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to commemorate the fallen in the Boer War.

Historic Scotland's regional architect Chris McGregor said: "The Stirling soldier is one of the best-known statues in Scotland and has stood guard at the castle for a century.”

Eight-foot bronze infantryman

Stirling Castle

The entrance to the castle

Scott and Barbara Callister

Barbara Yelland and Karolyn Pendleton

A young maid in the castle

The ornate ceiling

A lady of the castle

A nobleman in the castle

Gardens in the castle

A scenic view

Ben and the war memorial cross

There is a war memorial in the Esplanade in front of Stirling Castle.  The inscribed text states: "The 75th Stirlingshire Regiment served with the army which besieged and took the city of Delhi.  It subsequently formed part of the forces which relieved the forts of Alighur and Agra and the garrison of Lucknow.  AD 1857-8.  Thine O Lord is the glory and the victory."

We enjoyed the coach back to Glasgow and visits to various places in the city, e.g., the cathedral.

Saundra and Eileen

Glasgow Cathedral

Inside Glasgow Cathedral

We had dinner with the Smart's, Peck's, and Krey's at table 2 (the Krey's arrived after the photo was taken).

Kenneth and Sherry Peck, Saundra and Dick Smart, and Eileen

Friday 9 Aug:

I had breakfast in Horizon Court Buffet.  Our driver was Peter and our tour guide was Adrian.  We had a wonderful drive along the coast of County Antrim.  Glenn had an interesting book “DK Eyewitness Travel Great Britain.”

We enjoyed the Giant's Causeway but it was too long a drive so we had nowhere enough time.

the Giant's Causeway

Ben at the Giant's Causeway

the Giant's Causeway

And then a short ride to Dunluce Castle without enough time to enjoy it :(   This was due to the ship arriving late in port.  We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier.

Dunluce Castle

Eileen and Ben in front of Dunluce Castle

Ben in front of Dunluce Castle

Along the Antrim coast we also saw the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge.

Carrick Bridge

We saw some sites in Belfast commemorating the Titanic, where it was built.  And some sites that showed the Catholic and Protestant areas of the city.

New Titanic Visitor Attraction

We went by the PRONI building (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland), an acronym familiar to Irish genealogists.  And we saw the C. S. Lewis wardrobe statue.  He was born in Belfast in 1898.

C. S. Lewis wardrobe statue

Adrian told us about aviator Bud Wolfe in the RAF.  It was a BBC documentary by Dan Snow.

Roland 'Bud' Wolfe January 12, 1918 - January 28, 1994, was an American pilot who parachuted from an RAF Spitfire plane into a peat bog on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland, on 30 November 1941. The incident initiated a diplomatic row between Britain and Ireland.  Wikipedia



We had dinner with the Smart's and Peck's at table 2.  We watched the balancing act in the Atrium for a while.

Saturday 10 Aug:

We had a day at sea.  Following the 10 am lecture by Glenn Rawson, we enjoyed lunch in Horizon Court Buffet with the Smart's.  Then we enjoyed the 3 pm lecture.  I got my Princess Cruises baseball cap and finished reading “Out to Canaan,” a Mitford novel by Jan Karon, to Eileen.

Jan Karon

Sunday 11 Aug:

I had breakfast in Horizon Court Buffet.  Group 1 (Red and yellow) left about 8 am.  Coach driver is Michael Firth and our guide is Fran.  We enjoyed Kirkwall, Orkney, and the Cuween Hill Tomb.  I walked up the hill and crawled into the tomb!

Barbara Yelland and Melanie Taylor

Entry to the tomb

Rob Prince

Kathy Poulsen 

Inside the tomb

Paul Krey inside the tomb

Looking out the doorway

Ben inside the tomb

We heard about the Odin stone which was destroyed in 1814 by a local farmer on whose land it was situated.  We visited the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.  Unlike Stonehenge we could walk up to the stones and touch them!  

Stones of Stenness

Eileen and Barbara 

Saundra and Dick Smart

Ben and one of the stones

Near the stones were some cattle and I couldn't resist taking a picture of one contented cow.

We had a comfort stop in Finstown ( pronounced Finstin).  We visited Scapa Flow.  As we drove around Kirkwall, we admired the Saint Magnus Cathedral.  It is the most northerly cathedral in the British Isles.  Its construction commenced in 1137 and it was added to over the next three hundred years.  Wikipedia

The Italian Chapel, built during World War II by Italian prisoners of war, was especially nice.  

The Italian Chapel

The ceiling

The altar

Saint George slaying the dragon

We returned to the ship at noon.  We had our picture taken on the balcony of our stateroom with the Times-Courier with Kirkwall behind us.  We admired the Shapinsay Lighthouse as we left the Orkney Islands.

Eileen and Ben on our balcony

Shapinsay Lighthouse

We had a Sunday service in the Palm Dining Room at 4 pm with Glenn speaking. He spoke on the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the man possessed (Luke 8:26-40), continuing with the story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood thru verse 56.  Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  He loves us with a perfect love.  Glenn ended by speaking of charity from 1 Corinthians 13:13.

We were told of one of the dining room stewards named John who is LDS and a convert from the Philippines.  He visited with us at supper prior to our meal. 

Monday 12 Aug:

I had breakfast in Horizon Court Buffet. Coach driver is John and our guide is Iain Mackay.  We boarded our coach at Invergordon.  We enjoyed Urquhart Castle very much.  It was a very impressive ruin!  We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier.  I walked up and down in it, though Eileen did not.  She made purchases in gift shop.  

Barbara Yelland and Iain Mackay

Karolyn Pendleton and Iain Mackay

Iain Mackay and Debbie Rawson

Urquhart Castle

The drive along the Loch Ness and thru the Highlands was awesome!  The restored Eilean Donan Castle was nice.  We did not climb the steps inside. We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier.  We bought shot glasses for William and Geoff.

Ben and Eileen in front of Eilean Donan Castle 

Eileen in front of Eilean Donan Castle

Ben on the bridge to Eilean Donan Castle

Tuesday 13 Aug:

No breakfast today.  We rode the tenders to Edinburgh.  

Ben and friends on the dock in Edinburgh

Native of Edinburgh in his regalia

Being entertained at the dock

Our coach driver was Liam and our guide was Shena Porteous.  Edinburgh Castle was awesome!  

The Royal Mile

Another native of Edinburgh in his regalia

Welcome to Edinburgh Castle

Ben and Eileen at the castle entrance 

Edinburgh Castle

King Robert the Bruce

Shining suits of armor

Dog cemetery

Mons Meg cannon

Edinburgh Castle

Queen Mary and her escort

Then a scenic tour of Edinburgh which was very nice.  We admired Arthur's Seat "which is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, described by Robert Louis Stevenson as 'a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design.' It is situated in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle." Wikipedia

Arthur's Seat

We were on our own at the Waverley Bridge area for three hours.  We went to Romanes and Paterson's Sir Walter Scott Tea Room for lunch.  I had been looking forward to some haggis when we reached Scotland.  My haggis was very good!  Eileen enjoyed it, too.

Romanes and Paterson's Sir Walter Scott Tea Room

Romanes and Paterson's Sir Walter Scott Tea Room

Sir Walter Scott Monument

The Scott Monument

Sir Walter Scott

We observed the memorial statue to the Scottish Black Watch.

Wednesday 14 Aug:

No breakfast today.  We met for our disembarkation meeting.  Our notes were:
16 August 7:20 am Coral Dining Room, remove all old tags on luggage, large luggage outside room by 11 pm 15 August, and we had to live out of our carryons until we reached London.

Glenn provided the lecture on martyrs, beginning with Wycliffe in the 14th century.  He provided the first English translation of the Bible.  His followers were the Lollards.  They were 16th century martyrs due to teaching their children the scriptures in English!  We heard about Lady Jane Grey, the 9 Days Queen, and LDS martyrs.  We heard of the days back to 1554 at Oxford and of Bishops Ridley and Latimer, who opposed transubstantiation.  A reference was "Fox's Book of Martyrs."

The Actes and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by John Foxe, first published in English in 1563. It includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the Catholic Church, with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. The book was highly influential in those countries, and helped shape lasting popular notions of Catholicism there. Wikipedia

Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church
(original title)

We enjoyed the Prego Pizzeria and the Trident Grill for lunch.

I won a Loch Ness fridge magnet and Eileen won a medal and lanyard at a drawing of door prizes.

We had a neat lecture on explorers such as Alexander MacKenzie, who wrote a book subsequently purchased and devoured by Thomas Jefferson; Lewis and Clark; Sir Francis Drake; Captain James Cook;  George Vancouver;  John Franklin; and Ernest Shackleton.  A theory is that the Assyrians took the 10 tribes north.  Some fled and went to the British Isles with the blood of Abraham in their veins.

Thursday 15 Aug:

We enjoyed breakfast in the Horizon Court Buffet.  Our coach driver was Jean Luc and our guide was Colin McGarry.  He is English and married a French girl, living here in Normandy for 30 years.   We landed at Le Havre.  Diane Prince served her mission in France.  We were awed by the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Bayeux.  It was stunning and far nicer than the English cathedrals.  The Bayeux Tapestry was absolutely amazing!

Eileen on deck en route to Normandy

Lovely home along the road

Lovely home along the road

Souvenir shop on the corner

Walking toward the cathedral

the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Bayeux

Closeup of the Bayeux Cathedral

Bayeux Tapestry

 We saw the Eisenhower Memorial and we visited Utah and Omaha Beaches.  We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier at Pointe du Loc near Utah Beach.  We saw the American cemetery and we should have gone to the Visitors' Center, too!  

Eisenhower Memorial

Eisenhower Memorial

Ben and Eileen at Pointe du Loc near Utah Beach

Eileen, Janice, Melanie, and Barbara
with our guide an Utah Beach

Omaha Beach Billboard

American Cemetery

6th Engineer Special Brigade
D-Day at Omaha Beach

Friday 16 Aug:

Breakfast again in the Horizon Court Buffet.  Our coach driver was Mick.  Rob Prince was our guide after we disembarked from the Caribbean Princess.  We had a long drive partly due to a traffic accident along the way, but it was lovely and we reached Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, Wales, after three hours.  The Abbey is absolutely awesome!  It is over 900 years old!

Tintern Abbey

Ben and Eileen at Tintern Abbey

At Tintern Abbey

At Tintern Abbey

At Tintern Abbey

At Tintern Abbey

Ben at Tintern Abbey

At Tintern Abbey

Eileen at the Tintern Abbey Gift Shop

Rob and Glenn switched after a rest stop.  We drove back to England to visit the Gadfield Elm Chapel.

Funforless Guide Glenn Rawson

Gadfield Elm Chapel

Quiz on the door of the Gadfield Elm Chapel
to gain entrance if no one is available

The quiz is as follows: Apostle Heber Kimball's middle initial?, How many chapters in the book of Enos?, The age that children can be baptized?, How many Degrees of Glory?, How many books in the Book of Mormon after the Book of Moroni?, and First letter of Brigham's surname? The answers enable the combination lock to be opened.

Inside the Gadfield Elm Chapel

Barbara Callister and Dick Smart inside the Gadfield Elm Chapel

Glenn Rawson speaking inside the Gadfield Elm Chapel

The Gadfield Elm Chapel near the village of Pendock in Worcestershire, England, is the oldest extant chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The structure was built in 1836 as a religious meetinghouse by the United Brethren, a group of breakaway Primitive Methodists led by Thomas Knighton. In 1840, Latter Day Saint missionary and apostle Wilford Woodruff preached among the United Brethren; ultimately all but one of the 600 members of the United Brethren were converted to Mormonism. After the conversions, the structure was deeded to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Knighton and John Benbow.  Wikipedia

We visited the nearby Benbow Pond at Hill Farm where the United Brethren converts were baptized.  

Benbow Pond

Dick and Saundra Smart at Benbow Pond

Benbow Pond

Glenn Rawson at Benbow Pond

Benbow Pond

Benbow Pond

Our hotel was The Stratford in Stratford-Upon-Avon.  It was a very, very nice room!  We saw a number of attractive buildings including some thatch-roofed homes.

The Stratford

We enjoyed walking around town and had a bite to eat at the Food of Love restaurant.

Statue of a jester from Shakespeare's play
"As You Like It"

Paddington Bear window display in Timeless Tales store

Peter Rabbit tapestry

Peter Rabbit window display in Timeless Tales store

Hobson's Patisserie

Eileen in front of Patisserie Valerie

The Food of Love restaurant

Saturday 17 Aug:

We enjoyed breakfast in the Quill Restaurant of The Stratford Hotel.  It was excellent!

Our coach driver was still Mick.  Glenn was our guide.  We passed Anne Hathaway's Cottage on the drive to Warwick Castle.  

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Warwick Castle is like a medieval Disneyland.  We had our picture taken with the Times-Courier.

Eileen and Ben in front of Warwick Castle

Eileen by a sand sculpture of Buckingham Palace at Warwick Castle

Eileen at gate of Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle

The Loftus's at Warwick Castle

Eileen and Rob Prince

A sand sculpture of Warwick Castle

Ben in the stocks

Ben and a sand sculpture of Warwick Castle

Rob Prince and Glenn Rawson in the stocks

Knight in armor and Ben at Warwick Castle

In the great hall at Warwick Castle

In the great hall at Warwick Castle

In the great hall at Warwick Castle

King Henry VIII and his wives in Warwick Castle

We drove to Oxford and Christ's Church.  It was too far to walk back to the meeting point, so we stayed on the bus :(  Unfortunately the bus parked out away from town instead of near the pickup point by the Martyrs Memorial, so we had to stay on the bus rather than look around town at the pickup point.  Rob and Diane Prince were our guides back to London.  Saundra Smith took some pictures for us at Trinity College and Christ's Church in Oxford.

Christ's Church, University of Oxford

The Great Hall was the pattern used
for the Harry Potter novels

Christ's Church

Martyrs Memorial

Sunday 18 Aug:

We had breakfast in Allie's American Grille back at the London Heathrow Marriott.   Our coach driver was still Mick.  Our tour guide was Jeanie.  We saw the outside of Buckingham Palace and its environs.  It was wonderful!  We had a delightful ride around the sights of London.  We enjoyed the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels.  They were barbaric and beautiful!  

Eileen in front of Buckingham Palace

Eileen and Ben in front of Buckingham Palace

Lion on West Gate to Buckingham Palace

Eileen with Kenneth and Sherry Peck
in front of Buckingham Palace

Eileen with Marilyn and Chip Abbe
in front of Buckingham Palace

Tour guide Jeanie

Westminster Abbey

The Victoria Memorial

The Main Entrance to the Tower of London

The Tower Bridge

Traitors' Gate

Eileen on the left and Newell Dayley on the right

Saundra and Dick Smith withe the Krey's and Melanie Taylor behind them

The White Tower

Yeomen Warders or Beefeaters

Waterloo Barracks, home of the Crown Jewels

Coldstream Guard on duty

The entry to the Jewel House

Imperial State Crown

St. Edward's Crown

The Sovereign's Orb

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

Swords that represent mercy, spiritual justice, and temporal justice.

Coronation spoon

The ampulla or golden eagle flask

The Queen holds the Orb and Sceptre used at her Coronation

Ubiquitous red telephone booths

Beautiful old building

Beautiful old building

Big Ben

Abraham Lincoln

We went to the British Library and its treasures collection of old documents.  The British Museum was interesting.  

Statue of Sir Isaac Newton in the courtyard of the British Library

Inside the British Museum

Inside the British Museum

Renee and Egyptian sarcophagus

We stopped at an LDS meetinghouse at 5 pm for a church sacrament service. It was on Rosefield Road in Staines.

We had supper in Allie's American Grille with Smart's.  We printed our boarding passes.

Monday 19 Aug:

We had breakfast in Allie's American Grille with the Smart’s again.  Our porter took our bags to the front entrance.  We took the red bus to Terminal 4 of Heathrow.  We checked in our two suitcases.  We relaxed at 11 am to await which gate to be displayed.

Here are some thoughts on two things we noticed on our trip.  Due to the price of petrol nearly all the cars are tiny.  Lots of Peugeots, Renaults, Vauxhalls, Citroens, and Fords. And the people are smoking a great deal in public!

It was the vacation of a lifetime!!