LONDON to MINNESOTA Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Back Over the Pond to Minnesota We Go

Well, here it is . . . the very last morning in England—only time for breakfast,

the tube, and Heathrow to board NW #103 for the 2:25 flight home. And what a trip it has been! There certainly is plenty more to see, but what we did see, we felt we spent the time we wanted.

After breakfast, we blogged the last couple of days,












checked out,
and set off—suitcases pretty filled with souvenirs and memories—for Heathrow.

We had been told that it was about an hour tube ride and that we had to be there 3 hours early because of construction, but it all went pretty slick. We were there within 35 minutes--enough time to consider entering the lotter for 20 pounds for a car like the one Paula checked out!

There were no lines at check in, the plane was on time,

and here we are up thousands of feet above the clouds at 7:56 p.m. British time—making it 1:56 Minneapolis time. Lauren should be at her State soccer banquet—Yeah Holy Angels bound for state in 2008!—and Carina should be in the air flying home from Boise now.

Reflections on our trip . . .
















Linda’s highlights:
• Hamlet • The Mad Max Cotwolds Tour • Paula and my long conversations about our personal journeys • Exploring at Portabello Market • Walking across Tower Bridge over the river Thames • Asking for directions and ending up having interesting conversations which could have lasted for hours with random people • Serendipitous surprises—thinking we would be doing or finding something and that leading to something else quite unexpected but wonderful (like seeing Never Forget) • Hearing the British accent everywhere sometimes surrounded with languages from all other cultures • the Victoria & Albert museum—especially the jewelry • dinner at the Dirty Duck in Stratford • stories, stories, stories of British history from the meaning of the word Cotswold to where the expression “to put a lady on a pedestal” came from • hearing Vivaldi even if it was only a rehearsal in St. Martin’s in the Fields

Paula’s highlights:
• Visiting the church in Stratford and meeting Nigel, a Brit with a sense of humor • Dinner at the Dirty Duck Pub the night before Hamlet • Meeting the actor, Polonius, after seeing Hamlet • Riding the bus with 80 University of Bath Freshman who were dressed as cops and robbers on their initiation night • Walking around Bath on the Bizarre Bath tour and laughing the whole way • Staying at the Youth Hostel Italian mansion on the hill and trying to find it • Touring the Cotswold with Charles our guide and being introduced to Castle Combe village where the Dr. Doolittle movie was filmed • Discovering the Antiques Kitchen Table’s store in Tetbury • Walking through the meadow from Upper Slaughter to Lower Slaughter • Jewelry exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum • Seeing the musical-Never Forget-and enjoying the songs and the excitement of the audience • Exploring Portabello Rd. Flea market and antique shops

Parting is such sweet sorrow . . . until next time!