POSTCARDS from TRAVELBLOGGER'S ***** vaca-SEAN / SABA-tical *****: 20060122

POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND, U.K.
(November 2005)

POSTCARDS FROM LONDON

Our wildlife safari trip in Kenya was commencing with a flight from London. It has been 10 years since we last visited this great city, so we welcomed the idea that it would be good to break our trip here on the way to Africa and on our return to the U.S. I mainly wanted to see what was new/changed/added in the past decade, such as the London Eye, Tate Modern, new restaurants, new shows, etc. I also wanted to meet up with some old friends and allow some of the luxury hotels that I sell to my clients to spoil us.

POSTCARD FROM A LONDON HOTEL

Several of the luxury hotels in town, were kind enough to offer us complimentary stays. If we wouldn’t have minded hotel hopping, we could have slept in expensive London for free for a good two weeks. Alas, we only had time to stay for a few days. We decided to stay at the Royal Garden Hotel for our first stop. We were given a nice suite with a view of the Kensington Gardens/ Kensington Palace/Hyde Park. The Australian Rugby Team was in the hotel and I happen to get squashed in the middle of all of them inside the small elevator. Imagine that!…LOL. The Baglioni Hotel London entertained us for lunch, then later cocktails prior to the West End show, and at the end of the night as VIP guests at Elton John and Kyle Minogue’s club. On our way back from Africa, we rested our safari-worn bodies at the Four Seasons London before heading back for the States.

view of Kensington Park from the Royal Garden Hotel

POSTCARD FROM AN ENGLISH RESTAURANT IN LONDON

London really didn’t have a great food scene to speak of more than a decade ago. Fortunately, the English have allowed chefs from all over the world to revamp their taste buds. Bill and I were planning to visit a friend of ours, who is a world renowned costume designer in Hollywood, at the movie location of his latest project, the much anticipated film, “The Da Vinci Code”. We wanted to see part of the shoot, but unfortunately, our first day in London was also the wrap-up day. So no Tom Hanks or Ron Howard meeting for us. In spite of the fact that he was exhausted and ready to go back home to the U.S. after several months of dressing and undressing actors, he invited us to join him and another friend for dinner at one of his favorite finds, “Maggie Jones”. We had a very good time, good company, and good food. I started looking forward to other great finds for my palate.

Little John with Big Ben at twilight

Little John with Big Ben at dusk

failed nightshot of London Eye & Big Ben

@ National Gallery Museum w/ Trafalgar Square in the background

Hugh Grant's Bookstore in Notting Hill, the movie?

Bill after running across the entire Hyde Park

"This is a job for....!"

POSTCARD FROM WEST END LONDON

I wanted to catch a West End show. The last time we were here, the only show I wanted to see was “Miss Saigon”. The main star, Lea Salonga, was one of my mother’s pool of entertainers at the hotel, back when she was just a child star in the Philippines. This production is very special to my homeland and countrymen, since most of the original talent pool came from our country.

Prior to leaving the U.S., I inquired as to which was the current “must see” show in the West End. Everyone I asked gave a resounding, “Billy Elliott – The Musical”!. It was hard to find tickets to this sold out show, but fortunately my contacts were able to score us a pair of good seats. I really liked the movie, so I was sure I was going to like this. I was informed that it’s going to take two years for it to get to Broadway. A friend of mine even decided to join us at the last minute. It was a great show! I highly recommend it, even if it is often tough to understand that northern English accent…LOL.

Billy Elliott - The Musical @ Victoria Palace West End

with my old friend, Dr. Vic Salas

POSTCARD FROM THE LONDON EYE

One of our concerns about this trip was that we would have to pack two sets of clothes for the cold of London and for the heat of Africa. We were lucky to have cool clear days. On our first day, I wanted to immediately ride the British Airways London Eye and time it for sunset. After figuring out the London Underground transport system, it was already dark by the time we reached the Eye. Sunset was at 4:30PM! So, we planned to go back earlier the next day. This behemothic Ferris wheel that was built for the millennium was indeed a great way to see all of London. I’m glad they decided to keep it.