Ok, so I know you are all sitting at the edge of your seat, wondering what we did over our 3 day (Bank Holiday) weekend.  You can all sit down now.  Dad and Connie guessed correctly, with London.  It is still decorated for the ParaOlympic games.  The Olympic rings have come down, and been replaced with the ParaOlympic symbol.  J saw someone on the tube with his Olympic medal on, and we saw other 2012 medals at the British Museum.

London still has banners up for the Olympics.

One thing that is different with booking a room in London is that you can't smoosh 5 people in a room.  They have various rooms, some single (which may have 1 or 2 single beds), double (which may have a double bed or 2 singles), triple rooms, which of course come in different configurations, quadruple rooms, and even quintuple rooms.  Of course room rates vary accordingly.  You can maybe add a cot to some of the rooms to add another person (if there is room-London rooms are small), but they are really strict with the number of people in a room.  The 4 and 5 person rooms are difficult to find.  Needless to say, we needed to book 2 rooms for both Sat and Sunday evening.  We were able to find basic, no frills rooms that were clean, and still close to the Underground.  It actually is very close to where we were in 1999-used the same Tube station.

The kids were quite excited to go to London. We left at 5:45 am Saturday morning, and got the 6:30 am bus out of Chester to London. Arrived ahead of schedule @ ~9:10, and grabbed the tube and dropped our luggage at the hotel, then proceeded to the British Museum. It was rather overwhelming, there was so much there. There is no way to see it all.

The British Museum, before it started to rain!

The 5 of us at the British Museum, with one of the Easter Island statues.

 

Left there and went to Madame Tussuad's wax museum, in an effort to engage the younger set.  Wax museum was ok, but they had a section where you hopped on these automated "taxis", and it took you on a track through London/British history. This was really enjoyable. There also was a Marvel comics exhibit, and 4D movie. I am not big on super heroes or such, but I must admit it was pretty neat. The chair "punched" you, misted you with water, shot air at you, etc. We had dinner that evening at the Rainforest Cafe-always a favorite with kids.

J's impression of Usain Bolt

The kids with the Queen.  Notice Will and Kate Middleton in the upper left background.

HELP!!  The Hulk has gotten J!



 

London's Rainforest Cafe

Sunday, was a beautiful day, and we'd scheduled a bus tour of the city. We saw all of the sights and monuments, including Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, and the Tower Bridge.
 

  




 

Eros, in Trafalgar Square

The London Eye, Millenium Bridge

Tower Bridge bearing the ParaOlympic games symbol

We then spent the afternoon at the Tower of London.  Some of you skyped with us from this location!

Ominous Tower of London

Kids with a Yeoman Warder

After dinner overlooking the Thames, we took a river cruise on the Thames.  It was early evening, so we were able to catch some of the city's lights coming on, including at the Tower Bridge, and Big Ben and Houses of Parliament.

Tower Bridge at dusk

Big Ben/House of Parliament

On Monday, we packed up, left our bags at the hotel while we went to the Science Museum.  Then went back, picked up our bags, and got to the train station to grab the train home.

We were able to pack a lot in, considering the kids' ages.  J has decided he would like to come back with G or I, rather than receiving a xmas or bday gift.  There was quite a bit he wanted to see at the British Museum, he wanted to see more of the Tower of London, more of the Science Museum, and there is so much more of the city to see.  I told him there was no way to see everything, even if you spent a week there.  Although I wouldn't mind that bday gift--something I'd enjoy as well (or G), and it wouldn't be something we'd have to worry about packing up again in 3 yrs.

The kids particularly enjoyed riding on the subway.  J was our navigator/tour guide leading the way.  He would tell us which tube to catch, take it to which station, switch to what line, ride that to which station.  Get out of the tube, and lead us down streets to our destination.  He fumbled at times, but did rather well, considering he's 11.  Of course, having an iphone to use certainly helped his cause, as well.

All in all, it was a great weekend.  We are now trying to focus on what we'll be doing for our next break--be it term break, or xmas.  You can start your bets now--or give us some ideas.  We're rather new to this whole travel thing, but do find it quite enjoyable.

I'll try to post more than once/week when I can, as well.  DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT!!!