London and York.

On Tuesday 9-26 we took the Virgin train from Liverpool to London. The train ride was very comfortable and took about 2 1/2 hours. Once we made it to London we found the Big Brown Tour Bus with a tour guide explaining the many many sites of London along with many historical facts. There is so much to see and remember it really takes more than a day to get it all in. Once we got to Buckingham Palace we got off the bus and did a self guided tour. The tours are offered in the summer when the queen is away and we were lucky enough to go inside the Palace and see how the royal family lives. Pictures are not allowed but I can guarantee it is more elegant than I ever expected. On view are the gifts presented to the queen from countries all over the world. In addition there is so much art, sculptures, chandeliers, etc. it takes a lot of time to take it all in. There is also a room with a special tribute to Diana which was very popular and so well done. The Palace was very crowded with people from all over the world. And when I thought about it, it makes sense. The royal family is fascinating to people from all over the world. And especially me. On Thursday 9-28 we took a tour bus to York. This was about 2 1/2 hours on the bus thru the English country side. We had a beautiful day in York and saw the Yorkminister Cathedral, went thru the shambles, had afternoon tea at the world famous Betty's Cafe and finished the day at The Hole in the Wall pub established in the 1500s. It was my goal to visit a proper English pub and I was not disappointed. This one was even haunted. Your welcome. My time in England has flown by. We have visited as many sites as was possible without completely wearing ourselves out. It has been an awesome trip made possible by my wonderful hostess Eileen. Many memories have been made, British people are so polite and kind, at least the ones I have met. Traveling makes me realize it's a big world. There is so much to see and do. But no matter what, there's no place like home. I am sure the British would agree.

Castle Crazy

Today was castle day. When in England seeing a castle is a given but it takes some effort to actually find one. We drove to Wales to find our castle and it was well worth it. The "Chirk" castle was built in 1295 and has been through many additions and revisions but the fact it was built in 1295 is so hard to comprehend. As we drove up the narrow path to the castle lined with hedges and large trees you start to wonder how old those trees are. Were they standing when this was built? How did this get built and why here? The castle was about an hour away from Eileen's home. Coming back from the castle we took the country way back. It is hard to describe the beauty of this area. Sheep grazing along the green slopes are everywhere. It makes you tired just watching them they seem so content. The villages and hills are right out of a story book. There is so much history in England and the tour guides were so informative and kind but all the facts are very hard to remember so I can best sum up what I saw. There are a lot of rooms; salon, ladies sitting room, chapel, formal dining room, not formal dining room, a big room for walking, a lot of staircases and fireplaces, a dungeon, a guard room, kitchen and servants quarters. And that's not all. All I thought about was who cleans this place? You get done and you have to start all over. And this is before vacuum cleaners, pledge and swifter. So it was a grand day. Yesterday we drove by the Royal Liverpool Golf Course which has been host to the British Open several times and will be again. This was a total thrill to me. The British Open is my favorite. Tomorrow is our train ride to London. Will be a long day and will be updating after that. Tata

Visiting the Queen

September has become my traveling month.  A chance to see something new before it's too late or my credit card gets cancelled.  This year I did a solo trip to England to see Liz.   She doesn't know it yet but I still have another week for her to get tea ready.

Mersey river

Last Tuesday I took the red eye from Newark to Manchester since my friend, Eileen, lives closer to that airport.  It's also closer to Liverpool which is probably more well known in the USA due to the Beatles even though Manchester is much larger.   Who knew?

Eileen has been a wonderful hostess for this rookie.  She lives in the West Kirby area.  There is a pathway near her home in the Mersey river.  Yes.  In the river when the tide goes out.   So it looks like people are walking on water as they go on the path.  We have walked it.  Of course.

Artist rendition of crucifix. 

We spent the day in Liverpool touring the city and two beautiful old cathedrals.  We ferried over to Liverpool and took the underground tube back. The tube goes under the Mersey river.   The Beatles are present thru out the area.  Like anyone would ever forget them. 

We also made a trip to Chester visiting another very old church established about 1,000 years ago.  I know a lot of you are amazed that I have been in so many churches willingly.  Well there were no nuns around so it was safe.  We also visited some shops, coffee shops and I got to use my pounds.  They burn a hole in your pocket too. 

Weather has been just like an American would think it is here.   Cool and a little rainy but the sun has been out at times.   I never thought I would miss wearing long pants and sweaters again.   

I'm just not sure what Liz will think. I better give her a call. Tata.

Bye bye Irma

Well we finally made it home Tuesday morning.  Saturday night we got to our hotel room in Ft Lauderdale.  When we woke up Sunday morning we could see the hotel was full.  Dogs and people everywhere.  Gary went down for breakfast to very long lines.  By the time I got down there no coffee cups  left. So I ended up putting my head under the nozzle which obviously was looked down on.   I need coffee people.

By early afternoon we lost all power at the hotel.  This means walking four flights to take two dogs out.   In the dark. And the stairwell was leaking.  

So it was an early nite for us, no TV, no internet, no lights, no food, no cell service.  I could only think of a couple things to do in a situation like this.   I picked sleep.  

Things looked pretty good Monday morning.  Irma was headed north, there was lots of brush and debris on the ground but we still had no power so like lots of other people we wanted to head home.   We were about 120 miles from home but when you need gas and there is none anywhere, you might as well be on the other side of the moon.  

We asked anyone we saw where to find gas and we chased down every lead only to be disappointed.  The gas stations weren't even open.  I tried calling stations and there was no answer.  Ever.  We thought we may sleep at a gas station but gave up that idea when I realized there was no bathroom.  Old ladies gotta go.  A lot.  

So we headed towards home on fumes to another hotel with power in Weston.  We were put on a waiting list and after listening to our dogs in the lobby for five minutes we got a room with  air  and lights.  Tuesday morning Gary was the first one in the lobby asking about gas and he hit the jackpot.  When he called to tell me I packed up and was waiting at the door.

We were very lucky.  Very little damage at our houses.  But now the work begins putting everything back together.

Couple things I can take from this adventure -  you really can wear the same underwear for more than one day, never take gas for granted and be sure to appreciate the little things like a hot cup of coffee, a warm meal, a cool room, and noisy dogs.   Oh.  And the Vikings won without me yelling at the TV.

You Blow Irma

Since moving to Sw Florida six years ago we have been very lucky concerning tropical storms and hurricanes.  And then a bitch named Irma showed up.  She thinks she is so special because all the news channels talk about her for hours every day.  Irma. Irma. Irma.   And then she was supposed to go to east Florida, changed her mind again and again and now she is coming straight west for us in Cape Coral.

Outside hotel room. Sunday morning

And who names anybody Irma anymore.  What a dumb name.  When was the last time you met a five year old named Irma?  And if you did you immediately knew this kid was destined for bingo and quilting bees.

Glass top patio table didn't make it😫

We (Gary) worked on closing up both houses all week and really it does take a long time to bring in all 500 plants not to mention 500 wind chimes and patio furniture.  And then climb over it in a dark house while you board up the windows and secure everything that may be a projectile.

Our house boarded up

Gas stations ran out of gas and when they got some every car in the surrounding five miles made a run for it.  Lines were out on the road.  The police had to block traffic for gas lines.  Home Depot became the most popular store in the area.  There were fights over plywood and generators.   Things a girl from Minnesota never experienced before and then it hits you that this is real. 

Bathtub filled

We were going to hunker down in our rental with smaller windows and more protection but the intensity and direction of Irma was too stressful.  After changing our minds over and over and over again, we made the decision at 5:30 Saturday night to make a run for east Florida.   We got the last dog friendly room in Ft. Lauderdale and while it is no vacation we are feeling much safer.  The drive here took us about two hours of Gary white knuckling every mile while gray hairs sprang out of my head.  Rain was just starting to fall as we approached Naples but turned torrential off and on as we got on Alligator Alley and there was no turning back.  Literally there is no where to turn back.  Note to self - add hair color to emergency kit. 

Emergency supplies

So we are safe.  Our two little wieners are just happy to be under a blanket relaxing and we are waiting out Irma.  She thinks she is going to beat us all up but from what this Minnesota girl has seen this week, the people in Florida won't let that happen.  

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