Friday:

We woke up early to get a jump on our day, after breakfast in the hotel we set out via bus to locate where to check in for our hop-on hop-off bus tour.  Unfortunately we missed our bus stop, but we were then able to jump off in Trafalger Square and check in.  We shortly after boarded the sightseeing bus and made our way to our first stop – Buckingham Palace.  We got there just in time to see the changing of the guard, but also just in time for it to start raining!  Needless to say from here on out it rained the rest of the day – and the sightseeing buses were then full.  We did some shopping at the Buckingham Palace store, where I picked up Giudi and I tea towels commemorating Prince George’s birth 🙂

Outside Buckingham Palace

We jumped back on the bus and rode until we made it to the theatre district, at the advisement of the tour guide we hopped off to enjoy some lunch.  We ducked into one of the first places that we saw, Bill’s!  The food was delicious, we started off with a tortilla chip appetizer, with salsa, guacamole and tzatziki dips.  Oh how I miss my chips and dips!  Nick had a duck pie, and I had mac n cheese with bacon, at the suggestion of our waitress.

Unfortunately, the next bus we boarded was completely packed with no commentary, so as soon as we saw a Starbuck’s next to St. Paul’s Cathedral we hopped off.  We enjoyed our first Starbucks since leaving the States, I miss my weekly trips with my friend Pam!  I’m told that there are no Starbucks in the country of Italy, but then also have heard rumor that some do exist in Rome – I’ll let you know in two weeks 🙂

White Hot Chocolate – YUM!

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Tower Bridge on our way to the Tate

We were trying our best to waste some time as we were next headed to the Tate before our dinner reservations at 8:00 pm.  After enjoying our warm drinks we once again hopped on the bus, of course this time with an awesome tour guide, only to disembark a short while later to visit the Tate.  By this time it was pouring and we had to make our way down a set of stone stairs, along the river until we finally reached the entrance.  I have never been so happy to be in a museum in my life – lol!  Museum’s are Nick’s thing, and while I do enjoy some of them, sometimes I often wonder how some of the stuff that makes it in here is considered art, and why then isn’t half the stuff I do thought of art – ha ha!

Exhibit at Tate

Exhibit at Tate

When we were through at the Tate, we hailed a cab a couple blocks to the restaurant where we had dinner reservations, The Laughing Gravy.  I had found it on TripAdvisor, it had good reviews, and I of course loved the name even more.  This place did not disappoint.  The staff was awesome, we were a bit early for our reservation, so we helped ourselves to the comfy chairs and enjoyed some beverages. Shortly after the manager came by and advised the party before us didn’t show, so we were seated early.  I had the scallops and Nick had guinea fowl, the waiter informed him that it was an experience, which Nick agreed!  We shared a delicious dessert with a rhubarb gelatin base, with a pistachio brittle!

Nick’s Guinea Fowl

My delicious scallops

Dessert

Saturday:

After another English breakfast at the hotel, we set out for another day of sightseeing on our hop-on hop-off bus tour.  Today we decided that we would try our best to see as much of the city via the bus. However, one of the reasons of this trip was for Nick to see the Serpentine Pavilion in Hyde Park.  So once we made it there we hopped off and enjoyed a couple hours walking through the park.  I had the best hot chocolate of my life within the installation – they had a small bar set up inside – I told Nick when we return I am locating the store where this was from.  While I have no idea the name, I remember the logo and we passed the storefront on our way through town!

Excuse me?  Did you lose something?

We next made our way to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and while only in there for an hour or two, hardly made it through the first two floors – it was crazy how large it was and how much they had in there.  I hope that when we return we can also visit the Natural History Museum which sits next to  it. What is great about London is that a lot of the museums are free entry.

We ended our trip with another trip the Holborn Whippet, where we this time tried the pizza, and of course had another plate of fries!  All in all it was a good trip, was nice to be away from the villa for a few days, take a warm shower with awesome water pressure and sleep comfortably in a room with heat 🙂  It has gotten a little chilly in Genova, and I am told that the heat in the villa won’t be turned on until November – THANK YOU Kristin for leaving the cardigan for me – it will be put to good use!