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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
        
(Message started by: sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:39pm)

Title: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:39pm

THE UK JOURNEY DIARY

Wednesday 13.6
Arrival. We took a bus from Stansted to Stratford station and took the underground from there to Bermondsey, where we met my cousin Harri-pekka, who took us to the place where we stayed during our time in London. We did some unpacking and then it was SLEEP!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/thehousepiclight.jpg

Thursday 14.6
We got our 1 week travel cards and off we went to see London once again. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Hamley's toy store, Piccadilly Circus and Heddon Street (yes, Timo is a David Bowie fan, so I took a pic of him next to Bowie's famous phone booth).
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/timoandbowiebooth2.jpg

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:40pm

Friday 15.6
We started the day by visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral. Then off to antique shops at Cecil Court, lovely fruit market at Berwick Street (we bought some yummy cherries) and Chinatown (we went to local supermarket for fun and ate HUGE plates of delicious chinese food at The New Laughing Buddha). I can eat just fine with chopsticks, yahoo! After lunch we went to Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street and did some shopping.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/sandieschinatownlunch2.jpg

Saturday 16.6
Trooping the Color day! We went to The Mall early to catch some nice spot to watch some of the parade. Timo got a nice pic of the Queen and I videotaped her arrival. We had a burger lunch at a lovely place called Golden Square Gardens. The rest of the day went at Oxford Steet – more shopping!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/thequeen.jpg

Sunday 17.6
We left early for Petticoat Lane Market. It was a lot bigger than what I had imagined in advance and it took us hours to see everything! But it was a lot of fun. There was a carnival called Carnival de Cuba going on at a park near us, so naturally we checked it out.

We went to visit my old neighbourhood in the afternoon: Notting Hill, Holland Park, Portland Road 91 (my former address), Shepherd’s Bush (shopping centre). Before heading home, we went to visit Timo’s favourite pub, Founder’s Arms, which is locaded near Blackfriars Bridge.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/thepub.jpg

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:41pm

Monday 18.6
In the morning we went to Harrod’s. This time I actually picked up store guide, but we still asked one shop assistant directions! Diana & Dodi’s memorial statue was hard to find... We had nice time looking at the animals. No guinea pigs, though.

Then it was off home – to get our bags and off to King’s Cross station, where we took the first train to Grantham. Helen came to pick us up and it was soooooooo great to finally meet her! We had wonderful chicken at the first night at Cluster Inn.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/helenandbrid2.jpg

Tuesday 19.6
After delicious breakfast it was off to Stonehenge and Avebury. This trip was a dream come true to Timo; he has always wanted to see Stonehenge around Midsummer and now he got to do that! It was so much fun to admire stones at Avebury and look at cute sheeps all around us!

Wednesday 20.6
I blame mum’s career in retail industry, but the visit to supermarket Asda got me all excited. Poor Timo; I dragged him to Tesco, Tesco Express, Co-Operation and Sainsbury’s as well! We visited Bingham on our own. It was great to walk at the old graveyard and sense the peace and quiet. We admired the town square and went to the pet shop.

In the evening we got to meet Dape and his family! When we had some clustertalk, I thought to myself, that I got bit the idea what you’ll guys will have at the convention.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:42pm

Thursday 21.6
Stratford-Upon-Avon day! What a lovely town it is. I can easily imagine how Shakespeare was inspired to write... It was lots of fun to walk at the streets and well, visit some of the stores. It’s sale time.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/stratford2.jpg

We had Shepherd’s pie at Helen’s and Timo got to play football with Bridget, Barney and Jasper. Now it’s a fun game for him again!

Friday 22.6
It was fond fairwells to Cluster’s Inn and Helen’s lovely family – for now. We headed back to London. We went to the British Museum. We both have our fave sections in there; we saw the Egypt section first, then to Europe and Medieval section and to my joy this time my favourite room, 47, which shows objects from 1800-1900 Europe, was open this time! Too bad that they closed the Asian section just as we were going there, so we missed that.

Saturday 23.6
We started the day at Covent Garden. We visited the market, Jubilee Market, admired talented performances and continued to Neal Street.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/coventgarden.jpg
On our way to Charing Cross Road, Timo got all excited when he found Forbidden Planet, a store which sells comic books, characters and such. We visited Foyles, Borders and some other book/record stores. Then we went to see the Asian section at the British Museum and this time it was open. We admired the nearby square called Bloombury Square. We tried to find the place where Virginia Woolf had lived, but we missed it.

The Finnish Church at Canada Water arranged a Midsummer celebrations, so of course we went there. We saw lots of other Finns and their families there. We could have bought Finnish foods and candy, but neither of us missed home, so we didn’t. It was great to see the Church, though. During the three years I lived in London, I visited it on few occasions. Now it had been redone and it looked great and modern – and it turns 125 years this fall!

We were supposed to meet my former university friend, portuguese girl Cat at the Church, but she was waiting for us at Bermondsey tube station instead, so we invited her to spend the night with us at the place we were staying. Timo and Cat had some rose wine and ice cream, I had orange juice and prigles and we had great time talking about the uni days and our lives now.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:42pm

Sunday 24.6
Timo wanted to visit Imperial War Museum, so it was our first place to visit today. After that we went to National Gallery, in which we admired Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting about sunflowers and some of Leonardo da Vinci’s work.

Then we met Cat again at Leicester Square, next to Chaplin’s statue. There was going on a live festival called West End Live, in which musicals, singers and all sorts of act were presenting their talents to the visitors. It was great to hear tunes from Chicago and Sound of Music, which are among my fave musicals. Funny, but I saw Duncan James (a singer, who is about to take the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago) before the performance; there he was, walking down the street when we were going to the National Gallery! Timo, Cat and I went to have a late lunch at Chinatown and surprise, surprise, we found ourselves eating at the New Laughing Buddha again!

We said goodbyes to Cat and left to walk at the city centre. We went to Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus and walked along Piccadilly. We saw St. James Palace, admired St. James’ Park and Green Park. There was a concert going on and naturally we listened to the lovely tunes. Then we walked to the Buckingham Palace.

Monday 25.6
This busy day begun at Tate Britain. Timo likes William Blake, so we went to see his works there. This time there were just fwe of them on display. I saw a beautiful painting by Dante Rossetti called Proserpine. The owners of the flat we stayed in London had its replica and I had admired it during our stay, so I got a postcard of it.

After Tate we went to Hyde Park. We took pictures of swans we saw and Peter Pan’s statue.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/peterpan.jpg
Then we walked to Bayswater, where we both had stayed during our London trips; Timo in 1997, me 1998. We tried to find Timo’s old hotel, but the neighbourhood looked different to him now.

We took the tube to Kensington High Street. We visited a pet shop. We sad a bed for guinea pigs and a cute leach. But we didn’t buy either, although we nearly got both... The weather was ok, so we walked to South Kensington and Natural History Museum. We both wanted to visit dinosaurs, so we went there first. Timo likes creepy crawlies, so that section was next. We admired marine fossils and birds, also. We had picnic lunch at picnic area and continued to look for Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial. We walked to the Harrod’s in rainy wheather to get one souvenir Timo wanted.

Our last stop was Abbey Road. Nro 3, to be exact, the Abbey Road Studios, one of Timo’s “must visit” places.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/abbeyroad.jpg

Tuesday 26.6.
We walked to the Tower Bridge and took some pictures and then searched for antique stores nearby. We admired the fancy stores at Burlington Arcade and homey tiny stands at lovely market next to a church. Then we went to Whittard and got us guinea pig mugs! ;;D Like any guinea pig owner could resist these...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/sandie99/guineapigmug.jpg

Then it was final packing and to the airport (via tube from Bermondsey to Stratford and airport bus from there to Stansted). Timo must look very suspicious because the poor fella had to be full body searched and I got away with nothing... But it was odd that someone wanted to check my sweaty sneakers, but be my quest! [smiley=laugh.gif]

It was one amazing trip and I can't wait to travel to see more of you, my dear clusterpeople! :)

Hugs,
Sanna

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by LeLimey on Jun 29^th, 2007, 12:49pm

Did you get any of the malibu tea in whittards Sanna?! LOL

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 29^th, 2007, 1:26pm

on 06/29/07 at 12:49:01, LeLimey wrote:

Did you get any of the malibu tea in whittards Sanna?! LOL

No, we didn't, but we did get those guinea pig mugs! ;;D It was a question of space; if we had had some more of it, I would have bought Dreamtime tea and that Malibu for Timo. The 3rd one would have been blackcurrant and was it eldenflower?

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by vietvet2tours on Jun 29^th, 2007, 3:07pm

Thanks what a nice story and the pics are great.I like the chinese restuarant pic,nothin like eating chinese with chinese folks.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Jimi on Jun 29^th, 2007, 3:50pm

Great pics Sandie. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Rosybabe on Jun 29^th, 2007, 4:54pm

NIce pics and a wonderful journey for sure, you made me wish I was there!

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Shedz on Jun 29^th, 2007, 4:57pm

Nice pics Sanna, hope our English summer was kind to you and Timo!!!

Paul.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Sandy_C on Jun 29^th, 2007, 5:03pm

Sanna,

I am so glad that you and Timo had such a great trip! Your pictures are awesome, and make me wish I could plan something like that.

Glad you had a wonderful time!

Sandy

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Charlie on Jun 29^th, 2007, 7:13pm

Geeze...what a good time and it was great of you to show us what you did. I'm insanely jealous.

Thanks kids.

Charlie

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Jonny on Jun 29^th, 2007, 7:18pm

Smokin pics, Sanna....thanks so much for sharing and im glad you and your best supporter got away without Helen putting a spell on you....LOL ;;D

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by George_J on Jun 29^th, 2007, 9:01pm

Great pics, Sanna, and I enjoyed your travel narrative. :)

Liz and Ellen have been sitting here with me, reading and looking at your photos. I think they liked your post as much as I did.

Best,

George

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Jun 29^th, 2007, 9:04pm

Great pics - thanks for sharing your trip with us. Almost like being there myself - almost - but not quite!

Carol

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by nani on Jun 29^th, 2007, 11:25pm

Thanks for those, Sanna. I loved reading about and looking at your adventure!

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by andrewjb on Jun 29^th, 2007, 11:28pm

:), you both clearly had a wonderful time. good on ya. andrew.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by UN solved on Jun 30^th, 2007, 1:35am

Great Post ! Cool pics w/ narration ! ;;D Looks like you had a great time !! Thanks for sharing !

PF Wishes

UNsolved

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by JeffB on Jun 30^th, 2007, 1:38am

Very cool. Sanna. Looks like you had a great time.

Hope you counted your items after being with Helen! LOL

Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the pics, Honey!!

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jun 30^th, 2007, 3:38am

I'm so glad that you liked the narrative & pictures! :)

It turned out that we took 1000 pictures in total, so naturally it is a difficult job to choose just few. And I know that we have loads of pics of Big Ben and etc., but I wanted these pics to show bit different journey, too.
I will post some of the funny pics in future. ;)

Jonny, I believe it is impossible to meet Helen and not get some kind of kindness spell; she is wonderful! :)

Jeff, I did counted my items after leaving Helen's, and it turned out that I had plenty of more to carry when I left! ;;D Helen gave me "survival kit", which contains my fave noodles and soup. :)

Hugs & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by midwestbeth on Jun 30^th, 2007, 7:56am

Sanna,

Looks like you had a wonderful time.

Thanks for sharing your travel diary and pics. I really enjoyed them.

Beth

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by john_d on Jun 30^th, 2007, 9:37am

I think your journalistic skills are showing. Great story and pictures for a great trip.

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by Melissa on Jun 30^th, 2007, 12:35pm

Sanna, I am so glad you had such a wonderful and enriched time on your trip to England. I am jealous! Thanks for the pictures and "itinerary". ;)

hugs,
:)mel

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by barry_sword on Jun 30^th, 2007, 1:44pm

Very nice Sanna. Looks like you and Timo had a great trip. Thanks for sharing the pics and narration with us. Your journalistic skills really came out. You have a way with words.

Barry

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by mynm156 on Jul 5^th, 2007, 3:41am

WOW GREAT PICS GIRL!!! Looks like U had a BLAST!!!

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sandie99 on Jul 6^th, 2007, 7:31am

Thank you. :)

We had a blast! ;;D We have been thinking about the trip ever since we've been back. I think that we'd like to go back... right now. [smiley=laugh.gif]

Sanna ;)

Title: Re: The UK Journey Diary with Pictures!
Post by sldrswyfe on Jul 6^th, 2007, 10:42pm

How lovely you "narrated" and put the pictures in!! You're very good at this...a natural.

Love the room you showed...and the Beatrix Potter items.

Looks like you had a wonderful time...especially at "The Cluster Inn".

Thank you for the very interesting and enjoyable "slide show" of your trip! :)