Back in Vancouver

Bought theatre tickets to Wicked. It was fabulous. We took the tube to Harrods and spent the afternoon wandering there, having lunch in the Georgian Court. Posh and delicious. A great way to spend a rainy afternoon. Had an uneventful and pleasant flight home. The plane was not full so we took advantage of the space and got great service. Back in Vancouver and Phil is happy. He was a very capable travel agent and I would use him again!

London

Arrived at Gatwick yesterday and stayed at Sofitel at the airport. Lazy morning. First time in my life I had room service for breakfast! Took fast train to Victoria Stn. Then a cab to St Ermin's Hotel. Nice! Spent the afternoon touring. Did not see the Queen but did stop by Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminister Abby, Trafalgar Square, the Thames, London Eye, Picadilly Circus and St James Park. Tired feet. Weather held out for us although it was a grey afternoon. Tomorrow is our last day....

Off to London

Took the water taxi from Aqua Palace Hotel to the train station and included are some of these photos. Kind of a misty morning. On a Eurostar and this train was easier to navigate with our luggage. In Florence we walked to Piazzo Santa Maria Novella where we lunched the first day and spent a few lovely hours in the shade having pizza and wine. then on to the airport by taxi and that is where we are now, waiting for the check in counter to open and board our plane in a couple of hours. On to London!

More photos of the Palace and the ghetto and from the vaporetto

Just had to include these, after all we had two days worth....

Last days in Venice

Took a walking tour with a private guide, Ileana, a Venitian, who offered interesting architectural, historical and cultural info about Venice. She took us to fascinating places we would not have found as tourists. Then we toured the Palace of the Doge, and it is there that you get the true sense of power held by those who controlled Venice, hand in hand with God! (or so theyconvinced the people)
Anita wrote the next bit- I am taking a break.
Had an interesting day wandering all over the area near the Jewish Ghetto, train station etc.

Decided to find out if there was a way into train station that would not involve steps. We found it, and in the train station, who did we run into but the wonderful couple who hauled all our suitcases and found our hotel for us. So in Venice we only knew John & Judy, and that couple, and ran into both of them in an hour!

Just freshening up in the hotel, and have decided to go near San Marco Square and eat there. We had a really great lunch - fresh sea bass and Pinot grigio, a little pasta and clams. Ho hum!

Have had a wonderful time in Venice, and feel we have covered a lot of ground. Just enough time, actually.