Travel Folders Organized

2010 finds us traveling to St. Lucia, an all inclusive resort on the northern end of the island, for a week in February. We have booked a package trip through our trusty travel agent, receiving $1000 off each from the listed brochure price. This includes our flights in their Business class section and transfers (90min) return - airport/resort.

We have been to St. Lucia a couple of times. Once by cruise ship and another time staying at the Sandals La Toc & Spa property, which we liked very much.
St. Lucia is a very beautiful, small island, with rain forests, dark/tan beaches and lush vegetation. You do not see big condo developments as you see on some of the nearby islands in the Caribbean. There is a little bit of duty free shopping at the cruise ship port, in Castries and at the airport.

It's a great island to relax on the beach, by the pool, on a catamaran; take a drive to the Pitons-volcano or walk through the forests.

Can't wait. Will post photos after trip.
Taking iPhone (to check my email, but no laptop).

The next trip planned for 2010 is a week long one to California.

We've broken up the week this way:
1 night L.A.
3 nights Desert
2 nights Santa Monica
1 night L.A.

We'll have a car and explore some areas we have not yet stayed in. Using my aeroplan miles for the flights.

The last trip of 2010 that we have planned is to Italy.

I've just completed making all the arrangements except for our 2 week car rental, as we leave Rome. At a friend's suggestion, we've decided to keep the car the whole time rather than turn it in - Florence and taking a train to Bologna.

So here goes......
Flights are booked through husband's aeroplan miles. These are executive, lie flat beds, non stop, Toronto-Rome return.
Airport hotel plus late check out booked - Toronto.
Airport driver booked through Rome hotel to meet us at FCO and take us to hotel in Pantheon area of Rome.
Rome hotel for 3 nights in a superior double room.
Auto Europe car rental - to be arranged and drive to Greve.
Hotel in Greve piazza booked-double/ with breakfast for 3 nights.
Hotel in Florence near Ponte Vecchio booked-double with view and breakfast for 2 nights.
Bologna hotel in Piazza Maggiore area booked-double with breakfast for 3 nights.
Hotel in Montefalco piazza booked- superior booked for 3 nights.
Rome Airport hotel booked using points for 1 night.
Return car at airport-to be arranged.

On this trip we are staying in a new part of Rome, for us. We've always stayed beside the Spanish Steps, but after the switch they did on us re: apartments last time, we are happy to move elsewhere.

Also, Greve is central enough for us to explore the area of Tuscany we did not see much of the last 2 times we were there, so we are looking forward to that, before returning to our favorite spots in Florence for a couple of nights.

Bologna is our next stop, right in the historical centre where we can just enjoy walking & dining close to our hotel.

We did try to get a reservation for a B&B in Umbria, but they could not accommodate us in a ground floor room, so we went ahead and booked a hotel in the centre of Montefalco for our time in Umbria. We'll use it as a base to see a couple of other small towns.

And lastly, the hotel points were about to expire, so we used them to book an airport hotel for our last night in Italy, returning the car at the airport.

2011 Plans:

Emerald Princess to Caribbean for 10 nights booked, in our fav. balcony cabin. Sails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

More Photos to Post re: British Isles Trip

I will try to post some more photos re: lastest trip...when time allows this week.

Toronto, Ontario

Our cruise friends from Sedona, Arizona came up to meet us in Toronto for a couple of days. We took them to the CN Tower 360 restaurant for dinner on Sunday evening. The view was clear and we could even see the lights of Niagara/Buffalo across Lake Ontario.
Food was okay.
We drove around to show them the sights of Toronto on Monday and stopped at Casa Loma for some photos and then went for lunch at Grazie on Yonge Street, one of our favourites.
Our hotel for the one night was The Grand. It was very reasonable and offered a lot for our money. We did not like the neighbourhood, but did not get out to walk around there. Parking was in a locked underground lot on the hotel property. I'd stay there again.

The Last Supper Near Heathrow Airport

For 5GBP each, we enjoyed the Carvery, a help yourself buffet like restaurant. There was baked ham, roast beef and roast turkey to choose from with plenty of vegetables. It was delicious and you can't beat the price. Drinks and desserts were an extra charge.

Passing Through Burford

We really noticed a lot of similarities between the Cotswold area of England and the area we live in Southern Ontario, Canada.
The names of towns, small villages and streets are much the same. We have a small farm town called Burford, a town called Stratford, with a Shakespeare Festival Theatre and several small shops and restaurants, streets called Glasgow, Aberdeen, etc.

Leaving Chipping Campden & Off to Heathrow Hotel

A Few Gifts From the British Isles

Adding:
Grandbaby came to visit on Sat. and picked up her gifts. She is quite impressed with the little hats and looks so cute in them. DIL likes the wool throw.

The Cotswold House Hotel in Chipping Campden

We were fortunate to be upgraded from a standard Queen room to the Montrose Jr. Suite.
Loved it.
The Hick's Restaurant in the hotel was excellent for the complimentary full English breakfast and the few dinners we ate there. Prices were on par with the other restaurants in the town for the lunch and dinner menus.
Internet in the Jr. Suite was complimentary, as well.
Loved the English garden, cricket court and apple & pear orchard which is part of the property.
There is a parking lot at the back of the property or you can park on the street where there aren't any double white lines. No cost for parking in hotel lot or on street. There is a charge to park in the lot in front of the hotel. It is clearly marked.
I can't say enough about how nice the hotel and restaurant staff were to us. Amazing.

The Famous Cavern Club-one on each side of the street

Eleanor Rigby

These stones are in the church cemetary which is across the street from the church hall where Paul and John first got together and started writing songs.

Strawberry Field in Liverpool That Inspired the Song

John use to hop the fence and go play with the children in the orphanage at Strawberry Field. The property is now a school.

John Lennon's Childhood Home in Liverpool

John lived most of his life with his Aunt Mimi. This is his childhood home. His mother Julia came to visit him one day, left to walk to the bus stop down the road and was hit by a drunk driver, and killed.
In later years, John's wife Oko Ono bought the property and donated it back to the city.

Childhood Homes in Liverpool

The bottom photo is the house where Paul and his brother lived with their dad, when he was 15, and his mom died.

The middle photo is Ringo's childhood home and the top photo is the Empress Hotel where Ringo's mom worked.

Penny Lane-the bus stop, barber shop etc. that inspired the song

The College Where Paul McCartney Studied Music

Our Fab 4 Tour driver/guide also attended this college in Liverpool and was chosen to give Paul & friends a tour of it when they returned for a visit.

The Hospital Where Julia Gave Birth to John Lennon

Julia Lennon was John's mom, but he was raised by his Aunt Mimi for most of his life.
This is the hospital where John Lennon was born in Liverpool.

The Beatles-Club Where It All Began In Liverpool

The Beatles-Club Where It All Began In Liverpool

The Beatles-Club Where It All Began In Liverpool

Heathrow Sheridan Hotel

Our last night in England was spent at the Heathrow Sheridan Hotel for 65GBP, which included a full English breakfast.
This was ideal for the price and it was close enough to Terminal 2 we decided to take a taxi for 10GB instead of the Hoopla Bus for 8GBP (for 2 people, one way). Less hassle with the luggage.
I am never taking 3 suitcases again. We did laundry once on the ship, but could have done it twice, and left that 3rd bag at home.
The Sheridan also offered 45 minutes of free internet time, so we could check our email and flight status online.
Windows open, basic room, beds comfortable, very small bathroom, garden, no pool, and a MacDonalds and gas station across the road.
Hertz charged a one way drop off charge, which was mentioned when we picked up the car in Bath.
I was so relieved to see the car returned without a dent or a scratch.
The drive to the airport on the highways was easy. The narrow countryroads in the Cotswolds is what scared me to death. Also, in Stratford Upon Avon, I was quite concerned with people walking in the streets, between cars and not paying attention to which way cars were approaching them on the roads. I was glad to get out of there, so we did not get out downtown to walk around. A regret.
More photos will be posted later this week.
Home Sweet Home.

How Much Is That Doggie In the Window

On our last full day in Chipping Campden, we did our daily morning walk through the town and saw this dog, wagging his tail. I think it was a seamstress shop. This really made me start thinking about my two best friends back home.
21 days was abit too much for me this time. Next year we'll make it less.

We are safely home, from a smooth flight. Our plane was on time, however, there was a backup on the runway at Heathrow and we waited for an hour to take off. Funny, isn't it how we arrived 15 minutes early from our original arrival time in Toronto. It was just over 6hr. going and just over 7 hours for our return flight (these are flying times).
Not bad. Feel okay.
We were in business class and when I was offered a choice of meals there wasn't any choice. All the steak/potato were taken by crew & others before I was asked. It was squash something or a chicken dish from economy class. I chose the chicken. Tasted a tiny morsel of it and couldn't eat any...curry chicken on a clump of rice. I just told stewardess I wasn't hungry.
I did get a grilled veg. salad and roll.
Later they served an apple, cookie, 2 tiny pieces of bread with sliced beef/turkey.
I did hear flight attendant say they'd be serving pizza and I smelled it but it must have been for economy class.
Air Transat advertises that they have increased leg room for economy and have a new class where you pay $79 roundtrip to book your seats, preboard with business class, and a few other perks, you just sit in economy seats.
For Business class they increased the options you have to purchase in their duty free selection. Wow. Big deal. And I can tell you where they got that extra leg room in economy from...the business class legroom is less now.
Anyway, it was worth it to know I had my seat reserved when I made the booking and it was much easier getting through Heathrow Terminal 2 than T5.
I might do it again.
Home at last. I love it here.

heathrow

we had breakfast at our hotel-The Cotswold House on High Street in Chipping Campden this morning and true to their word, they honoured my price of 150GBP per night for the Montrose Jr. Suite. Relieved, we loaded up the car and set out for Heathrow hotel, with plans to stop for lunch by 2pm. We just kept driving until we reached Heathrow and found a Carvery place for lunch a couple of miles from our hotel. Ate there for 5GBP each. Good food, good deal.
Headed out for the hotel, checked in, DH went on own to return car and walked back.
Taxi reserved for tomorrow morning after we enjoy our complimentary full English Breakfast.
Going to airport 3 hours early, because it seems to be a very full flight and we want to make sure we get the seats we prebooked almost a year ago.
More photos when we get home.

Badger Tea Room in Chipping Campden & Stuff

I don't know who the man with suitcase is, as he wasn't in photo when I went to take it.
Pauline Kenny, of Slow Europe, a website recommended the Badger Tea Room on High Street in Chipping Campden to me and then a lady I met in our hotel this morning did too.
It is right across the street from our hotel, so it was the right choice for lunch.
The photo (which is rather large) shows the jacket potatoes we had. It was a large oven baked potato covered in beef done in red wine. It was delicious. The menu said AGA, so DH asked what that meant and it is the kind of oven they cook it in.
Then DH had a cake made with raisins, pineapple and parsnip. He enjoyed it. I had a slice of ginger cake, I'd be looking at through the window since we arrived. It was also excellent. Did us in, no dinner again tonight. Happened the other day when we ate lunch too. Oh, well...more time to use computer and finish the packing. Off to Heathrow hotel tomorrow and returning the car. I can't wait to get there so we don't have to drive anymore.
This is a lovely area of the country and I'm glad we came. Being the passenger hasn't been any fun at all, as I am terrified of ending up on the curb, in a ditch or the wrong lane. Also, in touristy areas such as Stratford, people are walking on the roads and not aware of cars, which gave me a real scare yesterday.
I did notice a couple of local buses going through here that had Moreton-on-the Marsh, and Stratford on them, but do not know how regular they run.
So, if you don't want to drive, get a driver, take a train to a major town, and try getting around by bus.
There are tour buses with 50 passengers going through here also. Most hotels can hook you up with a tour or driver.
This hotel is lovely. I will tell more and post more photos when I get home and have time.
The steam/shower/spa is almost as big as the cruiseship cabin we had. We are very fortunate that this worked out for us here, as we could not have climbed the stairs up to the first level.
More later....

Walking Along High Street in Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden Market Building & Town Hall across from our hotel

Lovely House As You Enter Chipping Campden

Our Hotel in Chipping Campden

Off to Broadway for Tea on Tuesday

My English Garden

This is my view from my hotel suite. The patio doors lead out to a table and chairs and then a pathway lined on both sides with beautiful greenery. There are still some flowers in bloom.

Lunch at the Howard Arms in the Village of Ilmington

Along the Avon in Stratford

We drove through town (bless us and those who were crossing the street at the time), and went past the Stratford Festival Theatre, but it was all under construction, with very tall fences. No photos.
So we parked for a few minutes to take some photos of the Avon, with boats, ducks and swans.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

No, not the actress, but William Shakespere's wife-Anne Hathaway. This is her family home that you can pay 6GBP each to take a tour of. There are lovely gardens, an apple orchard and the house is well maintained. There is a guide inside describing the house and the main two rooms on the ground floor. You can go upstairs on your own to see the bedrooms, which were added after Anne's brother purchased the house. They also owned several acres of land.
It is an easy trip from Chipping Campden, on the narrow roads.

The Queensberry Hotel in Bath, England

Day 2 in Chipping Campden-Cotswolds

I've been trying to post photos but it is going very slow, so I'll come back later and try again.
Last night we ate dinner in the Hotel's Cafe. Didn't take camera, but should have because the food was excellent.
With our room rate we have a full breakfast included each morning and it really was a full breakfast. If we were paying as non hotel guests it would have cost us about 16GBP each.
Photos later.
After breakfast we walked through town, up and down the main street, and we did all this before most shops opened for the day. It's a lovely town with a butcher, 2 bakers and they say a candlestick maker (or you can buy candles in the boutiques.)
We stopped in and looked at the bakery/deli but did not buy anything there. Then off to get some water at the One Stop store before we stopped in at the Tourist Office. We were hoping for a map, but there wasn't much to offer. Even Hertz in Bath did not have a map for us.
So, we bought a little book on Chipping Campden and headed back to our hotel room.
DH needed to do more, so he talked me into going the 4 miles to Broadway, a pretty little town with shops, pubs, tearooms.
We did stop and have lunch at one of the tearooms. I will post a photo.
On the way back I tried to get photos of the houses with Thatched roofs. Battery on camera needed charging, so not much luck.
Will try to post more photos later.

Invergordon, Scotland-4Wheel Drive Tour With Photographer Keith