Day 25 Stuttgart

Sunday 3rd January

Up reasonably early for a nice breakfast at Hotel Mack and a walk to the station for a short trip to Neckar Park or Mercedes-Benz Museum Station. A much different layout to Porsche. Here the display starts at the top via a lift and you walk down through a double helix setup. We had an English-speaking tour guide Martin for the first couple of hours, very informative. Then we had a wonderful German lunch at the beautiful restaurant on the ground floor. We picked up our audio guides and went back up so we could see it and more again and Peter could take pictures (lots of pictures!!)

By 4 pm we were overloaded with car information so we had afternoon hot chocolate and apple pie, did a little buying at the shop and caught the train home. By this time it was snowing again so we bought some food at the station and came back to the hotel to eat rest and complete this blog which we have now done and it is time to sleep.

We catch a train to Frankfurt Airport tomorrow afternoon after a walk around Stuttgart inner city tomorrow morning. Then a late night flight with Lufthansa to Singapore and Qantas to Brisbane arriving 6am Wednesday.

Day 24 London to Stuttgart

Saturday 2nd January

Very early start 4am to catch cab to Paddington Station for high speed train to Heathrow so we could book in for 8:15 flight to Stuttgart via Eurowings a subsidiary of Lufthansa. Very good fare on internet like Jetstar. Left a little late and when coming in to land noticed all the hills and fields covered in snow,

Landed in remote corner of airport and bus took us to terminal. No problems getting through customs etc and 30 min train to city centre. Found Hotel Mack after climb up a hill near station and booked in. Had a short rest and then off by train to Porsche Museum which was very new with 80 odd Porsches and engines etc on display. Very good audio guide system.

Back on the train to the city mall for a meal at a café in the city mall and back to hotel for a good nights sleep.

Day 23 London

Friday 1st January 2010

A very late morning with a brunch at a nearby café after a late night.

Met up with Adam and Sarita we head to Regent Street to watch the London New Year’s Day Parade. Lots of American marching bands. Many interesting groups and floats but difficult to fid a good viewing place. After a while we left for a spot of retail therapy at the sales for the girls.

Back to the hotel to freshen up and then off to Victoria Station to meet Adam and Sarita who had arrived in town staying in Paddington near us. We had purchased tickets for the musical Wicked the prequel to the Wizard of Oz. What a great piece of theatre it was and the dress circle seats were great.

Back to Queensway on the tube where we said farewell to Adam and Sarita and off to our hotel for final packing for an early departure.

Day 22 London

Thursday 31st December

Last day of 2009 and we were going to make the most of it. Headed off to Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of this amazing place which we missed in 2006. Some really great new displays including one which was being used by a bride and groom as a backdrop. The Italian cast room was undergoing transformation and was closed but could see David in all his glory. Also amazed by a 16th Century Donatello sculpture of Christ handing the keys of the Kingdom to Peter. Such delicate work in marble.

Off down the road to the Natural History Museum but there were so many kids there and their parents we decided to head off to the British Museum which we hadn’t seen before. The scale of this place is staggering and has so many different areas of interest it was hard to decide what to visit. Daphne found her favorite Roman called Hadrian and so I took a photo of them.

Back to the hotel to freshen up and then off to the tube to meet Adam and Sarita at Aldgate East station to head off to Brick Lane for a curry dinner. We found it to be quieter than usual so we approached by all the touts of the restaurants. We finally chose the Monsoon who offered us a 30 percent discount. Great variety of curries and all were excellent.

We then made our way to the Thames Embankment to find a good spot to watch the fireworks near the London Eye. Found a place near Cleopatra’s Needle which is being renovated. There was a report of 200,000 there and it was very cold and boring waiting for midnight. The London Eye was changing colours and they had the BBC on loudspeakers. Not well organized as Riverfire or Sydney. The fireworks went off and then the crowd fireworks started. Snow started falling as we headed for the exit. We have never experienced such a disorganized and confusing crowd dispersal. No-one was giving directions and the police and security people were useless. The crowd was held up and we were getting squashed. The crowd found an escape route up a set of steps to a bridge and we were safe, then we had to find a tube station to get home. Said our farewells to Adam and Sarita at Bayswater station and headed back tour hotel.

Day 21 London

Wednesday 30 December

The day Daphne was misplaced by Peter and most places were closed.

We’ve had difficulty updating the blog so Peter was updating a word version this morning just in case we could get internet access. Daphne left to find a Post office to buy stamps – still haven’t found it despite 3 different people giving instructions. She did however find a bank she needed but took too long to finish the business she needed to transact. Peter was worried as it took longer than expected. Once again united we left for Leicester Square Ticket Box. The queue was long, the rain falling and hard decisions to make.

An Agatha Christie drama (not the Mousetrap), The Nutcracker ballet at the Royal Opera (a long-term favourite). As Peter approached the box office matinée tickets to the Jersey Boys flashed up – this is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, We splurged and bought these.

So off in the rain to fill in the time. Dr Samuel Johnson’s house – CLOSED, the Old Cheshire Cheese Pub – CLOSED, Twining’s original tea shop – CLOSED. All closed for Christmas/New Year. Just nearby Temple Bar on Fleet Street we’d seen this very narrow (6 metres wide) pub. More good pub food. Then back to the Prince Edward theatre for the Jersey Boys. Well worth the money in the Dress Circle.

Back into the rain and cold and into a little teashop nearby. The window had displayed French pastries and we couldn’t resist. Up a very narrow staircase and sat in close quarters with about 20 others to have a lovely afternoon tea. We walked to Covent Garden and then made our way home. On Daphne’s morning walk she had found a McDonald’s nearby so after a rest we ventured out to access the free wifi. Peter finally entered a Macca’s and he managed to update 3 days of blog – at last!

Day 20 London

Tuesday 29th Dec

Another cold, grey and rainy day in London so we donned our gear and headed for the tube station Queensway with Liverpool Station our destination. There we caught a bus to the Geffrye Museum which was an old Alms House which had been transferred into a museum to reflect the changing face of London houses over the centuries. It then has a section showing the changes from the 1920’s to the 1990’s. Also has a section devoted to modern eco materials and appliances and equipment that are environmentally friendly. The old chapel has been restored as well and a beautiful garden terrace room looking out over their garden.

Back on the bus to head off for the National Gallery which has an amazing body of work on display including Turner’s, Gainsborough’s, Stubbs’s and many others. Unlike the French who allow photography but charge to get in the British Art Galleries are free but photography is not allowed. It has its benefits as it is easier to appreciate the paintings without flashes going off.

Day 19 London

Monday 28th

The long walks of the previous day meant a slow start to the day. We walked through Hyde Park, past Kensington Palace. A very cold morning but that didn’t stop dog owners or children on scooters. We decided to buy a 7 day travel card and were given London Transport Oyster Cards. Made our way to Tate Britain art gallery. Monday being a Bank Holiday was not a good day for the London Underground. Lines were closed, trains cancelled or delayed. Eventually we arrived at the Tate. Five hours later we were ehausted after many Turner’s, Constables etc etc. We walked into the dark, cold afternoon following the Thames west past the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of Big Ben. Peter got some amazing photos if the moon shining in a clear sky!

On past the Battle of Britain memorial and Cleopatra’s Needle. By now we were cold and hungry. Walked up to the Strand and found a well known British pub “The Coal Hole” near the Savoy. We had tried to eat there in 2006 but couldn’t get a table. Monday was our night – a very good meal it was still early so we went to Leicester Square to see if there were any cheap tickets to shows. Again lots of people, the square is home to a mini Christmas fair, rides, lights etc. There were no tickets available to shows we wanted to see. Across town to Victoria Station to stand outside the Victoria Apollo (home to Wicked). No joy there so we paid full-price for tickets on Friday night. Our travel pass was being well used as we cris-crossed around London. We came back to the hotel via Paddington station. We were trialing the walk from Paddington to Queensborough Tce for sat morning when we need to catch the train to Heathrow Airport. It is too long for a 6am walk with our suitcases so taxi it will be.

Sorry it has been a while in posting but the hotel in London charges lots for internet access. This is from a Maccas.

Day18 Southampton

Sunday 27th Dec

Up early to go to church in Winchester. We were leaving the Leggo flat in Southampton for good so all the bags and 4 people needed to fit in the Peugeot 206. It was tight and thankfully Winchester is only a 20 min drive away. The bells of the cathedral were chiming as we arrived. A leisurely look around the cathedral and we took our seats in the nave ready for the matins service. We were redirected to the quire- – service was high church again, but no choir so the congregation sang the responses. Good sermon on the meaning of Christmas.

An ice skating rink had been set up next to the cathedral so Adam and Peter went for a skate, thankfully both came off unscathed. Had some nice Cornish pasties for lunch to warm us up. A quick look around the Great Hall (all that remains of Winchester Castle – the original capital of England). A longer look at what purports to be King Arthur’s Round Table.

A train journey to Waterloo and a taxi to our hotel in Bayswater near Hyde Park‘s North-West corner. We stocked up on nibbles and drinks – we had found a rare hotel with a fridge. After settling in we walked down Bayswater Road, past Marble Arch to Oxford Street to see the lights. The footpaths were crowded with shoppers. The “sales” were on and thousands were taking advantage. The lights are awesome but a bit more subdued than 2006, the GFC affects all.

Day 17 Southampton

Boxing Day starts late after a good sleep-in. We had a great Christmas Day and slept off a lot of good food cooked by Sarita. After breakfast Adam and Peter headed off to Halfords to look for a pushbike for Adam, then back home to take a walk around Southampton’s old walls which are very interesting. Called into an old pub to have a late lunch and found it was full of Southampton Saints FC supporters.
Adam had organized tickets to the game for us. We left Sarita to go shopping and headed off to the stadium with lots of others, when we arrived we found it was almost a sellout. Southampton was playing Exeter City and we were in a corner near their section which was heavily separated form the Southampton supporters by vacant seats and lots of security and police.
The game started at 3 and all the fans were in fine voice with lots of banter between them, some not so lighthearted. After a few showers during the game and an Exeter City player sendoff Southampton ended up winning 3-1 so it was a good game to attend. “When the Saints go marching in” was sung plenty of times. Walked home in the dark at 5 to a nice toasted turkey and Wensleydale cheese sandwiches.
Off to sleep after a big day and tomorrow we are off to London.

Day 16 Southampton

Christmas Day has arrived and we had a nice sleep in and awoke to a nice breakfast prepared by Sarita including croissants and coddled eggs washed down with tea.

then it was down to opening our presents. Sarita liked here Julia child cookbook and Adam the Clarke and Dawe DVD set and socks. I received a nice box of chocolates and Daphne a book about Graham Cole who played Tony in “The Bill.”

Spoke to the relatives back in Oz by way of Skype. Watched “young Victoria” on DVD and continued to graze on snacks during the night.