Trip Notes

Observations from Mom:

I was surprised at the number of tall men I saw in England. When you go to a restaurant, the silverware they furnish is really big.

England is an environmentally conscious country. If you want disposable cutlery, you can buy wooden knives, forks, and spoons, but NOT plastic. Also, paper straws, not plastic.

High shrubbery on both sides of the road acts as a fence but also obscures views of the countryside. When I told Teresa she was awfully close to the bushes, she remarked, "Better to hit a bush than an oncoming car"

There are several round-abouts in England. Some are so large that they have traffic lights as well. Some are so small they're painted on the road.

Dogs are allowed in restaurants as long as they are well-behaved.

Teresa was an ideal traveling companion. She researched for hundreds of HOURS to find the best deals on food and accommodations that were convenient for ME. What a sweetheart! I was constantly amazed that she knew which turnoff to take at roundabouts. We were able to visit numerous Jane Austen sites as well as several other tourist destinations. I know it was stressful for her to drive on the left (wrong) side of the road, but she did a great job. IT WAS A DREAM VACATION COME TRUE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH DEAR TERESA!

Teresa's Observations:

Pheasants and deer on estates just like in Jane's books/ movies

Tree tunnels

Very polite drivers who always let people in

Small road speed limits were usually way to high in our opinion

How do you know where you're going? - Janna

,  who is not used to following Google maps

I can't get over how many tall man there are! - Janna

No washcloths outside London

No guest computers

What a dream trip.  I'm so grateful I got to go and make such wonderful memories with my Mama.  Thanks, Mom, for an unforgettable journey!  I love you 💗💗💗

Monday, September 25 - Good-bye, England

 "Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Nobody can be more devoted to home than I am." - Mrs. Elton in Emma

Before breakfast,  I took a short walk to see where the British Museum was. 

British Museum

Row houses across from our hotel

love this tavern covered with flowers

Front of our hotel

City bikes for hire with our hotel in the background

9:00 Breakfast at hotel
I forgot to take a picture of the food,  but it was the same as yesterday :)

10:45 Checked out of hotel, Took Uber to Heathrow. Our driver was Borislav from Bulgaria 

12:00 Check in at Delta counter
Got wheelchair and went through security

We had extra time,  so we explored the airport a bit. 

Read 3rd John in the prayer room

Lunch in airport at Spuntino

3:50 pm We took off (a little later than scheduled)

6:30 pm Land in SLC
Went through a quick customs line
Laurel and Shelli Picked us up - thanks sisters!

Mom back at home showing off her souvenirs

Sunday, September 24 - Hyde Park Chapel and Westminster Abbey Organ Recital

“If you are speaking of music...it is of all subjects my delight. There are few people in England I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste." - Lady Catherine deBourgh in Pride and Prejudice

7:30 Breakfast at Hotel

One of the best spreads we've seen and included loads of fruit. 

8:30 Uber 20 min to Hyde Park Chapel. Belal from Bangladesh was our driver. He has been here since he was a baby,  so he has a British accent. 

9:00 Hyde Park Chapel sacrament meeting and Relief Society

Hyde Park Chapel

In 1954 David O. McKay directed that property be found for a chapel in London. The Church bought land on a site that had been bombed during World War II and not restored. Pres. McKay dedicated the building in 1961. The structure is presently a multi-use facility, serving as a chapel, family history center, and a visitors’ center. The building houses two wards and a branch.

Mom bore her testimony, as did some other visitors.  I love how the music and Gospel lessons are the same all around the world. There were several Americans and a few people from other countries. Lovely ward. 

We learned about the history of Hyde Park Chapel in the visitors center a.k.a. the halls of the church building. 

The Victoria and Albert Museum is just a couple minutes walk down the street.

Free admission - “The best collection of decorative arts anywhere” - Rick Steves

We were glad we took time to see this enormous and incredible museum, though we only had time to see a small part of it. 

Art students in the sculpture garden

Taxi 10 min. to Old Queen Street Cafe

Our first Taxi ride.  Black, super spacious inside, with a glass top,  which we loved.  We didn't love the plexiglass divider in-between us and the driver which made it hard to communicate. 

Glass roof

Fancy fish and chips for Mom,
salmon and buckwheat salad for me

Mom fell asleep at the table after lunch.  We were SO tired. 

Walked three minutes to Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a Royal Anglican church. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs, and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs. At least 16 royal weddings have occurred at the abbey since 1100, including William and Kate. Some famous individuals buried at Westminster Abbey include Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Dickens, Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VII. A. There are over 3000 tombs at Westminster Abbey.

4:00 Got in line at Westminster Abbey

It's very easy to capture a red double decker
bus in a photo.  They are everywhere

Building across the street

We were near the front of a VERY long queue, and Mom did amazingly well at standing for forty-five minutes. I got the cutest souvenirs in the Abbey gift shop while Mom saved our place.  We were let in the Abbey at about 4:45

5:00 Westminster Abby Organ recital (30 min)

The organ pipes are gray, on the left and right walls
above the gold gate.  It sounded amazing!

After the organ recital, Mom mailed her postcards in a letter box that had been painted gold when London hosted the 2012 Olympic Games.  Then we walked past Parliament and Big Ben and across Westminster Bridge over the Thames.  We bought some desserts at the M&S which was weirdly part of the hospital.  

A different side of Westminster Abbey 

Big Ben again!

Monument to honor nurse Mary Seacole

Uber to Radisson Hotel with Mohammed from Bangladesh. He was one of my favorite drivers for sure. Nice conversation. He wins for having the most kids of any our drivers - three.

At the hotel, we ate our treats and our last of Mom's brew and packed up our things. 

Ask me if I chose the sponge cake just so I
could include the quote below.  I'm such a nerd

"You know how interesting the purchase of a sponge-cake is to me."

- Jane Austen, 1808

Radisson Blu Edwardian Kenilworth London Hotel.
How's that for a long enough name?

Several of our hotels had this style
of tub with the half glass door. 

All of our hotels had a towel rack / heater.
Only two of them had the heat turned on.

“Look with mercy on the sins we have this day committed and in mercy make us feel them deeply, that our repentance may be sincere, and our resolutions steadfast of endeavoring against the commission of such in future.” from Jane Austen's evening prayers