Day 13

Up at 7am, shower, tidy up.  John and Norma made that another great breakfast.  We said our goodbyes and took pictures with them the John once again drove us to the tube station.
We really can not overstate how incredible it is to stay with them!  Beyond 5 star service, but at a good friends home.  If you ever go to London as a couple or small family, do yourself a favor and book with them.
We had plenty of time to ride the tube to Heathrow, and check our luggage.  Though it was carry on it is just easier for the homeward trip.  Fortunately the fully booked flight, had a few people shift and we got to buy upgrades to economy plus seats.  Tons of leg room and well worth it on an 8.5 hour flight!
The layover in Chicago was quick and easy.  Our flight to California was pretty straightforward I slept most the way but airplane sleep, Kari got some rest as well .  We landed at about 7:35 Kelsey and Ruth were there waiting to pick us up. After a bite of food at Ruth and Pauls and seeing Kelsey and Paul we headed home. Since we had been up for about 22 hours, the hour drive home was pretty tough but we made it . Got to bed at 11pm...
....and Mark is writing this last bit at 6:45 because he woke up at 5am and couldn't go back to sleep. 
We hope you've enjoyed following our adventures, we loved the trip
Mark and Kari

Day 12

On our last full day in the UK, we thought to see Westminster Abby then pick up a bit more of the British Museum.  As we were walking down the sidewalk off Westminster bridge along parliament we heard a rumble.  There were 3 tanks rolling down the street! They were promoting Battlefield 3, a upcoming video game. An odd site to see.  I wonder when the last time tanks were there?
When we got to Westminster we just felt that the hour long long line and the $22 entrance fee just not worth it. So we headed up towards Trafalgar square. We will attend a service there next time we come. It was another beautiful day and only a light jacket or less was needed so we strolled along.
The museum was wonderful though as our host John pointed out , there are very few British things there. Mainly as he put it, there are "things we took from other countries". Lol. Mummies, gigantic statues, gold adornments, amazing item after item were there for us.  We spent a good 3 hours following Rick Steves tour and whatever else caught our eyes.
Kari wanted to shop for a coat so we hit Oxford street after filing up on cheap, yummy Chinese food.  We found a nice one in the second store we stopped at, but just to be sure we walked and browsed the whole length of London's busiest shopping street.  Just us and 100,000 other folks.  At the end of our quest we bought the same coat we found at the start from another outlet of the same store. It was good fun all the same and Kari looks lovely in the coat.
I had given John a shopping list that morning and this evening I made us all a good basic mexican meal.  Homemade salsa, spanish rice, quesadillas, natchos with refried beans (which John assembled). Norma made guacamole and a delicious trifle.  We talked, laughed, ate late into the night.  Then we headed up for a final pack and off to bed.

Day 12 pictures

Day 11

We are currently on the train back to London.  Wi-Fi onboard is handy.  Got up at 7, but with packing and breakfast we didn't they out till 9:30. It was an easy, pretty drive into Edinburgh, but with the whole area near and leading to the train station under construction it was good to get there early.  Coffee and pastys for the journey put us right. (pastys are folded pastry with fillings, meat, onions, cheese, all wonderful.  "Cornish" are our favorite.) We wish they were available at home!
We scored good seats with a table, and have two short ladies facing us so leg room is good.  Our route is going down the east coast, very nice.  4.5 hours on the train really was enjoyable.  A quick ride on the tube and a pick up at Bounds Green station by our host John and zip we are back in London.
John and Norma are as pleasant as ever, it's like coming back to a friend's place.  We dropped our stuff in headed back out to London's center. We have not had the opportunity to be there at night.  Parliament, Big Ben, the Thames were all beautifully lit up.  We had a nice walk along the south bank followed by a great dinner at a chinese restaurant on the riverside.

Day 10th pictures

Day 10

Edinburgh. Laden Inn for dinner.  Haggis, neeps an' tatties for Mark , steak pie for Kari.   More details to come.
After a nice breakfast we were off for Edinburgh.  The plan was to dove to the park and ride at the airport, then take a city bus into the centre of the city. 
Along the route we came to a memoral statue just kind of in a field by itself. We had passed it several times do decided to stop and see it.  The David Stirling memorial.  He rurned out to be the founder of the SAS!  He had grown up very near there, which is why the memorial was in such an odd place.  We were so glad we stopped, what a find.  Plus the view was great.
The parking/bus worked very well, we exited near the bottom of the Mound and walked up.  We went via a small alley called a "close" that brought us to Royal Mile just a couple blocks from the castle. 
What a place.  Though there were a fair bit of tourists it was still very enjoyable.   It oozes history and was the  center of many historic events.  The Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny ate both there.  A definite  must see.  There was a wedding at Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in the castle.  The let military people have weddings and one was happening. So we got a piper to accompany our views there.  We had purchased the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass at Jedburgh Abby which gave us entrance to all their sites, saved money AND no waiting in line! 
We lunched at The Last Drop Inn in the Grassmarket.  It is built where the last gallows stood.  Thus the name.  Wandering around the area, shopping, stopped in at St. Giles Cathedral (got a private view of the workings of the organ) just soaking in the sites and age of it all.
The bus was a little late, but the trip was fine.  Our dinner reservation was at The Laden Inn just down the road from the b&b.  Wonderful traditional food and atmosphere. Tomato and roasted pepper soup to start, local beef steak pie for Kari, and haggis, beeps (turnips) and tatties (potatos) for Mark YUM!  It really is just a beef pate  flavored with Christmas spices. Very rich, filling and delicious.  Afterwards we went into the bar where a traditional Scottish group was playing.  We listened and sang along for over an hour.  So much fun!

Don't Fear the Haggis! It's deeeeelisicous!

Day 9 Pictures