Spent a few days with sis in CT, tomorrow I'm on my way home. I don't suppose my guys will have caviar waiting for me every night!

Landed on U.S. soil last night. Flew through customs. Met by limo and whisked away to Milford, CT. Managed to stay awake until midnight, just to adjust to jet lag. Started laundry this morning, with Starbucks in hand! Still rocking but assume it's not a lasting sensation! Here are the promised pics from London town.

Yesterday we went to lunch at the Tate Britain, for those of you who have not been in London in recent years that is the old Tate as opposed to the Tate Modern which is across the river. We viewed an exhibit of Turner in conjunction with Rothko. Showing the modernism of Turner, use of light and abstract much unheard of in the mid 1800's. Turner's work in comparison with his contemporaries was very different and led to criticism during his lifetime. After lunch at the Rex Whistler restaurant, not one I'd recommend, we headed off on foot along the Thames. 

Took in the sights of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. We then wound our way toward Buckingham Palace via St. James Park and finally back to our hotel. 

We truly did try for high tea but were an hour early so we opted for a drink and strawberries at the bar! Next we went to Harrod's, I know not why...oh yes souvenirs. It is a crowded, hot, big department store, really nothing special, except for the food court. I imagine most everyone there was a visitor not a Londoner. 

We had dinner at an Indian restaurant, Benares. A very upscale Indian restaurant, not like the small strip mall varieties we find ourselves in at home. It was excellent fare, well recommended by the hotel concierge.

By the by if you ever do have a chance the Lanesborough was a great hotel, the accommodation roomy and comfortable, the staff was very friendly and helpful, it's a good location for exploring the city, and the best high tea in London; the bar is good too!

Today we find ourselves sitting at Heathrow awaiting our flight back to the states. I will post our London pics tomorrow.

I understand some of you have commented on the blog but I have not received them all. I also wish that I would stop rocking, we've been off the ship now for three days and I'm still feeling the motion.

Today we slept in, first time in twelve or so days. Had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Headed over to the British museum (approximately a 2 mile walk) via Hyde Park (speakers corner was very lively today), up Oxford Street (oh my the crowds), and hooked a left onto Bloomsbury Street (Virginia Wolfe and cohorts area), mistakingly went in back entrance (actually good idea because when we exited onto Russell Street side it was a zoo). Saw the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian and Greek exhibits (plundered antiquities) and decided enough was enough. The museums in London are free which makes for a crowded experience but still a good idea. After all the walking we hailed a cab which took us back to our hotel in a round about way, an unexpected sightseeing trip! As soon as we arrived we headed to the bar, yippee! We are off to eat seafood tonight, will let you know how that goes tomorrow. Sorry no pics, been to London town several times now and don't feel like toting camera around, will consider it for tomorrow.

We all went our separate ways today, I guess reunion/vacation is over. Next year it's on to Chicago!

Crackup and Intrepid Traveler though are still on the road. We had a smooth transfer from the ship to the airport via the Imperial Hotel in Copenhagen, (just a holding pen until it was time to head for the airport). The airport was a bit of a zoo, not much in the way of signage to guide the traveler unfamiliar with the set up. We were able to find the right people to ask the right questions and everything went smoothly. 

Landed in London, gained another hour, baggage was off by the time we finished in the rest room, and were met by a driver from the hotel. We are staying at the Lanesborough, at the corner of  

Hyde Park Corner. We are at this very moment having high tea in our mini suite. Rain has followed us but I'm sure we won't leave our umbrellas behind like we did yesterday in Copenhagen when the skies opened.

Copenhagen, Denmark......

A flourishing medieval trade center at the entrance to the Baltic.
Neighboring countries of Sweden and Norway.
Now a cosmopolitan city, a political and cultural center, Copenhagen has many parks, a loooong shopping street where you can find anything your heart desires (mostly), Tivoli Gardens (an amusement park, 2nd oldest in the world), and the Little Mermaid rests in the harbor. Hans Christian Andersen was raised in the Nyhaven area, or the “canal quarter” where we had a fabulous lunch. He was poverty ridden and failed as an actor before he took up the pen, first as a poet which won him patronage from the king. We spent the day walking around the city, of course we did go down that shopping street, saw Amalienborg Palace, the residence of the royal family since 1794, City Hall, Tivoli Gardens, Hard Rock Cafe, and the Little Mermaid.
Most of our packing is done and we disembark tomorrow morning...on to London.

Lovely Lubeck & Kiel, Germany.....

We didn’t spend much time in Kiel. We were off on the bus by 9:30am on our way to lovely Lubeck. Lubeck is a medieval city, capital of the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League was a powerful group of trading partners across northern Europe. Lubeck is considered the first western city along the Baltic coast, it was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987. The Marketplatz dates back to 1230, and Marienkirche (St. Mary’s) is the country’s third largest church featuring the world’s largest mechanized organ. Thomas Mann hails from Lubeck and Lubeck is said to be the place where marzipan was invented. We had a delightful lunch and headed back to the ship just in time for sailing. Tomorrow is Copenhagen and then we’re off to London and home, eventually!