London Day 6

It was packed day again today, even though Ally wasn't feeling her best we managed some fun activities and a nap and more shopping. I've realized what we save by not doing activities we spend shopping. Seems ok with me as it's stuff we get to take home as tangible memories! And Ally never has time for shopping at home so it's a fun vacation activity. Shopping in London is serious business. The dollar is very strong right now and to be honest, I can't believe how inexpensive everything is.

So today, we rode the Tube to Westminster, saw the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Churchill Statue. Then we took a cab to Picadilly Circus. Ally had a snack and we headed to an amazing stationary store Isobel told us about, and a really fun London purse/bag company I wanted to go to. It was part lunch by then and so we hailed a cab to go back to our hotel. I failed to "mind the gap" as the recording tells you on the Tube and elevator and I literally fell getting into the cab when I missed the curb. Classic a Julie moment. But no harm done, I got right up and into the cab. We arrived at our hotel, dropped off our packages and walked to a pub for lunch. Our lunch is in pictures below. After lunch we stopped at a bakery our friends insisted we try for some treats and then went back to our hotel for a rest. Ally actually took a nap. We woke her at 430 and walked to the bus stop, where we took the bus to Harrods. It was a little dour at Harrods with an exhausted little girl. But good for our wallets as nothing interested her. Even ice cream didn't perk her up, but Becky and I shared a delicious sundae and Becky had a cappuccino. We left Harrods and took a cab back to our hotel. Once here there was lots of games, reading and dinner while I packed us up for our flight home tomorrow. We are meeting up with Isobel's mom at the Victoria and Albert museum before we need to get on the Tube back to Heathrow Airport for our 5:30pm flight. 

It has really been a great vacation. Becky commented tonight that it's been better than she had hoped it would be. 

 

Ally took one look at the London Eye across the river and said "no way" that was fine with us, especially there was already a huge crowd and line at 11:00am, and it is expensive. 

You can tell she wasn't at her best. but Becky and I were in good spirits!

 

Big Ben!!!! Becky said it was pretty impressive on foot, and looked much bigger than we drove by on a Sunday in the car.

  

Some pictures of the Parliament buildings.

 

Winston Churchill!

Our selfie inside the Black Cab. Ally had been asking all week to ride in cab.

 

Once at Picadilly Circus we got Ally a snack. I spotted a place that said Donuts & Baguettes. She was sold and ate the whole donut and all the water!

 

After snack time it was picture time! We have to document that we were there after all.

 

Becky didn't quite get the statue in the frame, but you can see it below. 

 

We walked for a bit until we found our shops. It was lots of fun. 

Now starts our lunch montage, mostly for my mom:

Fish and chips, and yes I ordered the mushy peas, if you zoom in on the picture you can see they are on the menu! 

  

Becky had a bite of mushy peas.

She wasn't so sure about them

 

And gave them a thumbs-middle

  

Ally really did not want to try them, but in honor of Grandma Barbie she did. 

Thumbs Down was her response.

Feeding Ally is always a challenge on vacation. She doesn't like fish or beef of any kind hot dogs are usually rejected and so is macaroni and cheese. That doesn't leave much on a kids menu. At this pub we ordered her the kids meet pie and chips, and the chicken satay appetizer, without the peanut sauce. We brought the pie home for dinner, and Ally ate the chips and 2 of the chicken pieces. Kids meals here also all come with dessert.

 

My fish and chips with mushy peas (that is also Ally's mini pie). I was a little intimidated by the giant piece of fish. 

 

Ally loved her desert, a brownie with ice cream.

  

Ally chose a merengue as her treat from the bakery. It is HUGE almost as big as Becky's head. She tasted a bite of it and gave it two thumbs up!

 

The outside of Harrods. Inside was crazy big. We read it was 4.5 acres. Everything imaginable. I saw a sofa for 18,200£ that is almost $19,000.00. Designer clothes, jewelry, appliances, there was even a food court and a gourmet supermarket. Lots of restaurants too. 

 

Photo Opportunities are free and fun.

We took a cab back and enjoyed another evening in our hotel. Our room has a fridge and microwave and dishes and silverware, a coffee maker too. Perfect for the cereal eating kid! And great for her parents too. We will be sad to leave tomorrow, but happy to get home to our house and our pets.