Buzzing around London...

Sunday. Another beautiful day dawns. As some may know we four are 'Off to Paris' on Wednesday. For Lunch. Ian thought it may be prudent to pick up the reserved tickets ahead of time and do a reconnaissance of the terminal.

St Pancras Station is the London Terminus of the speedy Eurostar train that rockets under the channel between London and various European cities. This gorgeous Victorian Station was built around the beginning of the last century. Over the years is became a little run down and was the end of the line for an Underground Line.



When the Eurostar High Speed Trains started service some few years ago, most European cities had very modern stations and special tracks that could take trains going over them in speeds in excess of 250 kilometres an hour. However, when the trains came out of the Chunnel onto English tracks, they slowed down and had to use rather less than adequate tracks and came into old Waterloo Station. A bit embarrassing methinks considering the rivalry between France and Britain.

Now. after millions of dollars [pounds], the British side appears to be up to scratch. The terminal is an amazing glass and steel covered structure that is now a place that London can be proud of. The dome is over 100 feet above floor level, 240 feet wide and 689 feet long.

It boasts the largest Champagne Bar in the world. Believe it or not, people were sitting and having Champagne and Strawberries at 11.30 in the morning, Just like we have bran flakes!


After we retrieved our tickets Ian then took us on a foot and drive tour of 'his London'. It was a bright sunny day and the tourists were out in force, strolling, gawking, [like us], shopping, and sitting. The locals were jogging, biking and dog-walking. It was great.









Piccadilly is 1/2 an hour from Ian and Judy's rural home. it was almost surreal: One minute we are looking at the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Square and then presto, we are having tea in Ian's garden.

We were home in time to do some tasks, [as Gerald says], before dinner. Fellette was trimming a hedge and Doug was doing some carpentry repair on a garden bench we are refurbishing.

Dinner, then watch a scary movie for a while until it became to risqué for us folks and we all tumbled off to bed. Hampton Court tomorrow, weather permitting.