Lost Ladies Return

Well, we are heading home... after three glorious weeks and a ton of laughs. We love London and half thought about staying but it is just a little pricy to live here!!

We arrived on Friday after the exciting Chunnel ride. Alicia was happy to hear she fell asleep through the part underwater. Not much to see of course but it was making her a bit nervous to know we were under the water. She was like a 5 year old every time she woke up "Are we there yet, are we there yet?? Have we gone under the water yet??" It was a very nice train ride, smooth, comfortable, a nice smelly-free train!! The underwater part lasted about 20 minutes and was pretty uneventful. Not too bad for our last train ride of the trip.

Arriving in London we treated ourself to our first real meal in a while... imagine this... we had Italian!! WHAT!!?? Aren't we done with that stuff yet?? But it was a wonderful, pricey and tasty meal!! We thought we deserved it!! We have to say... it is so great to be in a place that speaks our language... where we can read the menu's, transportation is easy, and communicating can be done with words and not sign language. We are so spoiled!!

Oh and did we mention our hotel?? We were in Paris, went to book our place in London and found that all the hostels were booked up. Much to our dismay at the time we had to shell out the extra 10 pounds a night for a Best Western in Paddington. Upon arrival.... we were like children in a toy store!! We found a very posh hotel room, nice beds, plasma screen TV, fridge and microwave, and a BATHTUB!!! We each took a nice long soak, got ready, and went out to enjoy a bit of the London nightlife. Did I say a bit??..... more like a few bits. We spent yesterday "enjoying" the comforts of our room a little closer, sleeping and watching TV. I am a bit of a loaf when I have too much to drink, sorry Alicia. The only thing we had planned for the day was to see Westminster Abbey and to have High Tea. Guess we'll have to do that next time.

So, we make this our last entry. After three wonderful weeks filled with:
16 train rides
18 out of 21 days eating bread
9 towers climbed
2 episodes of very SMELLY brie
3 long hikes totaling 8km (not to mention all the other walking)
6 meals of pizza
8 nights in crappy hostels
5000 stairs that we can count
12 showers in water closets, 11 of them cold showers
10-12 bottles of wine (remember they drink it with virtually every meal)
20 cappaccino's each
10 croissants
31 tourist attractions (that we can think of)
1 new pair of shoes
7 new shirts
5 encounters with homeless people, or gypsies
6 new pashminas
1 new skirt (yes Ron, for Erin!!)
1 new pair of shorts
a few other souveniers
14 blog entries
0 fights
and amazingly NO complaining!! We're serious!!

Check back in a couple days, we'll try to add some final pics for your enjoyment. We're off to the airport in a few hours to endure the 9 hour, swelling inducing, elephant leg flight in really small seats jammed inbetween some more smelly travelers. Full circle I guess!! See you all soon.

Erin & Alicia