November 21st to December 1st

On Thursday November 21st, we left Gaeta, Italy with the help of Dick and 
Pat on Mad River at 7 a.m.  We arrived at the Rome airport at 10 a.m.  The 
four of us had a great flight and we said good-bye to Dick and Pat at the 
London Airport.  After dropping our bags in our room at the Cruising 
Association, we walked around the area and found a movie theater.  We 
watched “Die Another Day” the 007 movie while eating our dinner of hot dogs 
and popcorn!!  I had gotten tickets for a bus tour at the airport so in the 
morning we were off to see the Tower Of London.  One of the “Beefeaters” who 
are ex military men dressed in uniforms dating back to the Tudor times 
greeted us. He was a very enthusiastic and humorous guide and we learned a 
great deal about the history and customs back then.  There are 20 towers and 
they are 25 feet thick and 25 feet high.  Royalty lived in these walls for 
over 500 years.  The first person who had the privilege of being executed on 
the grounds was Ann Boleyn.  We saw the Bloody Tower where Edward’s IV two 
sons were killed by their uncle. On a more pleasant note …we also saw the 
royal jewels, Chapel of St. John’s, the Queen’s House, etc.  Then we got on 
the Big Bus tour and rode around London since it was raining.  We passed 
Hyde Park where in 1851 they held the first Exhibition with over six million 
people. We also saw the first Hard Rock Café (opened in 1971), Piccadilly 
Cirus (which means scarf like or accessories around the neck, to name a few. 
  We also passed the shop Aquascutum where they made rain coats for the 
military men in the First World War and since then they are know as Trench 
Coats.  We knew when we left the City of London because the boundaries are 
marked with Dragons. Next we went to The British Museum, which has acquired 
many artifacts from Turkey, Greece and Africa over the years.  When we were 
in Turkey and Greece we were told how the British “stole” their statues, 
relief’s and other art work.  The British claim they preserved them!!!  We 
ended the day by seeing the play Fame!!!

On Saturday, November 23rd we took a river ride down the Thames River which 
is included in the Big Bus Tour.  As we toured Westminster Abby we entered 
an old Chapel called the St. Faith Chapel.  I never knew a St. Faith 
existed!!!  We got half price tickets to see the play Taboo (about Boy 
George) and then had lunch at the Italian restaurant in Leicester Square 
called Bella.  Since we still had time, we saw the movie Signs, which was in 
walking distance from where we are staying.


Sunday we went to Buckingham Palace. Later that day we walked and 
window-shopped down Piccadilly Street, Regent Street, Oxford Street and 
Leicester Square passing a shoe store called “Faith”. Then we went into St. 
Paul’s while a service was being held and we were able to hear the beautiful 
choir and organ playing.  Rudy wanted to eat in an English pub and we did 
for lunch and dinner.  He had Bangers and Mash (sausages and mash potatoes) 
both times!!!  After that we went to see the new “Harry Potter” movie.

Monday morning we flew to San Francisco to met Jaclyn’s finance’s parents, 
Roberta and Larry.  We had a great time looking at wedding dresses with 
Jaclyn and all having Thanksgiving dinner together.  Since Jackie and Jason 
were house sitting in a seven million house, we all had a very luxurious 
setting inside and out!!  We arrived in Fishkill Saturday. On Sunday Stacy 
made us another Thanksgiving dinner ( I think I am glad we didn’t have more 
kids!!!)  Shawn and Jon, cruisers from Sasse Too….think back a couple of 
years… who were visiting New York arrived to join us for the event as well 
as Rob’s grandmother.  Rob’s mother stopped by to watch Stacy win the 
dominoes game we were playing.

Since this is our last journal for the year, we would like to wish everyone 
a Happy and Glorious Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!!





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