Impulsive Christmas Trip

[Flashback]

Unusual for American Hilton chain hotels, the DoubleTree Milwaukee Downtown allows an item to be ordered off the a la carte menu as well as hitting the continental buffet. The food wasn't the healthiest, but it was tasty!

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Dinner was at a bar called Sobelman's on St Paul - it's a bit out of town but worth the visit. Again, extremely unhealthy but oh so good! We tried the Wisconsin cheese curd - delicious. Heart attack on a plate.... Mrs Flashback is well and truly over vegetarian burgers, but said this one is probably the best she's ever had. That's saying a lot, trust me!!

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And oh bugger, just realised this is in the wrong thread - perhaps a mod can move it for me to "The view from my office". Oops!

 

[amaroo]

After dropping the bags at the hotel we headed out for some timezone acclimatisation.... Regent St and shopping did the job. Cracking weather in old London Town.



We refuelled at OKA Robata in Carnaby Street .... very nice, would recommend.

 

[amaroo]

Some more retail therapy at Kingly Court .... then back to the hotel for a nanna nap.



For dinner we booked at Chutney Mary. We love Indian food and will always book a restaurant wherever we are in the World.

Chutney Mary was absolutely delicious, one of the best Indian meals we’ve had anywhere - very highly recommended.



After the meal we went off for a stroll

 

[amaroo]

It was getting close to midnight so we decided to push on up The Mall and see in Christmas outside the old girl’s gate.







Back down the Mall and pass Trafalgar Square



We ended up back at the Ham Yard Hotel

 

[VPS]

Wow never seen the streets of London with so few people on them (even that late at night)

 

[amaroo]

Merry Christmas! We had a thoroughly enjoyable day walking the streets and riverbanks of London.

Some of the sights...



One for the nurses



Lucky enough to fluke perfect timing as The Household Cavalry rode past



Had to google Clive - interesting fellow, achieved lots in his 49 years



Sneaky shot of Number 10



Westminster Abbey

 

[amaroo]

Westminster .... currently under some major building works, Big Ben is totally under scaffold as is a large chunk of Westminster. Refurbishment budget is estimated at > £3.5B





View from Lambeth Bridge

 

[amaroo]

The following are some of the views from our walk from Lambeth Bridge to Tower Bridge..



It was nice to walk down to the waters edge of the River Thames





Tate Modern



Shakespeare Globe Theatre



Winchester Palace

 

[amaroo]

The new and the old



Hays Galleria... was once a dry dock




All up we covered around 12kms for the day - it was a Christmas to remember!

We headed back to the hotel and found these in our rooms.... Firmdale / Kemps are all class.

 

[get me outta here]

Wonderful photos, almost makes me want to return to London. The weather was very kind to you.
I'm so surprised to see how clean the sand along the river is, amazing as it was toxic sludge last time I looked at it. They've done a great job.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I was thinking the same about the weather - the sky looks almost blue in a few photos!

 

[amaroo]

Christmas Dinner - Ham Yard Hotel

As mentioned up thread the hotel hosted Christmas Lunch / Dinner, something like 8 sittings over the day. The place was heaving with people, the staff that looked after us at breakfast were still on their feet going for it at 10pm.

 

[amaroo]

Lovely feastive evening - Bon Bons and all!

Very pleasant Christmas Day.... certainly beats sweating it out in the kitchen at home!

 

[get me outta here]

Ah yum.

 

[amaroo]

Wow never seen the streets of London with so few people on them (even that late at night)

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was quite enjoyable to walk around as the numbers of people were low.

Boxing Day was another story! Regent and Oxford Streets were absolute bedlam.

Wonderful photos, almost makes me want to return to London. The weather was very kind to you.
I'm so surprised to see how clean the sand along the river is, amazing as it was toxic sludge last time I looked at it. They've done a great job.

Weather Gods have been very kind, the Thames looked pretty clean (for the Thames), first time I’ve been game enough to approach the waters edge.

I was thinking the same about the weather - the sky looks almost blue in a few photos!

First day in London was a cracker .... we’ve since moved over to Lisbon and Spain and the weather has been spectacular.

 

[Flashback]

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was quite enjoyable to walk around as the numbers of people were low.

Boxing Day was another story! Regent and Oxford Streets were absolute bedlam.



Weather Gods have been very kind, the Thames looked pretty clean (for the Thames), first time I’ve been game enough to approach the waters edge.




First day in London was a cracker .... we’ve since moved over to Lisbon and Spain and the weather has been spectacular.

And it's rather cooled down with grey skies here now!

 

[amaroo]

Endurance = Regent and Oxford Steet on Boxing Day!

After spending to much time and money ... we headed for the quiet surrounds of the 7 dials - bliss!







Lunch was at Wildwood Covent Garden

 

[amaroo]

For our last night in London we settled on a NYC favourite - Balthazar

Same owners, same menu, everything was the same right down to the decor, furniture, waiters uniforms..... and excellent food!

 

[amaroo]

Great meal, but I love the Balthazar way of doing things. NYC is still my favourite.

Lovely walk back to the Ham Yard.





Really enjoyed our London stopover. For the first time ever we didn’t line up in a queue to see an attraction, ride the tube or bus ... we just walked and enjoyed the city. Highly recommended.

 

[Flashback]

Really enjoyed our London stopover. For the first time ever we didn’t line up in a queue to see an attraction, ride the tube or bus ... we just walked and enjoyed the city. Highly recommended.

They seem to be back out in force today, I went for a wander around town and had to play a game of dodgem the whole day....