17 February 1999 The Journey Begins

Sea Life Center (Aquarium)

The underwater tunnel

I took the bus into town and caught the train to Birmingham. As I got off the train and made it out of the station, I didn't see any signs directing me to any sights. I asked one of the taxi drivers how I should get into town to see sights. He told me which street to take and then I will see the signs as I go up the hill. I walked to Victoria Square where there is a statue of Queen Victoria and walked to the Sea Life Center. I couldn't believe the line for the Sea Life Center, school must have been out.

Birmingham canal and canal boats

I actually saw a canal boat up close like the ones I saw in the Britain book and on BBCAmerica. I wanted to see the Jewelry Quarter, but couldn't find it easily on foot. So I gave up. I spoke to one of the ladies in Customer Service and she said it is not easy by foot and bus is easier - she got lost the first time also. I didn't see any shopping centers like we have here, they have arcades as they call them. They are enclosed ally-way shops. Anything from food shops, clothing, jewelry, antiques, etc. Birmingham is home to Cadbury Chocolates and Duran Duran. It was overcast and drizzle today.

16 February 1999 Out on My Own

St Michaels Church bombed in WW2

Attempted to catch the local bus into town, it didn't come or went on by. I stood there for 30 minutes in the cold and couldn't take it anymore. I ended up taking a taxi into Coventry. I saw the old cathedral remains of St. Michael's which were bombed in WWII only the outside walls still stand, the stained glass windows gone and the decorated insides are now bare. The Transportation Museum which totally blew my mind. I expected a small museum with junk, but this was huge with lots of autos, bikes, motorcycles of British origin.  It was free too!

Godiva statue

The Lady Godiva Statue - her husband was in charge of the town and wanted to impose a tax on the people. She opposed the tax and proposed to her husband that she would ride through town on horseback naked as long as all the towns people would be behind closed doors and windows and not look at her. She did ride through town, but it is said that Tom was peeking as she rode by and was struck blind.

I didn't see any chocolate here though. Get it, Godiva Chocolates. While walking in the City Centre, I heard bagpipes playing what a neat sound, mood music. Makes you feel like your really in England. I found out where the train station and the bus station are located so I can go to other towns to sightsee. YEAH!!

Kenilsworth Castle ruins

This evening we drove into Kenilsworth to see Kenilsworth Castle ruins. It was past 5pm and the gates were locked. It's a small town with very narrow streets.  At the establishment we ate at hotel/bar/restaurant, the waiter asked James if he would like extra ice in his drink.  Of course he says YES PLEASE.  Getting a glass full of ice here is unheard of unless you ask politely.

Coventry is in the middle of England, referred to as Midlands in Warwickshire. It's manufacturing history dates back to 1896 with the production of Daimlers. Now you will see Jaguar, Massey Ferguson, Peugeot auto factories. In 1885, JK Starley invented and produced the modern bicycle and in 1930 Frank Whittle patented the jet engine both in Coventry. A small English town, great transportation, friendly people, and a mixture of old and new. Everything closes at 5 or 5:30pm Monday-Friday & closed on Sundays.

15 February 1999 A Day Alone to Plan

James left for work this morning about 8:45am. I read a book, watched tv and worked out in the center. I found out how to call back home, just need to remember they are 6 hours behind us. Its 9:15am and the sun is shining! Its amazing how the trees are bare like back home, but the grass is green and I have seen some flowers in bloom - crocus, daffodils, pansies (purple my favorite color and I love these flowers). A day to relax and get over the jetlag.

14 February 1999 Coventry, England

View of training area - Computer room

We met up with Wayne who is from EDS in Florida, who drove us to the Cable and Wireless College where we checked in. It's in Coventry about 30 minutes from Birmingham where James will be working and about 2-3 hours from London by car. It's a training facility for employees.

View of apts 

The cafe offers 3 free meals a day, there's a Recreation Center with a pool, tennis & squash court, weight room, pool/billiards & dart room. Unbelievable, the food looks good and somewhat tasty for a cafeteria. But looks are deceiving, Brits don't spice up their foods, they prefer it bland. YUCK!!! James and I stayed in and rested today being Sunday and he has to go to work tomorrow.

I hope to find out how to get a bus and to the train station to get out and about. Not much around here at the college to see. Today was also Valentine's Day, so I wished James a loving day and gave him thanks for this marvelous trip.

13 February 1999 Arrived in London, Eng/and The adventure begins!

We arrived at Gatwick Airport (outside of London) about 9:15am. Once we got off the plane, grabbed our luggage and made it through customs, we caught a train from Gatwick Airport to Victoria Train Station. Be quick the trains don't stop for long, about a minute or two and then they are OFF!  On the journey into the city, we were able to make it into a "room" with facing bench seats like you see in the movies.  A couple sitting across from us told us about how London is at a stand still if it snows.  We thought how funny as STL is very much prepared.  London doesn't have the equipment for removal.

Then we caught a Black taxi (the drivers go through 7 years of study to pass a test to know the city inside and out to get you to your location the quickest way possible and they are licensed whereas the other taxis aren't).  Our hotel in Kensington, The Bailey Hotel, is on Gloucester Road across from the tube station and dates back to 1876. When we got there, our room was not ready, so we left our bags and started walking around the neighborhood.  We saw the Royal Albert Hall and the Prince Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens across from the hall. A huge memorial with a lot of gold on it and small statues at the foot of it - I haven't seen anything like it before.

We went into Harrod's department store and strolled around. They have everything there - clothes, jewelry, furniture, games, food too. A lovely store and unbelievable. There is a section dedicated to your gourmet tastes - deli area where you can take home fresh foods to cook for dinner like the grocery stores or there are several restaurants/cafes which serve lunches or pastries. The lower level had the memorial to "Diana and Dodi" still up. Some people where there looking at it while we rode down on the escalator and taking pictures. James asked me if I was going to take a picture, I said no -this is not the place for that. It is a memorial.

It was a non-typical London day, sunny for a change but cool. I hear sunshine is rare here in England. After our walk, we went back to the hotel to rest. Dinner time came around and we walked the neighborhood again to checkout the restaurants. One had no non-smoking area and the other you had to make reservations, no walk-ins accepted. We ended up bringing back Kentucky Fried Chicken -something cheap and we had some idea of the taste of it. They only serve ORIGINAL style chicken here.

12 February 1999 Departing Saint Louis, Missouri

St Louis Missouri USA

Since we were going to be away for so long, we didn't drive to the airport ourselves and Dad was in no shape to drop us off this time with his back hurting, so a taxi picked us up at 4:30pm and took us to the airport. Our check in with TWA was quick with no long lines through the x-ray machine either. We left about 7:30pm-ish, waiting for other passengers from a connecting flight. Soon we were in the air -YEAH.

James had a window seat and I had the aisle seat, we sat side by side. The movies on board were lousy (Oklahoma, and something else) and so was the food, I got the Hershey squirts. I caught a nap on board, but James got little rest - he couldn't get comfortable enough. Too bad , since the plane ride was about 8 hours long and your not going anywhere except to the restroom, a very long boring ride in coach.

WELCOME

Welcome to my Travel Blog.  I will take what I had put down on paper onto here with images.  This will take time.  So please be patient.  This will be a work in progress.  It will cover most if not all my important trips that I've kept a journal.