Epilogue

Economy Delight is not Upper Class. We flew back Coach – takes the blush off the rose. The Centurion Club had a waiting list, the plane was full, Heathrow was heaving and there were children behind us kicking our seats. Vera (Virgin’s Entertainment Center) is wonderful and kept me entertained, but it is NOT Upper Class.

We came home at rush hour on Friday. Hard landing.

London was wonderful. We didn’t tour as much this time, but Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court were not as interesting as Windsor. It’s still a terrific city. The flat is comfortable and perfectly located. There are so many lovely areas in London, but Marleybone is our favorite.

Regent’s Park in the summer is outrageous. Central Park in NYC is amazing, but Regent’s is other worldly. I did some research – The Crown owns all the big deal parks and pays for their upkeep through a charitable trust. Makes the Monarchy worthwhile in my estimation.

12,000 roses, 76,000 spring plants, 72,000 bulbs, 63,000 summer plants. The scale is ridiculous and amazing. Next trip needs to be in Spring and a picnic is in order.

London was a different place in summer than winter. Winter brings hoards of US tourists. Summer sends all the English on holiday elsewhere and fills up with Middle Easterners escaping the dessert heat. It had a very different feel. Also, I noticed many more homeless people and I’ve heard crime is up. It still felt very very safe, but statistics are statistics.

Paris was wonderful. It’s such a beautiful city and has so much to explore. I’d like to spend more time in Montemarte and Le Marais. Maybe a Spring trip along with London.

Next trip, I want no itinerary and I just want to wander. I want to eat in interesting little places and just visit neighborhoods and go in and out of shops. I want to read a book in the park, I want to shop and cook a meal. I guess I’m comfortable enough now that I just want to live like a Londoner.

Fly first class and live like a Londoner. That’s my mantra for the next trip.

I came home to this, so the landing was softened as I pulled up the driveway.

Until next time.