Tuesday
Dull overcast could rain
Packed ready the for 1300hr Eurostar Rotterdam- London (via Brussels) arriving about 4:15pm.
Girls walked delivering pamphlets for an hour or so as we didn't have to leave till 11am.
Alex was advertising a activity day which she was involved in.
Willem drove us to Rotterdam (about 45 mins) Alex was good enough to walk us to the Eurostar lounge.
Just an hour to Brussels with train leaving on time.
We had 45 minutes to change trains and go through passport twice - out of Belgium into UK - and security. Unfortunately there was no signage to where this happened so Leith had to ask.
Bit of a walk but it didn’t matter since for ‘operational reasons’ we were 30 minutes late leaving.
Full carriage however we did get a late lunch, which was included in the fare.
Arrived to St Pancras where we had booked in the Renaissance Hotel. We had stayed here 12 years ago and in fact were given the same room as then. I requested this as I can see six Eurostar platforms from the window. Bliss.
Dull overcast could rain
Packed ready the for 1300hr Eurostar Rotterdam- London (via Brussels) arriving about 4:15pm.
Girls walked delivering pamphlets for an hour or so as we didn't have to leave till 11am.
Alex was advertising a activity day which she was involved in.
Willem drove us to Rotterdam (about 45 mins) Alex was good enough to walk us to the Eurostar lounge.
Just an hour to Brussels with train leaving on time.
We had 45 minutes to change trains and go through passport twice - out of Belgium into UK - and security. Unfortunately there was no signage to where this happened so Leith had to ask.
Bit of a walk but it didn’t matter since for ‘operational reasons’ we were 30 minutes late leaving.
Full carriage however we did get a late lunch, which was included in the fare.
Arrived to St Pancras where we had booked in the Renaissance Hotel. We had stayed here 12 years ago and in fact were given the same room as then. I requested this as I can see six Eurostar platforms from the window. Bliss.
The hotel had changed the breakfast room since last time, so now we had to either walk down stairs (25m) or walk about 100m to a lift and then walk about 50m back!
Exercise is good for one.
Dinner just outside the hotel at an Italian place where we could see trains.
Exercise is good for one.
Dinner just outside the hotel at an Italian place where we could see trains.
Wednesday
Good nights sleep must be recovering from jetlag since we woke at 6:00am
Only one thing planned today a visit to the British Library which is nearby
Leith has gone walking to find out how we get to Kings Cross station for the start of the SJR tour on Friday while I catch up with emails and this blog.
The British library happens to be next door so we about four hours looking the exhibits plus a late lunch.
Spent most of the time in the 'Treasures of the British Library' which had some fascinating exhibits.
Dinner in Midland Grand Dinning Room. An excellent meal
A beautiful decorated room.
Good nights sleep must be recovering from jetlag since we woke at 6:00am
Only one thing planned today a visit to the British Library which is nearby
Leith has gone walking to find out how we get to Kings Cross station for the start of the SJR tour on Friday while I catch up with emails and this blog.
The British library happens to be next door so we about four hours looking the exhibits plus a late lunch.
Spent most of the time in the 'Treasures of the British Library' which had some fascinating exhibits.
Dinner in Midland Grand Dinning Room. An excellent meal
A beautiful decorated room.
Thursday
Leisurely start 9:15am breakfast
Today was election day but really you wouldn't know it. We saw one discrete notice with no activity like we have in Australia.
Sunny but a cold wind, so cold that after about 20 minutes Leith had to go back to the room and get a jacket.
Slow walk to Light Room in Kings Cross via Camely St Nature Park.
According to Google a 18min walk ( 1100 km) walk but it took us a-bit longer.
Had time for a sandwich before the 2:00pm session of The Moonwalkers the show on at the Light Room.
This was a large room about 20m square with probably 15m ceiling. We were sat on cushions and some chairs to watch a video presentation which was projected on all the walls and ceiling.
The Moonwalkers is as the website puts it:
"Telling the stories of the Apollo missions in intimate detail, The Moonwalkers also provides an insight into the impending return of crewed surface missions by going behind-the-scenes of the Artemis programme, including interviews between Hanks and Artemis astronauts."
Excellent show went for about 50 minutes and narrated by Tom Hanks.
Taxis were impossible to get for some obscure reason so the Light Room provided a wheelchair and pusher to take us back to Kings Cross Station, we took the short route which only took about 20mins. The station is only 100m from the hotel. The wind had dropped and so it was a lovely 'walk' back past Regents Canal.
Dinner at the hotel, this time bar food very pleasant surroundings but the food was fairly average.
Leisurely start 9:15am breakfast
Today was election day but really you wouldn't know it. We saw one discrete notice with no activity like we have in Australia.
Sunny but a cold wind, so cold that after about 20 minutes Leith had to go back to the room and get a jacket.
Slow walk to Light Room in Kings Cross via Camely St Nature Park.
According to Google a 18min walk ( 1100 km) walk but it took us a-bit longer.
Had time for a sandwich before the 2:00pm session of The Moonwalkers the show on at the Light Room.
This was a large room about 20m square with probably 15m ceiling. We were sat on cushions and some chairs to watch a video presentation which was projected on all the walls and ceiling.
The Moonwalkers is as the website puts it:
"Telling the stories of the Apollo missions in intimate detail, The Moonwalkers also provides an insight into the impending return of crewed surface missions by going behind-the-scenes of the Artemis programme, including interviews between Hanks and Artemis astronauts."
Excellent show went for about 50 minutes and narrated by Tom Hanks.
Taxis were impossible to get for some obscure reason so the Light Room provided a wheelchair and pusher to take us back to Kings Cross Station, we took the short route which only took about 20mins. The station is only 100m from the hotel. The wind had dropped and so it was a lovely 'walk' back past Regents Canal.
Dinner at the hotel, this time bar food very pleasant surroundings but the food was fairly average.
Friday
We join the SJR UK trip at King Cross Station at 8:00am
More in the next blog
We join the SJR UK trip at King Cross Station at 8:00am
More in the next blog
Stephanie Lee
2024-08-09
Another interesting blog David and great photos.