The truth is that I am probably not an airbnb (www.airbnb.com) type. Both of our lodgings—one in Venice and one in London—were quite acceptable but, somehow, I miss the trappings of a hotel. I am used to hotels; I've spend literally hundreds (probably over a thousand) nights in hotels of one sort or another and I’ve been disappointed and elated but I know what to expect and am comfortable with the hotel experience. airbnb is a mix of hosts renting out their apartments—or apartments they have acquired for the purpose of renting them out—at whatever the market will bear allowing them to make the mortgage payment plus a bit more. It is entrepreneurism at its finest.

With Airbnb, the first thing you notice is subtle exaggeration. "Stunning" doesn’t really mean stunning in the sense you might imagine; it means you’ll be stunned by the fact that the mirror in the web photo fooled you into thinking the living room was bigger than it is. “Spacious” definitely does not mean spacious; perhaps it is a misspelling of specious. “A mix of beautiful antiques and modern furniture” means that the old stuff (the mattress maybe) is really old and the new stuff is Venitian Veneer.

The absence of a mention of a coffee pot goes unnoticed until too late. Perhaps there isn’t a top sheet on the bed because maybe that isn’t “typical” in that part of the world. Perhaps there won’t be a bar of soap because, well, because. The thing is that you really don’t know what to expect until you find that what you expected isn’t really there. It’s kind of like going to a non-branded hamburger restaurant. Maybe it will be the best burger you’ve ever had or maybe it will be the worst; you don’t know until you order it and take that first bite. If you want to play it safe, you go to something branded because you know that McDonald’s is McDonald’s or Five Guys is Five Guys and you know what that means before you order it and take that first bite. Your expectations will be met with a brand because you know what to expect with a brand.

What I am saying is that the airbnb experience is perfect for some, or for many, but probably not for me. It’s not that I don’t like surprises; it’s more that I found when it comes to my lodging that I don’t like surprises.

The morning on Foley Street began early for me because the firm mattress woke me up after the noise from the bar down stairs kept me up. B⁴ slept longer but not better. She’s been a real sport about the accommodations. I know she would have preferred a few more stars and we certainly could afford that but where is the adventure? Next time, I’ll offer her up adventure in a different way.

We shop around for a breakfast spot and end up at the Riding House Café where the movers and shakers meet for breakfast business meetings. It is big and bustling and good and expensive.

Overnight, I received an email from Chris (nephew-in-law) who read that we were staying on Foley street which, it turns out, is just around the corner from where he grew up as a “street urchin” in a basement flat. We stroll by and find it to be quite nice and under renovation to become even nicer.

I want to return to Russell Square and the Hotel Russell for old time’s sake so we stroll that way stopping for tours of a shop or store along the way. In actuality, we’re tired. The vacation has been longer than it seems—at least on our bodies.

We are to meet Brian and Jenny and Nora for dinner at 5:00 (between performances for him) so we decide to head back to Foley Street for rest and relaxation.

Brian has the lead role (Elder Cunningham) in the hit musical “The Book of Mormon” which is playing at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End of London. It is a big, big deal. I have watched Brian grow up from the time he was a little guy and have seen him perform on Broadway (Lend Me a Tenor, Grease, All Shook Up) and elsewhere and am almost as proud of him as are his parents (my dear friends). He is married to Jenny who is an amazingly talented performer having appeared on Broadway in Mama Mia and Wicked and more and who is now taking a bit of time off the stage to be Mom to Nora.

I’ve seen Brian in “Mormon” several times in New York in a variety of roles. He is listed as being in the “Original Broadway Cast” which is true; left out is the fact that he was with the production from its inception doing the early readings for Tony winners Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez. He’s played many roles in the New York production including Elder Arnold Cunningham when he redefined the “type” of actor that role required. Brian is not a chunky nerd. He’s a skinny nerd. It works.

Anyway, I am anxious to see him and Jenny and to get to know little Nora. They have not met B⁴ so it will be a fun dinner sandwiched between Brian’s matinee and evening performance where we have house seats.

I read the Kansas City Star paper edition every morning when I am at home and electronic edition every day when I am traveling. Today’s on line paper shows that, as expected, our Kansas City mayor, Sly James, was reelected yesterday (I voted absentee a couple of weeks ago). In the photo, in the background, our good friend Ursula appears. “She’s everywhere,” B⁴ says. That is true.

As I write this the world is at peace as B⁴ naps on the sofa which is much softer than the bed. Our vacation is nearing its end. B⁴ has tolerated me 24 hours a day for two weeks and seems to still be in love with me which is all I could have hoped for. The Russell luck continues.

Upon awakening sleeping beauty, we clean up and head for the theatre’s stage door where we meet the London Sears family: Brian, Jenny and Nora. We’re off to dinner and great conversation catching up on what it is like to live and work in London, be the lead in a west end show, be a mom and be a baby. Life is good it seems. Jen is doing some voice over work and Brian is doing eight shows a week. Nora is learning the sounds that elephants and alligators make. Her monkey impersonation kills.

Unlike Broadway, the show is dark on Sunday so Brian has family time, and when American football season starts, he’ll have uninterrupted Sunday watching, albeit late in the day here, which is for him a passion. Dinner is over all too soon.

Curtain is at 7:30 and, if you’ve not seen Book of Mormon, the opening number delights. It signals, as few opening numbers do, that you are in for a great evening. Brian kills. His “Man Up” is over the top. His baptism number with Denée Benton, who has just joined the cast as Nabulungi, is the best. Nic Rouleau as Elder Price has great chemistry with our Brian. The show is perfect for me because Brian is the lead but for a lot of other reasons as well. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing something special. If you get to see it with Brian, well, all the better.

This evening is the perfect icing on the cake that this trip has been. B⁴ and I cab it back to our Airbnb (taxi cabs here are SO civilized) and ready to pack and sleep and get up and fly home. We’re truly ready.