2 - Equatorial Explorer 2012 - United Kingdom
We departed Singapore on QF31 in the wee hours of Wednesday, 8th February and, due to the time difference, arrived at Heathrow at 0630 hours on the morning of Wednesday, the 8th. We left the balmy heat of Singapore to minus degree temperatures in London - a bit of a shock to the system! On arrival, we made our way directly to the Royal Garden Hotel on High Street, Kensington, which was to be our home for the next 7 days.
We were delighted that our dear friends, Marion & Cliff, were able to join us in London on the Thursday and Friday and their visit was only marred by the fact that Greg was sick on the Thursday and couldn't join us for dinner that night. We were also delighted to have the opportunity to visit Auntie Edna & Uncle Albert in Swanscome on the Sunday and spend the day with them before returning "home".
Suzie spent a full day at the V&A on the Monday but without doubt, the cultural highlight of the trip was our visit to the Wallace Collection, which is a national museum in the heart of London. Neither Greg or I had visited this wonderful museum before and God willing, it won't be our last visit there either! The collection was assembled entirely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of the finest collections of fine and decorative arts in the world and it chronicles the fascintating history of its Founders, the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. The museum is housed in Hertford House, the Wallaces' former home. This wonderful collection is a mere stone's throw from Selfridges on Oxford Street. Please do yourselves a favour and add the Wallace Collection to your list of "must see" when you're next in London.
On the Tuesday night, we had a CCT Group Dinner at the Royal Garden Hotel where we met the majority of our fellow passengers on Equatorial Explorer 2012. At this dinner, we were delighted to learn that Dot & Ross P were also on the tour - we had the pleasure of travelling with them on two prior CCT trips - in 2007 and 2008.
Read MoreWe were delighted that our dear friends, Marion & Cliff, were able to join us in London on the Thursday and Friday and their visit was only marred by the fact that Greg was sick on the Thursday and couldn't join us for dinner that night. We were also delighted to have the opportunity to visit Auntie Edna & Uncle Albert in Swanscome on the Sunday and spend the day with them before returning "home".
Suzie spent a full day at the V&A on the Monday but without doubt, the cultural highlight of the trip was our visit to the Wallace Collection, which is a national museum in the heart of London. Neither Greg or I had visited this wonderful museum before and God willing, it won't be our last visit there either! The collection was assembled entirely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of the finest collections of fine and decorative arts in the world and it chronicles the fascintating history of its Founders, the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. The museum is housed in Hertford House, the Wallaces' former home. This wonderful collection is a mere stone's throw from Selfridges on Oxford Street. Please do yourselves a favour and add the Wallace Collection to your list of "must see" when you're next in London.
On the Tuesday night, we had a CCT Group Dinner at the Royal Garden Hotel where we met the majority of our fellow passengers on Equatorial Explorer 2012. At this dinner, we were delighted to learn that Dot & Ross P were also on the tour - we had the pleasure of travelling with them on two prior CCT trips - in 2007 and 2008.
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