Quick trip to the UK

We were home from the States for a few days over New Year's Eve and had time to celebrate with friends here in Munich-but 2 days later we were off again to the UK.  The Hub had a business trip in Manchester which coincided with our anniversary, so I went along to get my fill of British shopping and tv.  In Manchester, there is a wonderful tea shop called Teacup and Cakes.  I visited them the last time that I was in the city with the Hub and wanted to make sure that I found the shop again on this trip.  The staff are delightful-friendly as can be-and the food is top notch.  Last time I went, I tried their eggs benedict. Holy hollandaise was it good!  This time, as you can see above, it was the cream tea that I sampled.

Cream tea consists of a pot of tea for one, two scones and clotted cream and jam.  I am always undecided about the proper order of the clotted cream and jam on the scones, and I forgot to ask my server (they were busy and I was hungry).  So, I went with what I knew: warm scone topped with clotted cream and then jam on top.  No one gasped or stared and pointed when I did this, so I guess it was executed in a satisfactory way.  Anyone have an opinion about this process?  The team at Teacup and Cakes lets you hang out as long as you like and even offers you a warm-up of more water for your fresh leaves.  Brilliant, as they say!  If you ever get to Manchester, find the Northern Quarter, and on Thomas Street, go and have tea. (On a side note, the scones were so good that I almost ate them without the clotted cream and jam....almost....)

After spending the week in Manchester, we headed down to London (it's only about 2.5 hours by train!) for the weekend where we spent a nice weekend discovering a new part of the city-Marylebone/Hyde Park.  I wanted the Hub to get to see Hampton Court since he missed visiting it there with my this past Spring...and so we spent our Saturday there.  It felt like a quick trip, but I know that we were away for a week.  It was fun to stay in a completely different part of London and explore and we have promised that we will stay in another area next time we are in jolly old London town!

The volcanic ash cloud has been keeping me away from my computer....

Well, this is actually true...I was caught in London for 6 extra days on my own due to the closure of the airports...6 wonderfully sunny days all by my self in London...honestly, it was great!  As many travelers were "stuck" in places that they might not have wanted to be (train stations, airports and the like), I was in a country where I could speak the language (well, not the Queen's English, but you get the idea) and the hotel kept letting me extend my reservation.  I honestly couldn't think of a better way to get caught up in London.....

And, although the huge ash cloud did a good job of disabling all of Europe, the sun was shining and the people of London were most friendly.  Similar to after 9/11, everyone had a commonality-a story to tell of being caught in London or knowing someone caught somewhere.  Shopkeepers were wonderful, taxi drivers completely conversational and I had a lovely time.

 

It is worth mentioning that the last time I was in London was a complete disaster.  It rained and was cold and dreary...and miserable.  London and I had broken our love affair...this was the healing trip.  London treated me to wonderful sunshine and 60 degree weather every day that I was delayed.  I felt safe and taken care of...and was given the gift of time..a fact which allowed me to visit places outside the city like Bath and Hampton Court.

Needless to say, London and I are back on.....