I spent Tuesday-Friday in Kettering Enlgand at an Autism course. Four other teachers and myself were sent by ICS to attend this course because we all either have Autistic children in our class or help with them. Why the course was held in Kettering, I am not sure. It was in the middle of no where and took us eight hours to get there once we left school. And we did fly there! We had to make alot of train connections out into the middle of no where. At least we found the one spa in town to stay at which was very nice. I would not recommend visiting Kettering if you are in England. There was literally almost nothing in the rest of the town. We ventured into town after the course one night to eat dinner and literally couldn't even find a restaurant to sit down and eat in. So luckily the hotel was nice to hang out in and had a very nice restaurant we could eat dinner in.
Friday, after the course I took the train into London. Zann had flown in that morning and spent the day eating fish and chips and relaxing at the Grosvenor House (sponsored by Keith Sullivan). Friday night we went out for some excellent Indian food then just relaxed in the hotel.
Saturday morning it was so freezing out so we decided to take the bus tour around the city so we could see everything but not have to walk outside. We got off the bus a couple times to see things and take some pictures.
Friday, after the course I took the train into London. Zann had flown in that morning and spent the day eating fish and chips and relaxing at the Grosvenor House (sponsored by Keith Sullivan). Friday night we went out for some excellent Indian food then just relaxed in the hotel.
Saturday morning it was so freezing out so we decided to take the bus tour around the city so we could see everything but not have to walk outside. We got off the bus a couple times to see things and take some pictures.
Big Ben
Prince William outside of Westminster Abbey??
Westminster Abbey
Walking across the rive with the Eye of London in the background
Freezing outside of the Tower of London
Warming up at lunch in a pub.
After lunch we got back on the bus and it took us about an hour and a half to get back to the hotel. There was a big protest in the city so the traffic was terrible. We finally got sick of being on the bus and took a nice walk arcoss Hyde Park back to the hotel. If visiting London, I would not recommend the bus tours. It worked out ok for us becuase it was so freezing outside but when visiting in nice weather I don't think it would be worth it. It was very expensive and you can easily get to all attractions by public transport.
Saturday night we met Liz D. and a couple of her friends for dinner at a pub in Kensington. Liz and her room mate moved to London from Paris to open up a boutique. So look out for Gatsby opening up sometime in the fall in London.
Sunday morning we headed to Buckingham palace to see the changing of the gaurd. It was packed with people so we didn't have the best view but we got a glimpse of the parade.
Outside Buckingham palace.
We had a great little weekend away and will look forward to returning to London hopefully in warmer weather for the 2012 Olympics!
