Lisa's schedule is always hectic, with business often taking her across the pond for a few days. This particular time, she was attending a conference based out of the famous Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London on a Monday-Tuesday. Never one to miss an opportunity to stay at a swank hotel, Ctos came along for the trip and we decided to make a weekend out of it, taking the Friday night flight to arrive in London first thing (7am) Saturday morning. We arrived safe and sound and were ensconced at the hotel well before 10am. Not wanting to let the jetlag get the best of us, it was a quick shower then off for a quick walk around Mayfair and some coffee! On our walk we stopped at a gallery full of works by Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones which and had a tour from the gallery saleswoman (Lucy). It was early Saturday so the place was basically deserted. In addition to Ronnie's work, there were also several pieces from Bob Dylan. The building itself was a gorgeous old english residence with a huge staircase, lots of light and high ceilings on its three floors. Of course, with the pictures priced in the thousands of punds we certainly were not buying but we had a great time with Lucy the who exuded the Art of Salesmanship ... we left after perhaps an hour and it now being afternoon we had our first pints of cold and lovely Guinness before heading back to the hotel for a wee nap! 
Our second walk later in the afternoon found us in the Dunhill Shop on Davies Street where Ctos booked a massage for Lisa on Tuesday afternoon, post conference. The store was a lovely three floors showcasing the luxury of Dunhill leather products and cigars. Before we made it back to the hotel we found this lovely bench-statue ("Allies") and of course had to indulge in just two more pints ... followed by a late dinner at a fish restaurant in Mayfair. 
Monday was a work day for Lisa but Ctos had the day to explore the city and headed up to the RAF museum at Colindale Station, arriving as it opened at 10am. The museum consists of two main hangars containing fighters and bombers from early aviation to the present and a side hangar with an exhibit on the Battle of Britain. Aircraft included the revolutionary ME-262 jet fighter, the massive Liberator bomber and a salvaged lancaster bomber. 
As a history buff, Ctos spent some three hours at the place and did not get back to downtown London until 2pm, exiting the tube at Charing Cross Station on Trafalgar Square. Ctos then wandered back to the hotel, seeing the Horse Guards and the spot where Constable Yvonne Fletcher was shot from the Libyan Embassy in 1984 before getting back to the hotel at 5pm. 
At 6ish, Lisa and Ctos boarded a bus and with a group of conference attendees went down to the London Eye where after being whisked to the front of the line our Party boarded two of the ferris wheel bubble contraptions. We enjoyed two rotations of the Eye complete with champagne and hors d'oeuvres lasting just under an hour. 
Finally it was time for dinner at Bellamy's which Scotia had booked for the night. The food and wine were excellent and free flowing, as was the conversation. Eventually, it was time for the ten minute stumble back to the hotel and bed as another day of conferencing awaited Lisa. 
Our final day involved Lisa working in the morning, a quick trip to the National gallery in the afternoon, a 2pm massage for Lisa at Dunhill's Spa some shopping for socks on Jermyn street and of course the obligatory Guinness at the Coach and Horses (note the post massage appearance)! Dinner was at the Audley and then back to the hotel to prepare for the 515am wake-up on Wednesday. We arrived back in Toronto before noon local time on Wednesday to discover that the peonie on the deck had blossomed!
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