Wednesday 23 December

Today we were packed up and waiting for taxis at 6.15am to take us to the London Trafalgar Centre (down near the London Eye) for the start of our next coach tour at 7am. The hotel packed us up a little bag of croissants for breakfast as we left before their dining room opened. One taxi was fifteen minutes late which gave us a little cause for panic, but we still made it there in plenty of time. 

It is bizarre starting the coach process all over again so soon after the last one ended. Belle very soon recited to me who she was missing, including the Thams from Singapore, Micah and Sarah from Darwin, Peter the travel director and Chinsia (our local guide from Rome!).

We drove past a few of the sights of London, like the Marble Arch and Big Ben, and headed straight for Stratford-upon-Avon. After a stop off and group photo at Anne Hathaway’s cottage, we were given an hour to explore Shakespeare’s birthplace and family home. We grabbed an early lunch there as we had only had the croissants for breakfast at 6.30am, we chose pasties from a local bakery, and were back on the bus just after 12pm to head for York, our stopover for tonight.

   
(Anne Hathaway’s cottage above, Shakespeare’s home below)

 
After a rest stop and coffee break, we arrived in York at about 4pm, and were taken on a walking tour of the town. It was getting dark as we walked! We explored the Shambles, and the tour ended at the cathedral, the largest church in this area of England. We were then given time to explore the Shambles further and the Christmas markets. 
   
 
We were then taken to an award-winning pub in a neighbouring town for our Welcome Dinner. Meal choices were sausages and mash, steak and ale pie, fish and mash, or a vegetarian option. Very English fare! A young South African couple pregnant with their first child were stuck with us for dinner 😬 – we learnt a lot about South Africa! And every foreigner we “interview” on these tours makes us appreciate Australia even more 😉