Island Hopping: UK with family

5 June 2017 On the train to Edinburgh, Scotland

Aloha all!

31 May 2017
A final 5 mile walk with 20 lbs on my back in the Hoomaluhia Gardens (HI) to make sure I am prepared for the hiking in Ireland.

Then home to pack the hiking backpack into the bigger duffle bag that has nice clothes for London and warmer clothes for Scotland.  When the bag was finally packed, including the proper golfing attire,  the hiking boots did not fit.  Guess I wear the Hiking boots on the plane (NOT).

1 June 2017

4:30 am:  Departure from home for the 16 + hours of flying and 2+ hours layover in LAX to begin the Island Hopping adventure.

2 June 2017
2:30 pm-  Arrival at Heathrow without any delays along the way!   Clear customs and am on the Piccadilly line by 3 p.m. Easy tube ride directly to Ealing and then I find myself at my cousin's front door by 4:30.

3 June 2017
Fun with my French Family, several of whom made  a special trip across the channel to say "Aloha" to me.  I am blessed to have so many wonderful cousins around the world.  Our families, French and American, have stayed connected for more than 50 years.

After a marvelous paella lunch in the back yard of my cousin's home in Ealing, UK, we all took a walk through the gardens at Syon Hall, an estate once owned by the Duke of Northumberland.  The trees in the gardens are magnificent; these are trees I do not see in Hawaii.

4 June 2017
What a lovely breakfast partner! My delightful cousin, Andrea De Lauriston truly enjoying her Nutella toast for breakfast.

After breakfast we joined all the family at Regents Park - starting at Primrose Hill- the highest spot in London.   Then a walk in the Queens Garden where 12000 rose bushes are in bloom.  The fragrance in the air was phenomenal.  With all the terror that exits in the world, it is nice to see the lovely side of London.

Then after a lovely picnic in the Rose garden, we wandered around London.  The familiar sights are great, and amid all the hatred in the world, London survives.

And a visit to London with family and friends would not be complete without a night at the pub.

In Edinburgh now, and next adventure will be to the Orkney Islands.  A little colder and wetter than myHawaiian Islands.

Aloha!