Pardon the interruption

September 20, 2023

Ok, I know you are not receiving this post on the 20th. It’s actually the 25th. A lot has happened and I need to bring you up to date.

As mentioned in my previous post, I tested positive for Covid on the 19th. That started a chain reaction that would affect the remainder of the trip.

The 20th was listed as a travel day to London, with a side trip to Hampton Court Palace along the way. However, I was informed at breakfast that I would not be allowed to travel on the bus. I would be joining five other Covid positive tour group members on a special van going directly to London.  Do Not Pass Go.  Do Not Collect $200.  Do not visit Hampton Court Palace. This was an effort to prevent the spread of Covid, sending the Covid 6 as I now referred to us directly to our hotel in London.

Fortunately, The Lady Who does not want to miss any scheduled sights and was not having any Covid symptoms, was allowed on the bus and to visit the Palace. She reports that this home of Henry VII and all six wives was grand in many ways as you can see from the photos she took. The entire design was meant to impress and proclaim Henry’s power and magnificence.

The Great Hall and Tudor Kitchens are what you might expect from this famous monarch. A special feature of the Great Hall was the Hammerbeam Roof. The 500 year old tapestries show scenes from the life of Abraham from the book of Genesis. First hung in 1546, they were probably commissioned directly by Henry.

Great Hall

Hammerbeam Roof

Tapestry

The gardens were also beautiful and contain what is thought to be the oldest and largest grape vine in the world. It was planted in 1768 for King George III. 

The Great Vine

Meanwhile back in Covid Land, the Covid 6 arrived at the Savoy Hotel and were ushered to our rooms. I opted for a room service lunch during which I contemplated my new special status. By mid-afternoon, The Lady joined me and regaled me with tales of the Palace. Since we were only a couple of blocks from Covent Garden, we ventured out into the pouring rain, fully KN95 masked, for dinner. 

Toward the end of what was a lovely dinner, I noticed an email from our tour company. Color me shocked when I read the words, “You are officially off the tour.” What? I didn’t see that coming but going back and reading the fine print, there was a statement that said becoming Covid positive was a cause to be dismissed from the tour. As we walked back to the hotel in the rain, still reeling from the news, we got so totally lost that we finally had to take very short taxi ride back to the Savoy.

The Lady and I spent the remainder of the evening talking with our tour company’s headquarters to find out just what this meant since we had two remaining days on the tour before our scheduled return home.

Tune in tomorrow for the details.