Saturday, 18 February 2012

From Russia With Love

We have had a busy week !

We went to Stansted airport on Monday morning (early !) to pick up Svetlana from Vladivostok who came to stay with us until her return last night.  Sveta helped us a lot in Vladivostok when she was working for our customs agent, Yuri, and it was our opportunity to repay the kindness.

Svetlana arriving at Stansted airport


Sveta left Vladivostok in October and has been studying at university in Germany but, having now finished her course, is due to fly back to Vlad next week, so what did we do this week ?

We got back from Stansted airport around midday on Monday so we went into our local tourist town of Stratford-upon-Avon where we saw the sights including both Shakespeare's birthplace and his grave. A walk by the river and the world famous RSC theatre and visits to the souvenir shops rounded off the afternoon.

Outside the Pub


Sveta at Shakespeare's Birthplace


Shakespeare's grave at Holy Trinity Church


Tuesday was the big day. We took Sveta to London to see all the main sights and managed to squeeze quite a lot into the day before our legs gave out but not before yet more visits to souvenir shops !
Big Ben, a London Bus and a Phone Box all in one shot !



Tower Bridge



Wednesday was shopping with the girls. (No pictures because surprise, surprise, I didn't go)

Thursday was a visit to Oxford, the city of spires, and a detour on the way home through the pretty cotswold village of Broadway and back home in time to go out in the evening for a meal with all the family at a restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Sveta in OXFORD


Friday was going home day so we set off mid morning and headed for my cousin's house in Gamlingay where we had a wonderful lunch (thanks Pam & Paul) before heading off to nearby Cambridge to finish off the sightseeing. Stansted is just down the road from Cambridge and we managed to get Sveta into the terminal with plenty of time to spare.

Good time and good fun