It's A Small, Small World

One beauty of planning a cruise is for its convenience: unpack once, and enjoy a variety of ports always knowing where your head will rest at night. Your food is plentiful and of course, included in the "one price covers most" expenses. The worry of transportation is pretty simple too, since the embarkation ports, by necessity, are in areas large masses of people will need to be able to navigate.

Our port is Dover, and we're taking the direct Southeastern train from Victoria Station to Dover Priory on the GroupSave4 plan. With this plan 4 persons travel for the price of 2 via second class after peak hours (plan available beginning 10am), as long as they travel together. Though there are no children in our group, two kids can tag along for just 1GPD each additional. We will reach our destination in one hour 41 minutes, and be less than a mile to the port: taxis are the common method of transport to the cruise terminal. A shuttle bus goes to the ferry terminal, but unfortunately not to docks of the cruise ships.

Since we are coming from all portions of the United States, it was suggested we meet for dinner the night before the train departure. I checked my 2004 photos and we decided on one of two pubs for our "fish and chips" (mine) or "bangers and mash" (his) fix along with a pint of ale or cream bitters. Both are walking distance from four of the assorted hotels we chose for our pre-cruise lodging. The first, a well-known gothic pub called Marlborough's Head, and the second, the second, well, I have extensive photos inside.....but how could I forget the name. I can almost envision the exterior. Great plastic ceiling rich in ruby red colour (note my English spelling) and adorned mouldings; fabulous chandeliers, deep earthy wood paneling on the walls. It was the stuff movies would pine for as quintessentially English. I remember the corner we shared, and even have shots of the menu board photos which makes me salivate with the memories. But, after an exhaustive google search....no luck on the name. Not far from the US Embassy, not far from our hotel on eastern edge of Hyde Park. Oh well, we'll just have to check out the area in advance and then decide on which one to take our friends. The plan: meet in one of our hotel lobbies at a pre-appointed time and stroll to the chosen pub.

Meanwhile the plans continue and we share how each of us will be spending their one or two days in London. Hop-on, Hop-off bus, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court, Tower of London, London Eye....and what was the name of that pub? I want to find that jewel of a pub! At any rate, friend in Wisconsin is staying with friends in London, thus saving the need for a hotel, lucky gal, and she reads my dilemma and asks dear Colleen for a recommendation. Now, what's better than a local's favorite haunt, right? So, just yesterday I decided I would google The Audley and jot down the address, and now we have 3 choices: the gothic pub for a quirky place, the place of my memories, and The Audley. So, here's what I found:

This immaculate late Victorian pub fits perfectly into classy Mayfair. The exterior is clad in pretty pale pink terracotta tiles. Large arched windows, in turned hardwood frames, are decorated with boxes of flowers and tumbling ivy. Inside is just as smart, more like a gentlemen's club than a pub. Dark wooden panelling covers most of the walls. There is some intricate carving and glazed tiles. Original crystal chandeliers hang beneath an ornate plaster ceiling. A long hardwood bar counter serves the two bar areas; one provides ample seating and tables for diners. The other has a series of U-shaped leather benches which run along the exterior wall. The screens that separate them once extended to the bar, dividing it into several small booths. If lager's your tipple, there's Leffe, Hoegaarden, Budvar and Hurliman on draught. There is a good selection of bar meals, including many traditional English dishes.

Have you read The Secret, or seen it on video? I didn't make this up...my favorite pub of desire was and is The Audley. So, thank you Adele for picking up on my brainwaves of desire and asking your friend Colleen to share her favorite pub with us! See you there in two weeks!

Have a great weekend! Kiko