LONDON OFF THE BEATEN PATH - PART 2

There are a couple more places I do not want you to miss when in London.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

The pub is one of the oldest if not the oldest pub in London. All the monarchs who have reigned in England during the pub's time are written to the right of the door.
This pub is actually mentioned in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. Just dripping with atmosphere, you feel a part of old London. Dickens himself used to drink here, along with a few other poets, artists etc. It really is worth going to because it is so unusual and unique.
It has the cellar floor, the ground floor and the upstairs, each floor split into little rooms and nooks and crannies. You are encouraged by the staff to have a walk around if visiting for the first time and they are very friendly and polite.
When we went there last year we found the beer was good and the food menu was also very reasonably priced and had plenty of choice. We love it!
This pub is located at 145 Fleet Street, on Wine Office Court. You may, like most, turn into the wrong alley, but there is a sign to direct you back.
To see the pictures, opening times and other info about the place go to http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=154

Twining Tea shop

Twining Tea was founded in 1706 by Thomas Twining, at a time when the regular tipple of most English people at meal times was ale.
He began to sell tea from his coffee shop premises at Number 216 Strand London, the very same shop that still operates there today and promised to sell only the best, with selections from the finest qualities and varieties of teas.
Twining Tea has now been the proud holder of a Royal Warrant since 1837, when Queen Victoria bestowed the honor on the company.
There is a Loose Tea Bar, which has created a lot of interest - with their sampling dishes and new Sampling Counter, where you can ask to try something.
You can find some interesting things in their small museum, such as old teapots, caddies and some old pictures of the Twining family.
You can be assured of a very warm welcome and willingness to answer all of your questions.
We bought a lot of different teas and the prices were much better then at Harrods.
The shop is located directly opposite the Royal Courts of Justice and close to St. Clement Dane's Church. The nearest London Underground Station is Temple, for the District and Circle Lines. Just walk straight up the road to the Strand and turn right, where you will find them about 300 yards away. They are open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
To learn more about the Twining tea and the shop please go to http://www.twinings.co.uk/about-twinings/our-stores

LONDON OFF THE BEATEN PATH - CEREMONY OF THE KEYS

While London is full of history, there are few opportunities for visitors to be part of a centuries-old tradition in a very up-close-and-personal way, while also getting a very direct feel of the history of the place. One of those opportunities comes when attending the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.

The Ceremony of the Keys has been conducted each and every night for the past 700 years. While the Queen no longer lives in the Tower of London, the Crown Jewels and other valuable artifacts are still there, and the Tower, which continues to serve as a fortress, must be securely locked each night by the famed Beefeaters, who act in concert with the military guards, the same ones who can be seen wearing large “Bearskin” hats during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. (To learn more about Beefeaters go to http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/Beefeaters.htm).

The admission to the Ceremony of the Keys is free and offers an amazing opportunity for visitors to London, however, it remains somewhat unknown for two reasons. First, reservations must be obtained in writing well in advance of attending. Second, only a small number of people are allowed for each ceremony.

To make a reservation please go to http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/ceremonyofthekeys and follow instructions in Requests for Tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys.

You will require two coupon-response international (stamps). Last year I bought them in the Post office, and each cost $2.20.

To attend the ceremony in May, I requested the reservation in February.

Within two weeks I received a letter from the Tower of London Office with tickets.

Due to the traditional nature of this event, late arrivals will not be admitted, so reserve plenty of time to travel to the ceremony. 

CHOCOLATE TOUR ON VALENTINE DAY

As you know the Valentine's Day is next week. If you have not made any plans yet for your Valentine, then I have an idea: chocolate tour.
Join the experienced tour guide for a delightful stroll through some of New York's most decadent desserts and chocolatieres.
There are the highlights of the tour:

Chelsea Market - One of New York's best kept secrets and a foodies dream, this place is soawesomeit'scrazy!

Lilac Chocolates - This roaring twenties candy shop remains cult fave, a fine selection of homemade mocha truffles, maple walnut fudge, chocolate cream rolls and the almond bark is to die for!

Chocolate Bar - Chocorgasm pioneer Alison Nelson brings the real taste of chocolate to the West Village!

Magnolia Bakery - It's a crime to go to NYC and not try one of these cupcakes!!

Varsano's - Mom-and-pop-style favorite specializes in handmade peanut-butter cups and marshmallows.

Pasticceria Bruno - The best Canoli in New York. Period!

Kee's Chocolate - Chocoholics swear by the exceptionally creamy truffles made daily at this Soho boutique, be sure to try the creme brulee!

Marie Belle - This incredible kingdom of chocolate is unsurpassed in New York

Vosges - Designer chocolates spiced with an array of exotic flavors ranging from allspice to ginger to hemp seed to wasabi!

Best Chocolate Cake in the World - Decide for yourself!

To reserve the tour go to http://www.nytours.us/?event=offer.detail&offerId=12503&startDate=02/01/2012&endDate=02/29/2012

If you do not live in New York, there are the some websites for you:

http://www.chicagochocolatetours.com/

http://www.philadelphiachocolatetours.com/

http://www.bostonchocolatewalkingtours.com/

Enjoy!

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

A couple of days ago I received a call from Toronto from my friends.
They are coming to NYC in February and will have one free day. It wouldn't be their first visit to NY, so they asked me what to see in NY during their free time.
Although it is always nice to walk through Central Park or down Fifth Avenue, browsing around Greenwich Village, or other places in the city, I wanted to find something they would enjoy regardless of the weather.
I suggested my friends take a very interesting audio tour inside Grand Central Terminal (GCT)

Metro-North Railroad, which operates the Terminal, has teamed up with Orpheo USA, one of the world's most experienced producers of audio tours, to give tourists, travelers and locals alike a history of the terminal filled with interesting details and insights.

Orpheo's state-of-the-art audio device and headset comes with a map of the terminal for just $6 for adults with discounts for seniors and the disabled at $5 and students at $4. Children under 12 pay only $2.

This tour is available seven days a week, 365 days a year at specially-marked "GCT Tour" windows on the Main Concourse. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tour focuses not only on the architectural highlights of the Terminal but provides a real story about little known secrets, anecdotes, archival material and the History of the Terminal, with a capital H. Listeners can take the "local" or "express" tour. And if visitors are interested in more in-depth information, there are options for additional material at the push of a button. The self-guided tour can last as little as 30 minutes to just over an hour.

If you go, please do not forget to experience the magic of "whispering gallery" located on the Grand Central Terminal dining concourse near the famous Oyster Bar & Restaurant. Here, the acoustics of the low ceramic arches can cause a whisper to sound like a shout.

After the tour (or before it, depending on your schedule), go to one of the bakeries with delicious sweets to choose from or visit the marketplace for some incredible food choices!

Here are some words used to describe the GCT tour, taken from numerous reviews I read: "awesome", "amazing", "an incredible place to see", "magical place", "wow..."