Our vacation is over.
Today was about as much of a waste as our adventure to Andechs was two weeks ago. Since our flight out of Heathrow wasn't until 3pm, we decided to get one more sight in on the way to the airport. Since we didn't get any word from the art gallery about that painting, our morning got freed up a little.
We had two choices: Blenheim Palace or a city walk around Oxford. We chose Blenheim Palace since we didn't want to get caught up in finding city parking in Oxford and whatnot.
After breakfast (have I mentioned the fried bread?) we loaded up and headed out. Blenheim Palace wasn't too far, but when we got there, it was complete chaos. Evidently, they host some huge triathlon this weekend every year. There were mobs of people trying to get into the grounds (both tourists and athletes) and people were parking in the fields. We made a strategic decision to give Blenheim a pass and head to Oxford instead.
Oxford wasn't very far from Blenheim, and since we weren't really prepared to visit here, I was completely unprepared for finding parking or what there was to see or anything. We drove into the center of town and made an attempt at parking in a public garage, but ultimately decided just to bail out and head to the airport. That way we wouldn't be rushed to find a place for lunch or to return our rental car or to check in.
Turns out, that we bumbled around a bit finding the car rental return (our EuropCar supplied SatNav system had issues finding the EuropCar Heathrow location, who'd a thunk it?), so having that extra time really helped out with the stress factor.
The only drama we had getting home was that Angela forgot to put her little picnic knife into her checked luggage. The people screening the carry-on baggage looked at her like "what were you thinking trying to bring a knife on the plane?" Of course, the had to confiscate it. The fight was OK, but after having come over in BA's Club World cabin, anything less is just plain uncivilized.
Our reentry into the USA was very smooth, by Hartsfield International standards; with the exception of the jar of jam that Angela bought at Heathrow that she tried to get through in her carry-on bag. See, in ATL, you have to collect your baggage, go through customs, then recheck it to the main terminal. Because of this, you have to go back through a security line with x-rays and metal detectors like when you first check in. Since the jam counted as a liquid, and since it was obviously more than the 3oz you're allowed, they took it, too. Thanks, DHS. Hope you enjoyed your toast with jam.
Another vacation over. This one was really fun because the weather was so good the whole time. We were able to do almost everything we set out to do.
I got word that our car is set to be shipped on the 10th; with a Brunswick arrival on the 24th. It's looking good that I'll get my car back by the 4th of July weekend.
