Page 19 - WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE DISCOVERING ENGLAND

The van dropped us a non-descript, brick It was tiny. Our balcony cabin on the
building, less than three blocks away ship was a royal suite by comparison.
Buckingham Palace. Gazing at the unim- Large mirrors on the walls, though, cre-
pressive entrance, I felt anxiety rising. A ated the impression of several rooms
pint and a bite at the pub a half a block and explained why the web photos made
away filled the time while we waited it look big enough. The all-white décor
for the One Fine Stay representative was stylish – and also helped created an
and somewhat restored my confidence. illusion of space. But in reality there was
Though the pub was cold and the food only about 7 feet between the couch and
disappointing, the welcome was warm the wall opposite; the kitchenette was
and I could see myself here laughing and less than 3-feet away from couch arm-
chatting with locals in the days ahead.
Left top: Mary James checking e-mails on
A young man was waiting for us when a make shift desk. Left bottom: Our cabin
we returned and helped us lug suitcases on the Celebrity Infinity. Right top: The St.
into the nondescript lobby. Our flat was James Hotel, just a block away from the flat
located on the third floor, said the fellow on Buckingham Gate Road. Bottom right: The
as he summoned the lift. When the door iconic red British phone booth is about the
opened, I was stunned; I’d seen tele- same size as the elevator to our flat.
phone booths larger than this elevator.
Three trips later, we wheeled all the bags
down the gloomy hallway, through the
unlocked door and into our flat.

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