Anglomania on the Orient Express

Just arrived back last week from the UK. Spent a week lulling around England, Scotland and Wales on the Orient Express.
How DIVINE!
Castle Howard was a real highlight- My Brideshead Revisited dream come true!
I was decked out in a 3-piece suit and tourists kept asking me if I was a paid actor asked to stroll the grounds looking like Sebastian.
Dinner on the Royal Britannia (The Queens retired yacht) was a real treat.
And going to my Maternal family's homeland, Wales, for the first time was so astounding. The rolling hills, the dramatic weather, the massive amount of lush land.
All that touring and imbibing of champagne in the countryside got me revved up for London.
What a ball I had staying at One Aldwych and visiting friends and the usual haunts.
Gordon Campbell Gray, owner of the hotel put me up in the purple suite since it is my favorite color.
Dandying about town with my mentor Robin Dutt was wonderful as well. We scoured Portobello, trotted down Oxford Street and had a quite lunch to catch up.
I dined solo at Asia de Cuba- not recommended. Well, not if you live in NYC. It is just like the Hudson Hotel- loud, thumping music and everyone looking over their shoulder at who is looking at them. Nice meal though and popped into the Light Bar for a hot minute.
The night, and my last in London, ended on a great note. I walked (er wobbled) back into One Aldwych and perched at the bar for a nightcap. The cute bartender, resplendent in Richard James violet shirt and checkered tie, smiles and says, "Welcome back Mr. Sparks, we were expecting you. The usual?

(The REALLY amazing images mixed with my crappy ones are courtesy of my new friend and fellow Orient Express cruiser, Jim Wernz)