Should it be past simple or perfect?

Question

I've been reading about the difference between past simple and past perfect and I've found that when a series of events are narrated in order past simple is the one to be used. When the events aren't in order or when one is subsequent to another past perfect has to be used instead.

In the next examples which one should be used? "We (walk) around the garden for an hour then we (stop) for an ice cream." As these events are in order but one is subsequent to the other should I use past perfect in the first verb (had walked)? "After we (finish) eating the ice cream, we (buy) our tickets and (stand) in a long queue." In this case should it be past simple in the three verbs because the events are in order and reassemble a list?

Answer 1

In the first, "then" is the signal to use simple past. 

 

In the second, "after" is the signal to use past perfect because of the subject and verb, meaning buying tickets was reliant on finishing ice cream, but the next two verbs are simple past.

 

We walked around the garden for an hour, then we stopped for ice cream. After we had finished eating the ice cream, we bought our tickets and stood in a long queue.