EUROPE BLOG May 9th, 2023 - LONDON

 

5/9/23- Ugh, a very early morning to catch our 8am flight to London. The hotel has a shuttle for 6 Euros each that gets us there around 6:15am.

Upon arrival, we locate our check-in gate only to find an automatic bag drop-off machine. We scan our boarding pass to get our bag tags, then place our bag in a tube that reads the tag and then it disappears into the floor. It is very simple so not complaining, but how interesting.

Next up, we go through security and then through customs before getting to our gate with an hour to spare. We sit just as I notice a small line at the boarding area. At first this concerns me as I think they’re checking Covid papers. “How is this still a thing”, races through my mind at a million miles per hour. I casually walk over and find it’s for the gate check-in, which is weird. Why would they check tickets and passports before boarding at the gate? Either way, we get our stamp of approval and 30 minutes later board the plane.

This is the most ghetto-flight I remember taking, with everything you can imagine that’s annoying going on at once. Is this a flight or did we just board the metro? There also is a delay as two passengers didn’t show up at the gate and they have to have their bags removed. Surprisingly, once the plane is in the air, all calms down and I’m able to sleep for much of the hour long flight.

In London, we go through passport control (no stamp needed, just use the electronic passport reader machine), get our bags and look for a way to get to Ibis Airport Heathrow. We contemplate using the bus which is 12 Pounds total (6 each), but soon find the taxi rank that takes us straight there for a total of 15 Pounds. A much better option. It's the black taxi with the large, open backseat that is very roomy.

It’s now around 10:20am and the hotel says we can check in early for 30 Pounds extra. We think about this for a moment when the clerk leans in and says “but if you wait 30 minutes it’ll only be 20 Pounds”. Happy with that solution, we pay the amount and then he hands us the room key. I ask, “Do I still have to wait the 30 minutes?” to his reply, “You already paid so enjoy the room.” What a nice guy.

Unfortunately, we get to the room and the a/c is not working properly. It’s blowing okay but the room is not cooling off, so we inform the front desk on our way out, asking them to check it out while we’re gone.

The journey to Central London is not a quick one, taking a bus and two underground connections to Westminster. The weather is partly sunny with some dark clouds in view, so hopefully the rain stays away for the time being.

Our walk takes us around Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey before we settle on a fish and chips restaurant nearby (which was excellent). London is pretty much how we remembered it as we relive old memories. What an awesome day this has turned out to be.

We go over our next destination when I notice we’ve never been to Piccadilly. The stroll takes us through Trafalgar Square, which is very lively, and gives us a great view of Buckingham Palace in the distance. The King was crowned just two days ago so there’s things left over from the ceremony still present.

This brings us to our final destination of Buckingham Palace. We didn’t figure that we’d see the Royal Family at all, but as we get closer we realize there’s a royal garden party with all types of people dressed up for the occasion coming out of the building. We decide to stick around for a bit and low-and-behold, Prince William and Kate are driven outside of the gates right by us. Wow! What crazy timing that is.

And this is when the rain begins to come down at a steady pace. Wouldn’t you know it, this is the exact time I get a message from my son, Kelvin, who is on a plane to meet up with me later today for the next phase of my trip. His plane to London was diverted to New York due to an emergency with a passenger and the soonest he can make it is tomorrow morning now. That still works, but is pushing it a bit close.

With part one of my trip now complete, we take the hour long journey back to the hotel and try to get some sleep for our flights out tomorrow. Our room is still warm, but they do bring us a fan that does help. I’ll definitely ask for a credit tomorrow.