Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Palmetto Florida
The day that we have been planning for the last two years is
finally here….DEPARTURE DAY….we should be ready but find that we have last minute packing and rearrangements to be made in our suitcases. We keep finding last minute things that we feel must go along with us. Am sure we will come to regret all the little extra things that will add more weight as we are trudging thru the streets of London with our “stuff”.
We had a good omelet just before noon, which will have to hold us for many hours. Then left for the airport and had Phil drop us off with each having one big expandable rollabout suitcase, A Rick Steve Stuff bag, which held our backpack and clothing etc for 2 days in London (so that we would not need to open our large suitcase or case they didn’t arrive with us). And then we also each had a personal item small bag. All this was a far cry from the original plan to just have one backpack.
Going thru security with my new pacemaker was an interesting thing. I had a complete body search done on me by the security gurard. Knew it was going to happen tho so I was ready for it. Then we had a 2 hour wait at the Tampa airport which went very fast thanks to the use of a free wireless for the computers.
The day that we have been planning for the last two years is
finally here….DEPARTURE DAY….we should be ready but find that we have last minute packing and rearrangements to be made in our suitcases. We keep finding last minute things that we feel must go along with us. Am sure we will come to regret all the little extra things that will add more weight as we are trudging thru the streets of London with our “stuff”.We had a good omelet just before noon, which will have to hold us for many hours. Then left for the airport and had Phil drop us off with each having one big expandable rollabout suitcase, A Rick Steve Stuff bag, which held our backpack and clothing etc for 2 days in London (so that we would not need to open our large suitcase or case they didn’t arrive with us). And then we also each had a personal item small bag. All this was a far cry from the original plan to just have one backpack.
Going thru security with my new pacemaker was an interesting thing. I had a complete body search done on me by the security gurard. Knew it was going to happen tho so I was ready for it. Then we had a 2 hour wait at the Tampa airport which went very fast thanks to the use of a free wireless for the computers.
Then it was up and down to Miami for another wait two hour wait. The best thing was because of my bad arm, which has metal bars in it, I wore my brace so my helper Martha and I were able to preboard the plane so that she could help me stow my bags. Sure does make it much easier to load on the plane this way. Just one extra little perk for being old and crippled….. We were both good about using our face masks on both flights as we had sick people arou
nd us coughing and blowing. Only taking them off to drink or eat. The London flight had 2 meals, dinner and then breakfast before landing. Am so glad that we ate both as it was evening before we had another meal. Also thanks to our “first class seat” blowup pillows we were both able to catch about 4 hours sleep on the ride over. We did have some excitement coming to London. We almost turned around and went back to Miami because of a man in front of Martha who got very belligerent with the stewardess while she was trying to retrieve the large bottle of vodka, which he had opened after boarding the plane. His English was not very good but he understood what she wanted and he just did not want to give up his bottle but in the end … he did…. And we continued our flight to Miami.
nd us coughing and blowing. Only taking them off to drink or eat. The London flight had 2 meals, dinner and then breakfast before landing. Am so glad that we ate both as it was evening before we had another meal. Also thanks to our “first class seat” blowup pillows we were both able to catch about 4 hours sleep on the ride over. We did have some excitement coming to London. We almost turned around and went back to Miami because of a man in front of Martha who got very belligerent with the stewardess while she was trying to retrieve the large bottle of vodka, which he had opened after boarding the plane. His English was not very good but he understood what she wanted and he just did not want to give up his bottle but in the end … he did…. And we continued our flight to Miami.Arrived at Heathrow Airport by 10 AM London time. Purchased a London pass to use during our 2 days here and a train ticket to get us into London. Martha pulled both the wheeled suitcases and I pulled the (thank god we brought it) luggage cart with both stuff bags, my personal bag and Martha’s small backpack. Getting on the train went great
And we were able to keep our bags right with us. Then in London we purchased aDay pass for the tube (subway) Now we needed to find our hotel, the Gresham, which is near the British Museum. Down many stairs to get to the tube…. No problem on the tube
And we were able to keep our bags right with us. Then in London we purchased aDay pass for the tube (subway) Now we needed to find our hotel, the Gresham, which is near the British Museum. Down many stairs to get to the tube…. No problem on the tube
but after arriving at our station it was another story to get back up all the flights of s
tairs to find the street level. Thank God for several very nice English Gentlemen who helped us with the bags. After that experience I don’t think that we will use the subway with all our bags again…. To many flights of stairs getting down and then up again. Martha found the hotel without any problem. We checked in and found that we were only on the second floor, not that fourth as she and Jim were, so by making a few trips we were able to get our bags into the room.
Dumped the bags and took off to explore London. Weather was cold but dry so we were happy campers. Using the tube without the bags was great. We first made our way over to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is the church that Diana and Charles were married in. Big and Beautiful and Impressive…… of course no pictures were allowed inside but we got plenty outside. I found my first candle to light in thanksgiving for our safe trip over “the pond”. Even tho it wasn’t a Catholic church I wanted to do it as will not see our church until Sunday. Guess God wasn’t to happy with me as we walked outside to find that it had started to rain. Out came the rain poncho’s but I had forgotten to bring my plastic sock covers for my sandals…. Yes, I only have sandals with me. Wet or not we forged on as we had a lot we wanted to cover this first day. Found the correct tube for Westminster Abbey and soon we were on our way.
tairs to find the street level. Thank God for several very nice English Gentlemen who helped us with the bags. After that experience I don’t think that we will use the subway with all our bags again…. To many flights of stairs getting down and then up again. Martha found the hotel without any problem. We checked in and found that we were only on the second floor, not that fourth as she and Jim were, so by making a few trips we were able to get our bags into the room.Dumped the bags and took off to explore London. Weather was cold but dry so we were happy campers. Using the tube without the bags was great. We first made our way over to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is the church that Diana and Charles were married in. Big and Beautiful and Impressive…… of course no pictures were allowed inside but we got plenty outside. I found my first candle to light in thanksgiving for our safe trip over “the pond”. Even tho it wasn’t a Catholic church I wanted to do it as will not see our church until Sunday. Guess God wasn’t to happy with me as we walked outside to find that it had started to rain. Out came the rain poncho’s but I had forgotten to bring my plastic sock covers for my sandals…. Yes, I only have sandals with me. Wet or not we forged on as we had a lot we wanted to cover this first day. Found the correct tube for Westminster Abbey and soon we were on our way.
I had seen but never been inside this magnificent church where Queen Elizabeth II held her coronation so many years ago, 1953 to be exact…. Just think we were in high school when that happened. This is also the church where Diana’s funeral services were held. In this same area are Big Ben and the houses of Parliament.
From this point we walked across the river Thames to find the London Eye. This was built in 2000 to celebrate the New Year. What a fun ride this was and such a wonderful view of London. It’s like a large Farris wheel with capsules (sitting 10 people) instead of seats….. it only goes around once, but it’s a very slow ride. It was beginning to rain pretty good by this time and also the sun was setting but, by asking directions we made it to the tube that would take us back close to our hotel. But…. we exited thru a different stairway, got turned around….. and spent quite a bit of time going around in circles trying to find our hotel. Eventually we did get home… tired and wet…. But we made it…..change out of our wet socks and walked a block to a wonderful Fish and Chips shop for supper.
From this point we walked across the river Thames to find the London Eye. This was built in 2000 to celebrate the New Year. What a fun ride this was and such a wonderful view of London. It’s like a large Farris wheel with capsules (sitting 10 people) instead of seats….. it only goes around once, but it’s a very slow ride. It was beginning to rain pretty good by this time and also the sun was setting but, by asking directions we made it to the tube that would take us back close to our hotel. But…. we exited thru a different stairway, got turned around….. and spent quite a bit of time going around in circles trying to find our hotel. Eventually we did get home… tired and wet…. But we made it…..change out of our wet socks and walked a block to a wonderful Fish and Chips shop for supper.
This is our only “dinner” in London but could not pass up this truly English meal. One good thing was while trying to find the hotel we did find a great McDonalds
Within walking distance of our hotel with free wireless internet. Guess where we will
Be going for breakfast tomorrow. Bet we will sleep really good tonight. But before I bid you goodbye for now… just a reminder that Martha has 36 pictures in a slideshow
On her blogsite so be sure to check it out…. http://www.marthajans.blogspot.com/
Took forever this morning at McDonalds to get this few pictures put in so have kept it at just a few.... be sure to check Martha slideshow.
Within walking distance of our hotel with free wireless internet. Guess where we will
Be going for breakfast tomorrow. Bet we will sleep really good tonight. But before I bid you goodbye for now… just a reminder that Martha has 36 pictures in a slideshow
On her blogsite so be sure to check it out…. http://www.marthajans.blogspot.com/
Took forever this morning at McDonalds to get this few pictures put in so have kept it at just a few.... be sure to check Martha slideshow.
3 comments:
Hi glad you arrived in merry old England it sure made me home sick.you was about 20 minutes from my home town when in Heathrow.
I am amazed that yiu was able to see so much in the two days.
Keep on going will keep up with you
enjoy
As you can wee i signed up for gmail and some how I think I have a blog but i dont know how ha ha so much for knowing nothing about computors. best wished to you both chris
Sorry typo error the word should have been see and not wee
Glad you made it and it was good talking to you on Skype. If I didn't seem enthusiastic it was just because this is a "quieter" library than the one I'm usually at and there were no study rooms available so I was trying to keep my voice down. Love you! Have a great time....
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