Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009 5:35 PM
Subject: Happy D-Day from a very jolly olde England
Hello,
I'm in London for the weekend -- and this trip couldn't have been more perfect! (so far)
I had a redeye flight from San Francisco-New York Friday night, then New York-London today morning, with a 1 hour connection in between. Yesterday (Friday) I was sweating it out because I saw that my SFO-JFK flight would most likely be delayed because the incoming flight was late. If the flight was more than 1 hour late, that would be the end of my trip! Fortunately that did not happen, and Everything (with a capital "E") was just perfect!
Customs and Immigration at London Heathrow: I've had bad experiences in the past ("For how long are you here?" ... "Just tonight" ... "WHAT?") but today, God must have been smiling down on me :)
"How long are you here for?"
"Just tonight" (This was at 8:30 PM)
"Just tonight???"
"Uh huh."
"Are you here on vacation or business?"
"Vacation"
"Ok, have a nice time."
WOW!
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!! That was AMAZING! Why can't I get that guy EVERY time in EVERY country?!
The second thing I was worried about was the weather -- the forecast was (and still is) for rain every day through the end of this week. I NEVER FELT A SINGLE DROP ON ME! Couldn't have asked for anything better!
When I got to the hotel I got a room upgrade... I'm on the 14th floor with views of Big Ben and one of the spires of the Parliament, plus what I think is Victoria station (but not really sure about that). The room is great! I almost felt like staying in the room all evening!
Nope, I headed out -- by now it was about 9:30pm or something like that. I took the underground to Picadilly Circus, roamed around looking for restaurants, didn't find anyplace I felt like eating at, and started walking towards the Thames river, using the Big Ben for navigation... For the next 2+ hours I was hanging around Westminster Bridge, the Big Ben, Parliament, London Eye (closed by now but looking gorgeous at night), and the Westminster Abbey, with all the reflections in the lake -- BEEEEEautiful! There was a full moon too but that was behind clouds so didn't see it too much.
Around midnight I started walking back to the hotel, through St. James Park up to Buckingham Palace -- the park isn't exactly a "happening place" at midnight... so I was a little nervous, but once again no problems here! Buckingham Palace had the flag flying, so the Queen was home... all lights off inside unlike the White House 2 months ago. But I still got a few pictures of Queen Victoria...
12:11 AM at this point (I took a picture of my iphone with that time)... instead of walking the rest of the way to the hotel I hailed a cab -- such a contrast from the rickshaw drivers in Bangalore! "Knightsbridge? Sure, c'mon in!"
So now I'm back in the hotel and wondering whether or not I should go to sleep -- it's almost 1:30am right now and I have to wake up at 6am so I can be at the airport by 9am for 11am flight back home! I think I'm going to finally enjoy the room.
No dinner tonight. No cake. No desserts of any kind. But no regrets!
My photos are still in the camera. If I stay awake right now I'll upload them to my website, otherwise they'll be there after I get back home.
So until July 4th from Switzerland again,
Auf wiedersehen,
-me.
(p.s. to my sister-in-law and brother: the breakfast was English biscuits/croissants, fruit, and choice of "apple-stuffed french toast", "cream cheese and chive omelet", or "Thai-style soba salad with chicken").
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| Jun 5 | Contents | Jun 7 |