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Surprise…an overnight in London sans luggage

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Surprise…an overnight in London sans luggage – London, United Kingdom

The flight out of Barcelona was delayed by about 30 minutes…and took a bit longer at take off too.  So, I missed the connection in London and am being put up at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel Hayes…about 10 minutes from Heathrow.  Big hotel, small rooms.  19.95 pounds allotted for dinner, 14.95 for breakfast and a free room and shuttle from/to airport.  I’m rebooked for tomorrow morning.  Oh…and my luggage?  I suppose it’s getting accomodation at Heathrow Luggage Motel.  Or on it’s way to Chicago…or maybe gone on holiday to unknown parts.  Great.

Waited for the Hoppa Hotel bus at stop 4.  Told Bryan I felt like I was waiting for the night bus (first time I’ve been here since reading Harry Potter!).  We made jokes about platform 9 3/4 and I said I was going to run at a concrete abutment and see if I could get through to Hogwart’s Express.  He laughed.  And so, I too laughed at my own stupid joke–finally feeling a little better after a few surly Londoners put a damper on the already dampened day.

Left side of the road driving, rain, proper English…it’s been a long time.

It seems I’m close to Windsor Castle here.  Interesting.  Early today, I wished to be home safely (to Windsor Avenue)!  I wonder if the “wishing well” got confused?  Ah…just full of fun today.  Actually would love to go to see Windsor Castle sometime.  Also saw signs in the hotel for the Windsor room and the Winchester room.  Odd given our living arrangements last year.

Dinner in the boring little Brasserie with extremely friendly waiters and a fish tank with 4 extremely bored looking fish.  Burger, chips (the British still don’t leave Americans alone with a ketchup bottle), glass of water and wine.  Nice little quiet time on my blackberry to Mama and work.

Bored fish in a hotel restaurant aquarium
Bored fish in a hotel restaurant aquarium
My personal message on the Radisson Edwardian TV
My personal message on the Radisson Edwardian TV
My room
My room

Currently sitting in a borrowed hotel bathrobe.  Wondering if I shouldn’t do a little “laundry”…think it’ll dry before tomorrow 6 a.m.?  I’d really hate to have damp “knickers!”   Listening to BBC…”Naught point 5% decrease”, “paid a visit to 10 Downing Street” — and shows someone ringing the doorbell of the prime minister’s residence/office!

Onward to Chicago

My 7:55 am flight from LHR to ORD was canceled. I learned this after getting up and out to the Hoppa bus to Heathrow at 5:00 a.m. UGH. Rebooked on the 12:15 flight in business class. Had cappuccino and chocolate croissant in terminal 3 and took my time looking at each and every shop…and some of them twice…and WH Smith, Borders 3 times each. Reading, people watching…what an interesting place. And finally at 11:05, the board gave us the gate number for AA #67 home. About 8 hours later, after passing between Northern Ireland and Scotland and skimming the southern edge of Greenland, landed safely in Chicago… No sign of the luggage–filed a tracer and left the customs area for the international greeting area where Bryan met me 🙂

It’s good to be home!

Barcelona trip route
Barcelona trip route
UK Flag
UK Flag

The 2001 trip begins: 6 Hours in London

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Through London to Marrakech, Portugal and the Madeira Islands 

June 2001: London, Marrakech, Portugal, Madiera
June 2001: London, Marrakech, Portugal, Madiera

This was to be a trip for all the senses… For the eyes–Moorish influences, crayon box of colors, repetitive artwork and script (trance or mania?), cork oak and olive trees.  For the nose–spices, oranges, jasmine, mint, cedar.  For the ears–Fado music and the calls to prayer.  For the taste buds–Portuguese wine, Madeira port, and Moroccan mint tea.  And for the skin–sun’s warmth, henna’d hands, stones, glass & tiles sanded smooth in the sea.  But first…the three weeks begin with 6 hours in London…

Six hours in London

We arrived from Chicago on Thursday 5/24 into Heathrow around 10 a.m.

It was a longish layover, so we took the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station…then on the Hammersmith & City Line to Liverpool Street, and a ten minute walk down Bishopsgate Street to meet our friend, Robert for a pub lunch at Simpsons.  We sat upstairs in a tight old wooden booth…a smoke filled room. After lunch, we three headed down to a sunny courtyard for beer and wine. As we sat around the keg table–we debated the age old travel question–“When are you really there? When does it count?” On the ground in the airport? Staying a night? Eating a meal? Exchanging $ for …?

We had to be back at Heathrow by 2:30 for our 4 p.m. flight to Marrakech…so did London “count”?

Robert & Bryan
Robert & Bryan