London - Take I
Trip Start
Dec 17, 2008
1
9
61
Trip End
Ongoing
London, England, United Kingdom
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Mike and I headed into the city on Saturday and Sunday. This was really a reconnaissance mission for future trips. Our plan was to really scope out the terrain. What's great about being here in England is that we don't have to try and "cram" it all in. We know we'll be back there, so there's no need to try and see everything under the sun, or should I say clouds, in only a few days. I'm really looking forward to getting to know this town in our future visits. It's such an impressive city with so many "nooks and crannies."
In our typical fashion, we walked the streets to death, in and out of alleys and back roads, along parades and through squares, and hopped the Tube here and there. Our weekend happened to coincide with the Chinese New Year and Chinatown was decked out with colorful lanterns strung across the streets. The streets were packed with people bearing noise-makers and trying to catch a glimpse of one of the several Chinese dragons. There was definitely a festive vibe in the air and it was great that we just happened to stumble upon the celebration.
I love that about travelling: Stumbling upon a festival, an artifact, or just a chance moment in time creates the most memorable experiences. You never know what you'll find at your destination. We always do our due diligence and research a fair amount before we go someplace, but it is the unexpected that makes the adventure a good one.
Speaking of chance, we woke up in our cozy bed in Weybridge to a blanket of fresh snow on Monday morning. There was snow in London? Supposedly that never happens. We were scheduled to return via train on Monday morning, but there were scary reports that everything was shut down from the rails to the runways. We would have been perfectly happy snuggling up to the fire for another day at our friends' place, but we needed to get home to feed the kitties. We tried making our way down to the train station, and as luck would have it, there was a train plowing its way to London in just a few minutes. That was the wrong direction to get home, but once in the city center we were able to take the Tube to another station and take a different train back to Bristol. It ended up taking a couple more hours than it would have originally, but it worked. I think what amazed me most is that all the train operators seemed to be in the best mood. They were extremely helpful and almost apologetic because of the weather delays, although there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. There was no air of panic by people waiting at the train station. There were no nasty encounters at the tickets windows. There was no look of despair on people's faces. It was all very calm and polite, and so very British.
-molly
This was my second visit to London, but the first was nearly thirteen years ago. During that initial trip, I was quite content to tag along with my hosts (Roy and Rita) to a variety of sites without really thinking about how they all fit together. This time, as Molly mentioned, it felt more like a reconnaissance mission for future trips. I really enjoyed walking from place to place and getting familiar with the layout of the city.
Here are some of my observations from the trip:
- Dave and Sigrid are incredible hosts - it really made for an enjoyable visit. Thanks you two!
- Turning a corner or coming out of a tube station and catching sight of landmarks like the Parliament, Big Ben, Tower of London, St. Paul's, etc. is always amazing - even if you're expecting it. The shear scale can be extremely impressive.
- The Underground is brilliant and the Underground map even more so. It is so intuitive and so convenient. I love it.
- Having a pint at a pub that is a few hundred years old (such as the Lamb and Flag or Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese) is a real treat.
- Being in London for the biggest snow in 20 years is pretty cool. I would have gladly stayed another day if it weren't for the cats.
I'm excited about future trips to London. Perhaps Molly and I will be meeting some of you there for a pint or two.
-mike
