30 Days Across the Big Pond
I've been negligent during this past month with updating both sites as I regularly do. This was the result of a 30-day journey I took, starting out in England, crossing over to France for a stay in Paris and Nice, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice in Italy; Frankfurt, Germany, for a night while traveling to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for a 5-day stay, and driving back to the UK through Belgium and France, hopping the ferry boat in Calais, crossing to Dover, and finally to London for the last two days of the journey. This all was done in a Fiat Bravo, rented at London's Heathrow Airport upon my arrival on October 11th, 2009. The car was truly a British automobile with the steering wheel on the right side, and the gearshift to the left.
The following are my notations from a log kept throughout the journey, interspersed with pics taken along the way.
10 October 2009
1745 hrs.
While waiting for the cab to the Philadelphia International Airport, I'm about to pack up the laptop and try to remember anything that I forgot.
I've got a 30-day supply of clean skivvies and enough clothes packed into a suitcase with various battery chargers, a tripod, current transformer, and 5 different European plug adaptors to fit any wall socket. In case I need to use dial-up Internet (God forbid), six different telephone wall-jack adaptors with surge protection are included. A suit with some dress shirts and pants are stashed away in a clothes carrier. All my toiletries are stuffed into the large suitcase on wheels. My camera case contains two Cybershot cameras, one Digicam, three batteries for each, sundry cords to adapt the cameras to the laptop, and a dozen 8-mm blank cassettes. I may make a documentary of this upcoming 30 days across the big pond.
I just hope the suitcase doesn't weigh over the 23 kg limit (50 lbs); otherwise, I'll have to pay extra by as much as 150 quid. I'm flying out at 9 P.M. tonite and will be arriving in London's Heathrow Airport at 9:30 A.M., UK time.
See you there
10 October 2009
2145 hrs.
I made it to the airport. My suitcase weighed 27.6 kilos or 60 lbs. In order to spare the overcharge, I sprung that bad boy open and removed my high-top sneakers and sandals, placing them into my clothes carrier. The luggage was then reweighed after fighting to get it closed again. A nice British Airway's lady was good enough to sit on the lid while I zipped it up. The Pullman weighed 24 kilos, which was acceptable to them; and my baggage was placed onto the conveyor belt at no extra charge.
Cheerio
11 October 2009
1139 hrs.
Well, I got out of the airport car-rental lot without too much fanfare and became accustomed to shifting with my left hand while driving on the left side of the road as well. Two left curbs were hit so far, and a group of pedestrians were frightened upon my arrival at the hotel in Kensington and pulling up onto the sidewalk. After registering, I found a parking spot a few blocks away, but will have to move the car tomorrow morning and valet-park it for couple of days. I'm gonna catch some shut-eye before venturing out, as I was only able to sleep about an hour on the plane.
Big Ben and the Parliment Building
11 October 2009
2100 hrs.
I'm still suffering from jet lag. Having awoken at 16:30 and taken a shower, I went downstairs for dinner and had two gin martinis straight-up with an olive, a green salad, lambsteak broiled medium rare with cooked tomatoes, little round potatoes, asparagus, mint that I mistook for spinach, and a cappuccino with a tiny chocolate on the side. A fork full of mint can make one's eyes buldge out of their sockets and tear like rain!
Back upstairs after hitting the bar, I'm planning to relax and check out British television. A nice minibar is located in the room, which I'll be sampling.
We had a great tail wind flying in this morning. taking off at 21:30 (GMT-5) last night and making it to London in less than 7 hours. Tomorrow, after I get my car off the streets and into valet parking, I'll be checking out the various museums that this area has to offer.
12 Oct 2009
2200 hrs.
I spent most of the day at the Natural History Museum and meandered from exhibit to exhibit for as long as my aching feet allowed me. Hobbling back to the hotel, I was fortunate it was only about a half mile away, walking more today than during the past month. This evening, I enjoyed yet another fine meal at the hotel's restaurant, drank few libations at the pub, and retired to my room for the rest of the night.
The following are photographs taken in London's Natural History Museum
Dinosaur Nest & Mastodon
Neanderthal Woman & Charles Darwin
13 October 2009
2230 hrs.
Adieu, I bid thee to London, until next month for another couple of days. I've finally adjusted from jet lag, as I woke up at 9 A.M. and didn't take a nap at all. It took a couple of days but methinks I've got it licked. My computer remains on Eastern Daylight Time for a reality check. Right now, it's apporaching 11:45 P.M. here in London, while it's coming up as 6:45 P.M. EST on the laptop.
Now I have to close that damned suitcase without the help of someone sitting on the lid while I zip it up. I know, I'll get the chamber maid to do it in the morning. She arrives at the crack of dawn.
With three less days of clean skivvies and still enough for the rest of the trip. I have to decide whether to wash them at the end of the journey before turning in the rental car with fumes emmitting from the boot, where all twenty-nine days of funky skivvies have been residing; or perhaps I will throw them out. I hate doing the wash.
London is such a cool place. I've learned that the people here walk extemely fast. The woman love to wear boots. There seems to be little obesity probably from walking so fast; and I have found the folks to be kind and friendly.
Tomorrow, I get into my rented Fiat with the steering wheel on the right side and the gear shift (6 speeds) on the left while driving on the left hand side of the road to Dover (home of the White Cliffs), hop the ferry boat to Calais, France, and motor to Paris.
Thank God, I'm left handed.
14 October 2009
0130 hrs.
OK... I'm all packed except for closing the suitcase on wheels. My old skivvies are in a laundry bag, which I'll have to replace with a Hefty bag by the time the trip is through! I've separated my cash and coins Sterling, placing them aside for when I return. Some euros leftover from the last trip will get me started. My route is planned. I want to visit the Dover Castle again before crossing over to Calais. It depends how my progress from London to Dover is measured.
I really need to get some sleep as it's approaching 2 A.M., and I've got a 6 A.M. wake-up call scheduled. Cheerio, London... until November the 7th
Diana Memorial at Buckingham Palace
14 October 2009
1930 hrs.
The trip to Dover took longer than I had expected due to having taken the wrong turn at the South Circular Road, heading north instead of south. Next time, I will bring a compass with me. On the past two trips into Dover, it was raining as it was today. I decided not go up to the Castle but buy the ticket and board the ferry for Calais instead...
Dover Castle while leaving the UK for France on the Dover-to-Calais Ferry
To be continued. Next stop... Paris Click Here
All pictures and content © Slicker-Productions 2009