I've been negligent during this past month of updating both sites as I regularly do. This was the result of a 30 day journey that 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, France, hopping the ferry boat in Calais, to Dover and finally to London for the last two days of the journey. This all was done in a Fiat Bravo that was rented at London's Heathrow Airport upon arrival on October 11th, 2009. The car was truly a British vehicle with the steering wheel on the right side and the gearshift to the left.
The following are my notations from a log that I 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 that has various battery chargers, a tripod, current transformer and 5 different european plug adaptors to fit any wall socket. In case I would need to use dial up internet (God forbid), I've got 6 different telephone wall jack adaptors with surge protection. I've brought along a suit with some dress shirts and pants in a clothes carrier. All my toiletries are included in the large suitcase on wheels. My camera case is packed with 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 PM tonite and will be arriving in London's Heathrow Airport at 9:30 AM, 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 over charge, I sprung it open and removed my high top sneakers and sandals which were placed into my clothes carrier. The suitcase was then re-weighed after fighting to get it closed again. The nice British Airway's lady was good enough to sit on the suitcase lid while I zipped it up. It weighed 24 kilos which was acceptable to them and the suitcase 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. I got used to shifting with my left hand and driving on the left side of the road, as well. I rubbed against two curbs so far and frightened a group of pedestrians while pulling up to my hotel in Kensington. 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. I awoke at 16:30, took a shower and went downstairs for dinner. I had two gin martinis straight up with an olive, a green salad, lambsteak, medium rare with cooked tomato, little round potatoes, asparagus, mint which I mistook for spinach and a cappuccino with a little chocolate mint on the side. A fork full of mint can make one's eyes buldge out of their sockets!
I'm back upstairs and am planning to relax and play. There's a nice minibar in the room which I'll be sampling.
We had a great tail wind flying in this morning. We actually took off at 21:30 GMT-5, last night and made it to London in less than 7 hours. In the morning, 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, it was fortunately for me that it was only about a half mile away. I walked more today than I had for the past month. This evening, I enjoyed yet another fine meal at the hotel's restaurant 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 AM and didn't take a nap at all. It took a couple of days but me thinks I've got it licked. I have left my computer on Eastern Daylight Time for a reality check. Right now, it's apporaching 10:45 here in London, while it's coming up to 5:45 EST on the computer.
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, I still have enough for the rest of the trip. I have to decide whether to wash them at the end of the trip before turning in the rental car with fumes emmitting from the boot where all 29 days of funky skivvies have been residing or 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 that is supposed to be driven on the left hand side of the road, to Dover (home of the White Cliffs) and hop the ferry boat to Calais, France, destination 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 and placed them aside for when I return. I have some Euros from the last trip to 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 AM and I've got a 6 AM wakeup 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 and headed 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
