Oh London, Oh London, Where Art Thou??

MAKING MY WAY TO YOU...

42 hours upright, 21 hours in flight, 2 layovers (Seattle & Rekjavik), and no luggage lost!  Whew!  It's a new dawn and day traveling to the UK.  I left 4am 8/25 and arrived at 12n the next day.  

Sunrise over Iceland

  Iceland Air's Map of Trip                       

                                          

And I must report that traveling in 1st class all the way to London was indeed a treat.  Lots of leg room and I was even able to sleep on the plane. Highly unusual for me.  

Very long lines at the border/customs process.  But I have to say, they were continuously moving.  Which is always encouraging.  I was routed to the electronic lines (no need for a passport stamp) and NO searching of luggage!  I'd probably still be at Heathrow Customs if they did!!  Much different than the last time I passed through here.

I skidaddled my way to the taxi queuing area and got a ride from a chap who looked like Bryan Brown (the actor) and insisted on calling me "Luv."  I was definitely NOT in Kansas anymore.  Checked into hotel & promptly fell asleep.

I promised my grandson that I would take a selfie in front of Big Ben.  So I did.  Wrapped in scaffolding and all.  It didn't even BONG! While there, I walked into a motorcycle & bike demonstration for an Irish Vet that was being tried for murder.  It wasn't violent, but very loud!  I shot a short video.  Check it out---.

But did I mention yet, that this was a holiday weekend?  It's called Summer Holiday.  So some things I wanted to do were closed due to the holiday, and some still for COVID. So I laid low and did what I felt like. I do enjoy things that I didn't grow up with. Like thunder & lightening storms. LOVE those. Fireflies. Phone booths. And subways. Really like riding in the subway London calls The Underground.  I know it's silly. But hey, it's my thing~

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Last 2 times I was in London I never went up in the Eye and it was always on my list.  So I went & had a fabulous time. It was very crowded with lots of kids & families. So much fun!!

 

So I've had a couple of hiccups here in London. Two biggies. The car situation and
getting my SIM card to work correctly. The SIM has never been figured
out by the company, so I finally gave up and bought a new one. The long term
rental car requires: A. Bank account & B. an address. Word to the wise, you cannot
rent a long term car in the UK when, how did they put it? You are "Hotel hopping."
Better known as TRAVELING. So I've rented from Enterprise for September and
will pick up long term car when I'm ready to move into the Oban apartment Oct 1st.
Also, apparently car insurance is also linked to an address and NOT the driver. Very
odd indeed. Applied to the most popular online bank here: MONZO. Waiting to hear
if they accept me. What's not to accept??
To go with my Chinese laundry day (from the movies - I mean this kindly),
I also went out to eat at a local Chinese restaurant. The menu was a double book
with Chinese on one side & turning it upside down, in English. I asked for spicy when
ordering stir fried chicken & vegetables over crispy noodles. Let's just say I should've
brought my chili flakes. But they were very kind and the vegetables were fresh and crispy.

Next stop YORK. Then I think the coast. Maybe stop in Hull on my way to the
water.....
See, Enterprise doesn't mind that I don't know where I'm staying tonight!