Month: June 2013

After a couple of black coffees to get the body going, we went for a wander off to Tufnel Park to find some provisions for the week. Came back for a breakfast of vegemite toast, croissants, cinnamon scrolls, juice and more coffee.

Fuelled up for the day we headed off for our first tube ride into London and to the British Museum.

Spent a few hours wandering around looking at the vast numbers of statues, temple panels and other items of antiquity.

There were statues of horses

as well as parts of the Parthenon

After some lunch and souvenir shopping at the museum, we decided to just have a wander down towards Trafalgar Square. Along the way by chance we stumbled upon Neales Yard which contained a cosmetics shop that Nerida was wanting to find as they wont ship to Australia – bonus find.

Had a sit in Trafalgar Square watching the pigeons and people for a while, then decided to walk down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Watched the guards walking back and forth for a bit before heading back into St James Park. Saw a variety of water birds with young as well as several squirrels.

Came back through the Horse Guards to Charing Cross station and then back home.

Tomorrow we start with our London Pass and plan to do the Tower and some of the other attractions in that area. Which we do will depend on how much time we spend in each. Might be back to the same area tomorrow.

Lots of flying later and some sleep we are awake in the early morning light of London. Even Dana is up before 6am.

Plane from Sydney to Dubai left on time at 6am and several movies, TV shows and two meals later we landed at a very warm Dubai at 2pm local time. Landing in threw the thermals of near 40 degrees was a fun experience. So much dust haze every where.

Boarded onto the flight to London about an hour later onto a very warm plane that must have been in the low thirties at least. We sat past expected departure and then got the announcement that they were having issues with the air conditioner (no kidding) and that techs were looking at it and we might be another 20 minutes. At least an hour later (Nerida is sure it was one and a half hours), that got it fixed and we got into the air.

Dana and I both managed to get some rest, but Nerida dozed at best. Pilots did a good job of making up some time and we were only about 20 minutes late o the ground in London.

Customs took ages, we managed to get in the queue behind all the difficult people, with some even rejected and made to go wait sideways.

A cab ride later winding through London in the setting sun at 10pm at night we got to our accommodation for the first week.

Flat has a real coffee machine so Nerida is a happy camper sitting here drinking a black coffee and planning the day.

First step is to walk to the nearest shops and get some milk, bread and basics for the rest of the week.

Almost ready now. Bags are packed and the phones and iDevices loaded up with music, movies and games for flight.

We fly out of Sydney Sunday morning at 6am. Minimising the early start by staying near the airport overnight.

There is a short leg stretch in Dubai in the heat of the afternoon before arriving in London at 8pm.

We stay in London for the first week before heading to Paris. Paris also gets a week of our time, before we return to the UK and we head to Bath and Cornwall for the rest of our time.