We had a 1:30 appointment with our private car, so we slept well and packed leisurely. We traipsed around the corner to the internet café for breakfast and to check our flight status one last time, then returned for our luggage to meet the driver. Our departure to London was at 5:20, so we gave ourselves plenty of cushion to arrive at the airport and get through security. For once, we wouldn’t have to sprint anywhere!
The flight was much easier and more relaxing than our ventures with EasyJet…but then again that service wasn’t hard to top. Anyhow, we landed in London at 7:30pm, and then held an engaging conversation with Customs about the purpose of our 12-hour layover. Apparently “drinking and visiting friends” isn’t the most suitable answer to “What’s the nature of your visit?” and “A flat in Chelsea” does not sufficiently answer “What is the address where you’ll be staying?” Oops.
ABOVE: View from the Vogeleer flat. This photo would not have satisfied Customs.
AT & David were waiting for us with smiles on their faces when we cleared Customs at 8pm. After hugs and affectionate groping between David and me, we all hopped on the Tube (British for “Metro”) back to their place in Chelsea to drop off our carry-on bags.
ABOVE: This is their cat.
Where’s the first place we went, do you think? The local pub, of course! AT & David’s favorite local pub, the Cross Keys, rocked us with some delicious grub and tasty pints.
ABOVE: They served fries in a pail. I wonder if they'd serve tater tots in a top hat or something.
The place had great atmosphere, and we enjoyed lounging on a couple couches and catching up on each other’s lives. They were loving London and their proximity to the rest of Europe, so we were excited to hear about their various experiences abroad.
Above: Cheers!
After dinner and a couple pints, we took a cab to Parliament, located right alongside the River Thames.
ABOVE: View of The Palace from Westminster Bridge.
The cab presented our first encounter with riding on the opposite side of the street, and it was indeed weird. But the cabs in London are AWESOME, and David told me how tedious the studying and exam process is for attaining one’s cab license in London. Look it up, sometime—you’ll be impressed.
ABOVE: David is too lazy to take his cab licensing exam.
Many of the well-known attractions in London are all within a half-mile of each other. The Palace of Westminster hosts both the Houses of Parliament and the famous clock tower known as “Big Ben.” He’s a photogenic old chap.
ABOVE: Ben. He's Big.
Across the Thames from the Palace is the London Eye, a gigantic Ferris wheel entrenched right on the river bank. The wheel’s diameter is just shy of 400 feet, if that gives you some perspective. Wikipedia tells me the Eye is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and is frequented by over 3.5 million people annually.
ABOVE: Round Eye in the Sky.
The Eye was closed for the night when we arrived, but it was impressive to stand beneath the spokes and examine the engineering marvel. The passenger capsules are no mere swinging seats like on a typical Ferris wheel; rather, they’re air-conditioned oval-shaped pods that carry up to 25 people. Neat, huh?
ABOVE: Looks like part of Zeus's bicycle, doesn't it?
After a pit stop at a riverside McDonald’s, we crossed back to the north bank of the Thames, crossed the street from Parliament, and walked past Westminster Abbey. The gothic architecture on this old church was impressive; the Abbey has played host to the coronation of dozens of British monarchs over the centuries.
ABOVE: The Abbey's North entrance.
ABOVE: The recognizable western facade.
The Abbey was of course closed for the night, but the four of us squeezed together for an arm’s reach group photo. David and I are both aces at the arm’s reach self-shot, by the way.
ABOVE: Some of my best work.
For the ride home, our hosts treated us to a ride on a double-decker bus known everywhere as a uniquely British mode of transport. We climbed upstairs and enjoyed front row views of the empty streets and neighborhoods of Westminster and Chelsea.
ABOVE: Visual aid, in case you're the only person online who's never seen a double-decker.
Our gracious hosts had packed a ton of sight-seeing into just a few precious hours, and we were grateful to AT & David for playing tour guides into the late evening. When we returned to their flat just before midnight, we all pretty much just went straight to bed. The Vogeleers were headed to Scotland for a quick vacation the next morning, and we had to be up at 5am for our ride back to Heathrow. Whirlwind trip, indeed!
August 5 London Album:
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| London: August 5, 2011 |
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