Singapore to Frankfurt to London
Sunday – arrive in Frankfurt early and have to get a train (again) to the connecting flight. These airports are so huge with trains and planes – I think to myself – I should have gone direct with Qantas instead of saving a few dollars connecting all over the place. Oh well, I’ll file that away for next time. On the train and speeding along to the terminal I find check-in and am asked if I want to get on an earlier flight as my original flight has been overbooked. I think this is a good idea then I can spend some extra time looking around Heathrow airport. I say OK and I fly out at 7.30am instead of 9.30am.
My seat is next to a skinny arab guy who has the window seat. Bugger. He looks rather weird and doesn’t smell too good either. Eau de Camel ! Oh well, I am going to Egypt so I better get used to it!!!! The plane has to circle over London for a while – so I make the most of it trying to look out the window and see the sights – which I don’t see as the arab has his entire body over the window. Finally time to land – how exciting. Down, down and a perfect landing. Heathrow airport – I am in England !!!!!!!!
Go to retrieve my bag. It is not there. Waiting, waiting – still no bag – panic stations. I proceed over to the information desk and they check up to see where it is. What a surprise – my bag is still in Germany booked on the original flight. I have to fill out ‘unaccompanied luggage’ paperwork and then just hope it turns up on that flight because they won’t have any paperwork at that end. I can’t even leave customs and wander around. The plan to explore has gone out the window.
The holiday was not supposed to unfold like this. Oh well, it can only get better.
My suitcase arrives – finally – I lift the bag off the carousel and promptly lose a nail that flicks off (ouch) and proceeds to go on its own journey on the carousel. I can’t even retrieve it to put back on so I smile and pretend nothing has happened and watch my pretty blue nail disappear; clear customs and wait for Kylie. Have a bit of a look around – I am dead tired but the body keeps moving.
What an experience but I am excited and I reckon my body is running on sheer adrenaline at this stage. I notice that most of the people are all dressed in really drab colours – navy, browns, greys etc. Here am I looking like a fugitive from a Hawaiian luau wearing a very, very loud floral shirt. Kylie finally arrives and winces with embarrassment when she sees the shirt. No matter.
She has booked a cab – well, it is really a private hire car – how posh – it costs ₤22.00 and she tells me it is my shout. Already spending money! We head off and my head is swivelling around on my neck just looking at everything. After about 30 minutes or so we arrive at her flat. What a nice place. It is on the first floor of a Tudor looking house that she shares with two other girls. I am pleased to finally get here.
Unpack and give Kylie her goodies– she is glad to get them. My Amaretto has leaked a bit in the bag but nothing to worry about. Then she sees the bags of film that I have brought with me (36) and just shakes her head (again!). She asks me if I am tired and want to catch up on some sleep but I say no I am too excited. I put my feet up, have a little bit of a rest and a cuppa and then we then decide to take off for the city.
It is about 2pm. Walk to Kilburn station and catch the train. Kilburn is on the Jubilee line and Kylie explains the ticket system to me so that I can get around London. I was hoping that Kylie was going to get time off work to come around with me but she can’t so I am on my own – – that’s frightening! The underground is great. We have to change trains at Bond Street – on the Central line – and a short time later we are at St. Paul’s station. This is so exciting – – we emerge from the station and after a little walk – we arrive at St Paul’s Cathedral.
What an amazing place. The sun is out – the day is fine – blue skies; lots of photos outside but there are no photos allowed inside – so I buy a book. This is the start of a tradition. We follow the floor plan around and around.
HISTORY LESSON: A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604AD, a constant reminder to this great commercial centre of the importance of the spiritual side of life.
The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
In the crypt are effigies and fragments of stone that pre-date the Cathedral, relics of a medieval world. From Wren’s original vision, Jean Tijou’s beautiful wrought iron gates of 1700 still separate the quire from the ambulatory; children still test the acoustics in the Whispering Gallery; and the 1695 organ which Mendelssohn once played is still in use.
Of course Kylie has been here before but we see the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Wren. Lots of memorials to famous figures like Florence Nightingale and Lord Kitchener. I am sure we miss some things but never mind – I will be back.
When we leave there is a parade of sorts that is going right by the Cathedral. Not too sure what it is – but we discover it has something to do with the Fire Brigade during WWII. Anyway we watch the parade and head off.
First up Fleet Street & Trafalgar Square. I see The National Gallery and Nelson’s Column. The landscape photo option on the camera is working overtime.
On the left is a photo of Trafalgar Square with a statue of King Charles I. The photo on the right is still of Trafalgar Square but the steeple in the background is that of St Martins in the Fields.
Also in Trafalgar Square is Nelson’s Column. The column was built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton at a cost of £47,000. It is a Corinthian column built from Dartmoor granite.
The statue of Nelson is Craigleith sandstone and the four lions on the base, added in 1867, are of bronze. The pedestal is decorated with four bronze relief panels, each 5.5 metre square, cast from captured French guns.
They depict the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Death of Nelson at Trafalgar.
The whole monument is 51.6 metres tall from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson’s hat.
Next stop Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament. What great architecture. It is now 5.15pm. I have heard Big Ben chime. Considering it is late in the afternoon the sun is still brightly shining. The streets are busy with traffic and there are lots of tourists around. We still have a lot left to see and it will stay light for a while yet.
HISTORY LESSON: One of Westminster Palace’s most famous features is the clock tower that houses Big Ben. The Palace of Westminster is also known as the Houses of Parliament.
This is where the two Houses of Parliament (House of Lords and House of Commons) conduct their sittings. The Palace lies on the north bank of the Thames with the oldest part of the Palace still in existence, Westminster Hall, dating from 1097.
The Palace originally served as a royal residence but no monarch has lived in it since the 16th century. Most of the present structure dates from the 19th century, when the Palace was rebuilt after it was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1834.
Excitement plus.
There are statues of Richard I – The Lion Heart and Oliver Cromwell outside the Houses of Parliament. More photos. I can’t stop smiling.
Next stop Buckingham Palace. The Queen is not home and we do not get an invitation to afternoon tea but that doesn’t matter – we will look around and have tea next time.
Being a typical tourist – and I don’t regret a minute of it – Kylie takes my photo outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
The Queen Victoria monument is just outside the palace. Next St. James’ Park. A huge park situated right opposite Buckingham Palace in the middle of London. What a day!!
Went to Maccas for a quick snack and it cost ₤6.50 which is about $15.00. Boy, things are pretty expensive and I have just arrived! Will have to watch the old purse strings. There is a bit of rubbish lying around because there are no bins. Kylie said it is because of the IRA – they could put bombs in them and blow us all up!
Everyone is encouraged to take their rubbish home with them.
I am absolutely buggered when we arrive back at the flat. Excited – but dead tired. I have a nice hot shower and get into bed. It is 7.30pm – – –
Highlight of the Day : Seeing my girl again.