This and That

I've been reflecting the past few weeks on this blog and all the great experiences that I had on my trip, then I realized I left out some interesting tidbits of info. Maybe no one else will be interested, but I'll record these for posterity anyway.

* All of the public bathrooms that I used in the U.K. (and Paris, too) had total privacy doors. As in, there were NO cracks anywhere around the door where anyone could peek in. I loved it and wondered why the U.S. can't do the same. I think that public restroom doors in the U.S. were designed by perverts. Seriously.

* If you plan on using the bathroom there at a train station (including the tube and metro), have some coins ready because it's going to cost you.

* As long as we're on the subject of bathrooms/restrooms, if you need to use one, don't ask anyone to direct you to the bathroom or restroom. They'll look at you like you've grown two extra heads and smell really foul. Just ask them to direct you to the toilet or the loo.

* I promise -- this is my last entry regarding bathrooms. I think. Anyway, the toilets are quite different from those in the U.S. They are extremely deep from the seat to the water reservoir where waste lands. This results in no "splash backs" if you know what I mean. And the flush handle? There usually isn't one. Instead, it's a button on the top of the water tank.

* When riding the tube (or subway) in London, there is usually a small gap between the platform and the train. They remind you of this by announcing "Mind the gap." Same thing for the overland trains.

* Whenever you have to take a taxi, don't call them cabs. No one will know what you mean.

* When a taxi driver stops to pick you up, don't automatically try to get into the back seat. They'll roll down the passenger-side window first to find out where you're going before they let you in their taxi.

* When you're driving -- sitting at a stoplight, there is one main difference from how it works in the States. In the U.S., the light turns from red to green. In the U.K., the light turns from red to yellow to green. The yellow signals that drivers should rev their engines so as soon as the light turns green, they're off!! Reminded me of being at the racetrack, or should I say, being a driver ON the racetrack.

* In London, when you're waiting to cross the street at a traffic light, look down. Painted on the road in large letters will be "Look right," to remind you which way the cars are coming from. If you get to a median in the middle, on the road will be painted, "Look left." I was thankful for this reminder more than once.

* Almost everywhere I went in England, if I was driving or someone else was driving, you have to pay to park. And it's not a simple coin-operated machine at the front of your parking space. It's a large machine, usually at the far end from where you've parked (or on another floor if it's a multi-floor parking garage). Wherever it's located, you are obligated to find it, pay your money (exact change only; some of them take credit cards), take the ticket it spits out at you, then walk back to your vehicle wherever it may be and place the ticket inside the car on the front dashboard where it can be seen.

When I spent a couple of hours in Bourton-on-the-Water, I got sick and had to leave with two hours of paid parking still left on my ticket. Parking was at a premium that day (i.e., hard to come by), and I'd no sooner gotten in my car then another car sat, waiting for me to leave so he could get my space. I grabbed my ticket, got out of the car, walked back to the waiting car and handed the driver my ticket, saying, "Thought you might want to use it since it's already paid for." He and his wife thanked me profusely. They also looked shocked.

* I think no matter where we travel in the world, we're all pretty much the same deep down. While on the tube one afternoon, I surreptitiously watched a father and son have a conversation in a language that I had no clue what they were saying. Tone and body language said it all, though, and I could figure out about 80-90% of what they were discussing by those two alone. Words? Who needs 'em.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure there will be more as I reflect on it.

Day 23 -- 16 May 2013 -- Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

For the first time since I had arrived overseas, I set my alarm. My flight left at 11:30 a.m. from Gatwick so I had to allow time for last-minute packing, showering, eating my last scrumptious breakfast at The Rubens, taxi time to Victoria Station, and the train ride out to the airport, not to mention check-in and going through security. It was a very early wakeup.

Good to say that everything went smoothly. I was excited to go home and see my family. I was excited to see what they thought of the souvenirs they had received in the packages, and how they'd like the things I was bringing with me. Yet I still wished I could extend the trip by a week or two. I didn't want to leave, but as my daughter sometimes says, "We don't always get what we want."

In this final post of my trip of a lifetime, I'll leave you with these parting shots. Since I had taken a photo of the airplane that carried me to this wonderful country, it was only fitting that I get a photo of the one taking me back to the States. Who knows? It could have been the exact same plane. Guess I'll never know, huh.

And this gangplank out to the bird has got to be the longest I've ever walked. Ever.

 

At 4:15 p.m. local time, I arrived back in Florida. Customs was a much nicer experience than when I had arrived in England. The customs officer smiled at me and said, "Let me be the first to welcome you back home."

 

Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me in reading this blog. I know I should have had it up much sooner, and finished earlier than I did. Oh, well. Such is life. Finished now it is (thanks, Yoda). I sincerely hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed reliving it all through the narrative and photos.

 

One postscript: one of the TwiMoms I mentioned in my York post has always wanted to go to Edinburgh, Scotland. It's been a lifelong dream of hers. After reading of my adventures--along with Judith and Amanda and HM--here on the blog, this dear lady has decided to make her dream come true and is now planning a trip to Edinburgh. I was beyond thrilled when I learned of this.

 

With that in mind, may you decide to take life by the horns and make your dreams come true.

Au revoir. 

 





Day 22 -- 15 May 2013, Part 3 -- Last Day in London, Victoria Station

Before heading back to my room and then out to dinner, I wanted to drop by Victoria Station where I would take the Gatwick Express train the next morning to Gatwick Airport.

Victoria Station is where my adventure began in London. It's where I got lost on arrival, and a kind station worker loaded me and my excessive luggage up onto his oversize golf-cart-type vehicle and drove me through hoards of travelers directly to the taxi stand. It's where I bought my first phone for use strictly in the U.K.; where I could buy a nice dinner, a snack, or delicious pain au chocolat; and where I mistakenly caught the overland train instead of the tube when I ventured out my second day in London. The place is huge and bustling and it's easy to get stampeded if you don't watch out. I wanted photos of it all so I could share just the tiniest bit with people who have never been or may never see the place.

 

The board showing all the departures and what platform they're on.

I was shocked to see that they had Burger King in the U.K.!

My platform for the following morning.

 

I'd been taking photos for a few minutes when I got some intense stares from security personnel. I guess they can't be too careful about anyone.

I caught this place at a fairly slow time because it was usually jam-packed. I was nearly run over more than once. By humans.

 

The next morning I would be heading out that way and not returning for some time. The thought made me too sad to dwell on, so I had to reflect on all the time I had been blessed to visit three countries, and all the amazing adventures I was privileged to experience. Truthfully, I can't wait to go back.



Day 22 -- 15 May 2013, Part 2 -- Last Full Day in London, St. James Park

Directly after I left Westminster Abbey, I headed over to St. James Park. If I remember the story correctly, when King George ruled, he wanted a place where he could swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter just outside his door at Buckingham Palace, and he wanted it filled with beauty. This is how the park came to be. 

 

Multitudes of tulips and various other flowers bloomed, and the place looked gorgeous no matter where I looked. Feast your eyes on the beautiful photos. I promise there are zero calories involved. Two warnings, though. If you hate flowers or nature in general, turn back now. I won't be offended.

Second, if you're an artist like me and you'd like to paint something based on any of these photos, let me remind you that I own the copyright and you have to get my permission first--otherwise, you'll end up paying me a whole lot of money when I legally remind you of that copyright.

Otherwise, enjoy!!

 

There are more flowers to come, but first--some greenery to rest your eyes.

Pelicans in London?? Who knew?!?

Across a lake and acres away, that gold atop Queen Victoria's fountain still shines!

I learned that all the swans in England officially belong to Queen Elizabeth. I wonder if the birds know this? Anyway, it is against the law to kill a swan. That I can agree with.

Just out of the photo to the right is a man with a large bag who had been feeding the birds. When he started to leave, so did they. I tried to catch them in flight but wasn't too successful. Anyway, there were several birds sitting on the fence. I noticed, though, down along the fence amongst the birds sat one lone squirrel. Him I did manage to capture in a photo.

The man with the feed is walking away. Looks like the squirrel might try to follow?

This café was in the park itself and overlooked the lake. I grabbed a snack here--Rose Lemonade and molten chocolate cake. Once again, died and gone to heaven. Both treats could be positively addictive. The café even had woolen blankets at the outside tables to pull over your lap. Sat outside--used the blanket.

If you look carefully through the trees, this was the view as I enjoyed my goodies. Zoomed in more in the second photo.

 

The variety and colors of the water fowl fascinated me.

Can you believe the shoes on this guy?! Oh, his other foot? Tucked up underneath him. Still. Look at that foot. Crazy, huh!

Beautiful brown in the feathers, but doesn't that beak just draw you in?!

Though my eyes are pulled to the glowing gold of this duck's feathers, look over to the left and you can now see both feet of the bird we saw earlier.

Swans are so regal. I guess it's because they're the property of the Queen? Nah.

Trust me; I was not that close to this guy. Or to any of the birds. It's only because of the camera's incredible zoom feature that I was able to capture them in this much detail. He still looks like he has a "will you puh-leaze just go away" look to his face. He settled down shortly after this and closed his eyes. Really.

 

See, I didn't lie.

Some parting shots of the park as I got closer to the palace.

 

I sat on a bench for a while and thought I could hear drumming. When I finally left the park, I followed the noise and found these military guys marching and playing. It looked like they were practicing for something. Kinda cool.

 

I have just a few more photos left of what I did on my last day, but I'll save them for a very short post. You'll see why.

I hope you enjoyed the flowers and birds and St. James Park. Turned out to be one of my favorite places in London.