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Published: January 2nd 2008
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Day 4 Saturday 20th January 2007
An early start with a taxi ride to the airport. The plane was delayed by 30mins but that just meant more time in the Duty Free section! Packed up our souvenirs and mailed them back to Australia so we wouldn’t have to lug them around the UK. When we boarded the plane we discovered that we were in the middle 2 seats of the middle section and had strangers on both our left and right sides so we were reliant on the strangers to get up and move about. Everytime they got up, we got up too. One bloke pretty much slept all the way so we didn’t want to disturb his sleep so thankfully the girl on the other side got up for frequent walkabout trips. On demand movies this time again made the flight not so long but we were awake for 22 hours so were pretty tired by the time we arrived in London. Our jackets came in handy when we first stepped out into the London weather. A complete change from the hot and humid conditions of Singapore. We were greeted by a lovely driver from Reed Health who took
Buckingham Palace
Peace and I were disappointed the Queen wasn't in! very good care of us. He was a good source of information and pointed out many of the London sights as we drove from the Airport to the Royal National Hotel. Once we received our keys to our room we were gob-smacked by how many rooms there were and could not work out their numbering system, getting completely lost and not being able to find our room. Once we got our bearings we discovered we were on the wrong side of the hotel and had to carry our bags for what seemed like forever across to the other side of the hotel and eventually to our room. Opened the door and walked straight into a furnace, it was so hot in the room and we couldn’t control the heating! Slept in our summer PJ’s that night.
Day 5 Sunday 21st January 2007
Awoke to a very cold London morning, though the locals keep telling us how mild the weather has been for winter, I’d hate to think what a cold winter would feel like! Caught the tube to Westminster Abbey where we were meeting Michelle and Denise McKensie from Leeton. Unfortunately we arrived to late to go into
the church but took the time to have a look around Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Waited in the Westminster Abbey souvenir shop for the McKensies and meet a lovely security guard. He was very concerned that we had missed our guests and asked for a description of who we were waiting for and entered into the church to see if he could see anyone fitting the description. He came out saying that there was no-one in the church and that we might be at the wrong church. We decided to head back to the tube station when the phone rang and it was Michelle, with Phil the security guard. He had found the McKensies and told them that Belinda was waiting for them but had just left. We eventually met up outside the Big Ben and had a laugh about Phil the Security Guard (Greetings if you’re reading this security guard Phil!). We walked up towards Trafalgar Square, passing along the way Number 10 Downing Street and Calvery House, where the horses are situated for the changing of the guard. After lunch we headed off over Hungerford Bridge, crossing the River Thames to go on the London
Eye as it had cleared up to be a nice, sunny day. I was very thankful Mrs McKensie was in the same gondola as us she pointed out a lot of the sights of London and gave us a good orientation to the city and its history. We then strolled along the River Thames back to Westminster Bridge and the Big Ben. Here we decided it was time to go visit the Queen for afternoon tea and scones. Unfortunately when we arrived the Queen was unavailable so we had to make do looking at the Australia gates and the Queen Victoria statue instead. We then said our goodbyes and Peace and I headed off down the red road (so they don’t have to bring out the red carpet everytime the Queen arrives back at her house) of the Mall through Admiralty Arch and back to Trafalgar Square to meet my cousin, Andrew. He took us on a guided tour to Leicester Square where the Premier of Dream Girls at the Odeon Cinema was just about to happen. Unfortunately time wasn’t on our side and we had to leave before the stars arrived but we did get to see the infamous
paparazzi!!! and all the glitz and glamour of a film premier. Next it was off to see the advertisements at Piccadilly Circus. Just like you see in the movies! We saw the statue of Eros but no true love around so will have to return when this occurs! Back on the tube to Russell Square where we meet our fellow Contiki travellers for the first time and met our tour manager and bus driver. Had dinner and some pints with Andrew and a fellow Contiki traveller, Sam at the London Pub. Was great to see Andrew again after having not seen him for nearly 2 years but was a little disappointed that he sounded more like a Pom than an Aussie but will have to teach him how to talk again when I get back. After Andrew left we returned back to the furnace and packed our bags ready to go and explore Europe!
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