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Published: August 10th 2006
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London is a multicultural affair, it's the Metropolis...... visiting London is like visiting the whole world at once.... You can hear any one of the languages & see or meet someone from just about every country. It's a bustling, exciting centre where all can find their niche.... the traveller, the businessman, or the party goer... Always busy day and night, there's something to do or somewhere to go.... and you never know who you might meet!
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Hi All, quick update so you all know I'm Ok.
10th Aug 06
You may have heard about the 10 passenger planes, which were due to depart for the US from London last night. The flights were intercepted due to a threat of liquid explosives being carried on board... Anyway, all flights into/out of London today have been cancelled, including mine to Barcelona.
After spending 4 hours at the travel agent's sorting out a new flight, I've now got a direct flight into Marrakesh, Morocco, where I'll wait a couple of days to meet up with Rose and her friend. We're going to make our way up through Morocco and across with the ferry to Spain.
13th Aug 06
After spending
Bar hopping in London
Michaela, left, a friend from primary school, who´s been living in Wales for a while. Dave on the right, another Aussie we met the day before, who carried us both on his shoulders walking down the street because our feet hurt (one by one, that is)... Due to his height, I told him it was just like being on a camel again. :) 3 days in London, awaiting my new flight, I finally headed to Heathrow airport yesterday morning for the second time round, keeping my fingers crossed that I would fly on this day. The staff at the airport had to comply with new strict security measures for hand luggage, as well as dealing with crowd control in the terminals... it was crowded, things were moving pretty slow, but my patience endured the 3 hours of sitting on my luggage trolley outside terminal 1. I didn't move from my spot, strategically located near a set of sliding doors, ready for a quick escape. I'd had the foresight to bring food and water for the day. Smart. Finally my flight was called up at about 2pm, and I proceeded to the security gates, where I was let in with only a plastic bag containing my travel documents. All passengers have had to check in all luggage and hand luggage items since last Thursday. I'd spent a good hour or so getting through the checks, and then another 1.5 hours awaiting the boarding announcement. By this stage our flight was running 1 hour behind schedule. When we did eventually board, we had to spend
Coll and I at a Thai restaurant
The green curry was amazing. For those who don´t know, curry is UK´s national dish now... but I guess that might be Indian curry. Colleen and I worked at the Geebung together back home. a further hour sitting on the plane waiting for a slot to fly off.
I arrived into Marrakesh late last night, a bit worried as I'd had no luck in pre-booking accommodation. Luckily, I'd started a random conversation with a girl next to me at the airport, and as it turned out she was going to the same hotel as me. We caught a taxi together. Just to top things up, the hotel was completely full. I had no energy or nerves left by this stage to deal with the new situation. Luckily, my new friend who had a pre-booked room offered me a spot on her floor, which I gladly accepted. Yeay! I did not have to sleep in the streets of Morocco. It was a very comfortable floor, I had many blankets at my disposal.
14th Aug 06
I now await the arrival of Rose and her friend.
After sneaking out of the hotel room, I checked my luggage into reception. Tonight I have the option of sleeping under the stars on the rooftop of the hotel with 30 others or taking a bed in their grotty dormatory. It's damn hot in Morocco, and even at night
At the British museum
believe it or not... these are actual mummyfied cats! from Egypt. I wander what the little one on the left might be? Hmm it's relatively warm outside... I'm considering the rooftop terrace.
02 - 09th Aug 06
I'm taking you back in time to the beginning of my week in London now.
Leaving Bulgaria after a 2-month homestay felt like I was leaving for the first time to go on my big trip round-the-world. I was nervous. So nervous and excited, in fact, that I couldn't sleep the night before my flight. I get like this all the time, it doesn't take much to get my blood rushing. he!
I spent the first couple of days in a hostel at Kings Cross (you know, the station that got bombed last year). I teamed up with another museum nerd like me, Lauren from Salt Lake City, and we went exploring the National Art Gallery and Portrait Gallery. Lauren is an opera singer. We walked from Kings Cross all the way to Big Ben and Trafalger Square, then back to Kings Cross. We were so sore. The next day we did it all again.
On my third day Mihaela, my friend from primary school in BG, who similarly has lived in Australia (Sydney) since childhood, arrived from Wales. We spent a crazy weekend bar-hopping in London together. After a couple of nights out with no sleep, we caught the bus to Cardiff, Wales, where I spent the next 3 day staying with her at her apartment. We did little more than catching up on sleep, eating and vegitating, really.
I then returned to London for one more day prior to my scheduled flight to Barcelona. I don't remember what I did on this day, oh yeah.... I wasted it somehow. Then the next day I headed to the airport, just to be turned back as I arrived there. My flight had been cancelled.
The rest of the day and the next day I was at the travel agent's office arranging my new flight.
I spent Friday and Saturday night at the hostel. I could not be bothered making the effort to go out.
On my last day I visited the British Museum. It was great, but I'd got up too late and I only got to see a portion of the exhibits. After muddling about looking at treasures, I realised I had little time left and I raced through the Egyptian section to see the mummies, mad! Then raced to the ancient Greece section and saw the sculptures from the Parthenon freeze. Nice. I really need to go back and see the rest. I can't believe how much stuff they have in this museum. It's seriously like a timeline of Man, there's a bit of everything from every century, epoch, dynasty, kingdom, empire, etc... wow
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Groog the massage man.
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Jealous
Wish I was going to Morocco.. you are lucky.. its a place of beauty and wonder. Make sure you take loads of pictures there!!! It is really colourful there.... And the Atlas mountains are great to see.... Have Fun!!! Groog