Advertisement
Published: July 27th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Sidewalk Gourmet Market
Wow! This is something we don't see back home! Departure day! Sad that the trip is over, but I think we’re all ready to go home. They needed to clean our flat for the incoming guests, so we packed up early (leaving our luggage) and went out for breakfast. Had some nice pastries in a French bakery (not as good as the ones that were in Paris, but still pretty good). Went on a brief hunt for magazines and were amused to find that they don’t seem to sell magazines in drug stores or book stores in London. We did eventually find a news stand by a tube station, but not an extensive selection. We moved on, confident there would be plenty of time and selection at Heathrow. Stopped by an intereresting sidewalk market on the way home where they were selling a wide variety of gourmet delicacies from around the world. The kids focused on cupcakes (American delicacy?) and we went with our mantra for the day: “It’s the last day of vacation - go for it!”. Home just in time to meet our car to Heathrow. Arrived and made it through security with plenty of time so sat down for a leisurely lunch. Made it to the gate
I'll Take That One
We'd already had breakfast at a nearby bakery, but how could we say "no" to this? at the appointed time for boarding and were greeted by an announcement that there was a mechanical problem with the plane and it would be 90 minutes before they knew just how bad it was. Not a good start. We settled in at the gate for a long wait but no sooner had we gotten comfortable and they announced that for security reasons, they were going to have re-locate us, so we trudged down to the other end of the terminal, now feeling like refugees. After 90 minutes they informed us that they had been able to locate a “replacement part” which meant there was some hope that we MIGHT be leaving. Three updates and another hour later, they called us for boarding! However we still weren’t allowed to go back to the gate where our plane was, so they loaded us onto busses and DROVE us the 100 feet back to the gate where our plane was parked. Feeling relieved, we were just settling into our seats when they made a very urgent-sounding announcement for the Heathrow ground crew to get off the plane immediately. A follow up announcement clarified that the crew was within minutes of exceeding their
Lovely Rental House with the Pink Door
Cute block in Chelsea. I guess it's time to say "Good-Bye" to London. Cheers! legal limit, and that they needed everyone seated immediately to get the doors closed or there would be no crew and the plane would not leave today. As you would expect, most people stopped fidgeting with their luggage and promptly sat down, but one woman sitting near us was completely oblivious to the announcement, the gesticulations, the numerous people trying to help her get her overhead bin closed and the screaming. She finally sat down and they pushed back from the gate. The crew told us (sounding audibly relieved) that we had made the deadline by less than a minute. Still a slightly crazy flight, but at least it continued steadily towards our destination from that point onward. We seemed surrounded by people who took all of the airlines rules as merely advisory - walking around when the seatbelt sign was on, letting their dogs out for some fresh air and attention, spending the majority of the flight standing in the aisle… but we made it. Back home, our neighbor was kind enough to offer a pick up and we made it home (to our furniture-less house) before dark. The same neighbors had thoughtfully stocked the refrigerator with some food
Stitches Removed
Actually, we did this while in Rome, but forgot to add it to the blog for that day. Both Andrew and John were very brave. and milk, which was a very welcome surprise. Good to be home - but everyone is missing the dog who won’t return until tomorrow. Probably won’t write a separate entry about his return though. It’s been fun writing this and we’re pleased to have heard that others have enjoyed reading it. The trip was everything we hoped it would be - busy, exciting, interesting. We return home with plenty to think about and remember from the trip and also with a different (hopefully wiser) view of the world.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.048s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 17; qc: 28; dbt: 0.0233s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Mark
non-member comment
Welcome Back
John, Just read about your travels. About to embark with my wife and two boys, 17 and 15, on a similar itinerary. So glad to read about your children's delights along the way (my younger boy is also looking forward to Big Ben and Eiffel Tower). Thanks for the reporting.