London Calling
We arrived Gatwick Airport last night around 8 p.m. While a “London” airport, it’s actually about 23 miles south of London. There are a lot of ways into the city and the easiest (but not the cheapest) is the Gatwick Express train. You get on inside of the airport then straight into London’s Victoria station. Cost is around 22 pounds or $28.
It’s kind of odd when you think about it, we went into the airport in Porto and with the exception of a 30 foot walk from a shuttle bus to a stair into the plane, we were inside from Portugal all the way to the subway station around 100 yards from our hotel.
It’s kind of odd when you think about it, we went into the airport in Porto and with the exception of a 30 foot walk from a shuttle bus to a stair into the plane, we were inside from Portugal all the way to the subway station around 100 yards from our hotel.
Earls Court
The subway, or “tube” in London uses a card called Oyster, which you tap on the turnstile then board your train. At the end station you tap out and exit and it charges you for the ride. We also learned that you can just use a tappable credit card instead. Ride from Victoria to Earls Court was around 2.30 pounds or around 3 bucks.
We check into our hotel in the Earls Court area of London. We consider this our neighborhood when we visit London. We know all the pubs and restaurants, and it has a few nice hotels. The best part is that the underground station goes straight to Heathrow Airport.
We check into our hotel in the Earls Court area of London. We consider this our neighborhood when we visit London. We know all the pubs and restaurants, and it has a few nice hotels. The best part is that the underground station goes straight to Heathrow Airport.
Tap in/tap out turnstiles at the tube station
After checking in we went to a Chinese restaurant around the corner that we last ate at four years ago. It’s not a “takeaway” or cheap Chinese restaurant. It is more of a “fancy” Chinese restaurant. It’s probably the best Asian food I’ve ever eaten. It was simply superb. It’s called “No. 10” and if you’re in Earls Court, you must stop by.
We head back to our hotel, the Indigo/Earls Court. Laurie had points so our stay is pretty much free. It’s quite nice and we’ll definitely stay here next time. We get a good night's sleep and head to the pub at the corner for breakfast. The food was good, and when we’re done we head to the underground.
We head back to our hotel, the Indigo/Earls Court. Laurie had points so our stay is pretty much free. It’s quite nice and we’ll definitely stay here next time. We get a good night's sleep and head to the pub at the corner for breakfast. The food was good, and when we’re done we head to the underground.
Portobello Road Market
We have a day to kill in London and we know the city well, having been here many times. We go to an outdoor market on Portobello Road, walk through Hyde Park, and visit a museum inside of Hyde Park. We walked a little less than 8 miles today.
Eventually we walk to a pub not terribly far from where we’re staying that we’ve visited before. It’s called the Scarsdale Tavern and I chose it specifically as it had outdoor seating with heaters. We enjoy a beer with the locals then walk back to the Earls Court area.
Eventually we walk to a pub not terribly far from where we’re staying that we’ve visited before. It’s called the Scarsdale Tavern and I chose it specifically as it had outdoor seating with heaters. We enjoy a beer with the locals then walk back to the Earls Court area.
The Courtfield Pub dining room
I scout the upstairs dining room of another pub that has few people called The Courtfield. The downstairs is quite busy but the dining room isn’t. We have purposely sought places that aren’t crowded. We’ve tried to eat outdoors when possible. We have a nice dinner of real fish and chips and a beef and ale pie. It was quite good! We then head back to our hotel, a block away.
We arrived home a couple of hours ago (Saturday night). I’ve mentioned how we have avoided people and sought out places that were not crowded or outdoors. We’ve also worn masks on public transit, in museums, and on airplanes. If it’s crowded, we have been very careful. We did the same on the plane.
We arrived home a couple of hours ago (Saturday night). I’ve mentioned how we have avoided people and sought out places that were not crowded or outdoors. We’ve also worn masks on public transit, in museums, and on airplanes. If it’s crowded, we have been very careful. We did the same on the plane.
Streets of London
We have a reason for such caution. Right before we left, a MRI found a mass in Laurie’s sinuses. She is scheduled for another surgery on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 9. We don’t know what the mass is and they’re hoping it’s a fluid filled cyst. But we cannot be sure until it is removed and tested.
We’ve tried to remain “in the moment” and not dwell on this during our trip. We found out about this just days before we left. Laurie still wanted to do the trip so we did. I wasn’t sure if I would write a blog or not but Laurie encouraged it and I’ve done it as often as I could, but not as often as I have in the past.
We’ve tried to remain “in the moment” and not dwell on this during our trip. We found out about this just days before we left. Laurie still wanted to do the trip so we did. I wasn’t sure if I would write a blog or not but Laurie encouraged it and I’ve done it as often as I could, but not as often as I have in the past.
London townhouses
It takes a lot of mental energy to write. It takes even more to write enthusiastically and comment on how a place affects you. This is hard with everything going on. This is the second holiday we’ve had to carry something like this with us and I struggle with that. I'm sure Laurie does too.
Laurie seems to have done well with it while I’ve had my moments but tried to keep them to myself. I’ll be masking at work on Monday and Tuesday morning as a precaution as so many we know in the states are battling COVID right now. We can’t risk delaying surgery by one of us having COVID or being sick with another respiratory illness.
I’ll post a wrap up from both of us in a week or so. Thanks for following along.
Laurie seems to have done well with it while I’ve had my moments but tried to keep them to myself. I’ll be masking at work on Monday and Tuesday morning as a precaution as so many we know in the states are battling COVID right now. We can’t risk delaying surgery by one of us having COVID or being sick with another respiratory illness.
I’ll post a wrap up from both of us in a week or so. Thanks for following along.