Saturday, May 28 — Look out, London…We’re here!

First, that had to be the fastest transatlantic flight ever. Dinner was served immediately following takeoff. Charlie opened up Oliver Twist, and I settled in for a movie. It seemed like mere minutes before they served breakfast. We actually arrived at Gatwick 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Immigration and baggage were a breeze, and the driver was waiting for us just outside baggage claim. We enjoyed the nearly one hour commute into London, and we were able to check into our apartment upon arrival. We were so excited……then, we crashed. Admitting that neither of us got much sleep on the flight, we opted for a nap before heading out to explore.

Our apartment is located on Bow Street in the heart of the old city. Stepping out the door, we have a great view of St. Paul’s. We headed that way and soon located the Ye Old London Pub.  Now, we have to admit that we’re starving…..and thirsty. We went in and found a quiet table. Service was painfully slow, but then, so are we. Charlie sampled the beers, and I was delighted to find, for the second time in my life, an establishment that carries only two brands of chardonnay….Small and Large.  We enjoyed two “sharring platters” — the Chip Shop Platter  and the Mini Pie Platter—-traditional fish and chips and a variety of small pies…Shephard’s, Beef & Ale, Beef & Kidney, and Chicken & Mushroom.  Did I mention the chips???? The price of potatoes in the UK will go straight up while we’re here…..

Following the meal, we walked around St. Pauls and contemplated going in only to find that we were 30 minutes from closing time. We opted for grocery shopping instead. No matter where we go….food will  always be a priority:-)

Tomorrow, we’re going to explore the city with the help of the London Big Bus Tour….the local “hop on – hop off” bus that stops at major attractions around the city. We love these and have found them to be a great way to get the initial “lay of the land.” For now, it’s nap time again:-) We’ll leave you with a couple of highlights from our first hours here.

I usually prefer the Large chardonnay, but when in London, you have to sample a pint.

Ta Ta!!