Saturday--Arrival in London

My flights were fine; arrived Charlotte early and departed on time.

I found US Airways seats are designed for smaller than normal people. Cramped is a kind description.

The Charlotte to London hop across the pond was close to 8 hours and was smooth sailing almost the entire trip. I had a seatmate who works for Microsoft and lives in York (I later found out). He spent most of the time watching MS training videos on his Zune. Managed to get a couple of hours snoozing overnight, proving it is possible to sleep sitting up with chin on hand.

We arrived on time at London Gatwick around 7:30 AM London time. My MS buddy had no checked bags, either and was heading for the Gatwick Express train, too. That made it easy for me to tag along and readily catch the train with limited waiting time. The GE destination is Victoria Station in London.

My MS friend (never introduced ourselves) went on his way to York and I found my way across the lobby to the washroom. It costs 30 pence to enter; I had coins from buying my train ticket and there's a change machine adjacent to the turnstiles so all was ducky in that department. It's hard to miss the restroom (washroom) location

Victoria Station is really an ancient building; the lobby has been modernized and has a jumbotron to go along with a huge digital display. Lots of people were moving through the lobby at 8:30 AM. I bought a breakfast roll with bacon and scrambled egg filling and a cup of tea then sat on a bench and watched people come and go while I ate breakfast.

Next task: get to the apartment (flat). I had written down the directions the owner, Tricia Robinson, had provided so I knew what to do. Leaving the trains I had to use the Underground (Tube). In other cities you'd call it the subway.

I stood in a queue at the ticket office for 5 minutes or so then bought a 7-day Oyster card for Zones 1 and 2. Thanks to Rick Steves I knew what to buy for the best deal.

Then I asked at the information desk and got directions to the north bound Victoria line platform to head north to Euston station, where I was to exit and board the Edgware line. All well and good except I went one station past where I was supposed to exit. No problem I left the train walked across the platform and went south to the proper station, caught the next train and exited at Chalk Farm.

Tricia sent a couple of excellent maps along with the keys so I knew to start walking up the hill. Took the scenic route through Eton College but soon arrived at Steele's Road. Here's a street view:

It wasn't far to the flat, Number 7:

On the way to the flat I was thrilled to see an electric car plugged in and charging--why don't we have these in the US?

I broke out my laptop when I got to the flat and opened my "flat info" document to figure out the keys--I have a collection of 4 on the key ring. It didn't take long to get in and climb the narrow staircase to the 4th floor flat. Each floor is one flat--I have the penthouse! Here's the view from the kitchen looking south to downtown:

It's a great little flat--a bedroom with queen bed, an office, living room/kitchen/bathroom and closet. Small but it has all the modern conveniences including wireless internet, HD TV and stereo. The furniture is comfortable and contemporary; nice art work on walls. Lots of pigeons drop by on the terrace rail and make pigeon sounds. I heard other birds this morning before sunrise but only saw one. It looked like a kingfisher. I've seen a few seagulls and heard their cries, too.

It's not far by shank's mare to the neighborhood shopping area. I had lunch and a pint at the pub down the street, the Hill. Lunch was a tasty salad with chicken strips with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

I had the intel from Tricia's "around the flat" doc so I knew there was a convenience store on England lane just one block up from my street. So after lunch I went grocery shopping and stocked up on a few breakfast items: cereal, bread, butter, bottle of wine. Just the necessities; the flat kitchen has a few staples left over from previous occupants.

I drowsed a bit while browsing the TV channels then did more research on music options nearby. I had noticed an Indian restaurant just around the corner that advertised take out food so I went to the Bombay Basement. It was down a flight of stairs from the street. It was only 5:40 PM and the restaurant didn't open until 6. The owner took my order and told me to come back in 20 minutes.

What better place to while away 20 minutes than a neighborhood pub? I had the Washington in mind near the convenience store but passed another in the same block as the convenience store, Steele's. Reversing course I went in and went to the bar (guide book says if you want to chat with locals that's what you do). I ordered up a half pint of Amstel, even though I've read that real men don't order halves just pints. Struck up a chat with Jerry, an older gent who seemed to know everyone. He had a talent for getting hugs from young women. He's been in the neighborhood nearby the pub for 26 years so he knows everyone and vice versa. I bought us a round then went to collect my dinner, promising to return Sunday at 4:30 to hear a good band.

The food was great and I have leftovers in the fridge. I read a bit from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a free download to my iPod from Amazon's Kindle app. Felt a bit odd reading about Victorian England on my 21st century device but hey, better living through technology, no?

I muddled around a bit more in a jet lag fog then hit the sack around my normal bed time of 9:30. Tomorrow (Sunday/today is when I'm writing this) is my first day of official London sightseeing!