BBC calling from London

Hello and a cheerio to all!

Arrived safe and well after an initial mix up with seating at Mascot resulted in Jane and I being upgraded to Business Class - got to be the only way to fly!! Great food, great service and best of all, full size flat beds for sleeping which made the trip just that little bit easier. Had a brief stop over for an hour and a half in Singapore in which we had to get off the plane however, Jane and I were both missing our newly found appreciation of the finer ways to fly and were first in line to get back on the plane. From there, decadence continued with fine champagne, wine and gourmet meals which prepared us for the tranquil rest that ensued.



We arrived at Heathrow right on time, 5.45am local time on Tuesday 14/4, and managed to clear customs within 5 minutes due to express facilities provided to Business and First Class passengers on British Airways. Another 5 minutes to collect our baggage (express priority unloading) and we were on a train from Heathrow within 15 minutes of disembarking from the flight. Having seen the size of Heathrow Airport for the first time, and having since found out the number of flights and passengers they handle there each year, I am baffled as to why it takes so long to clear a flight at Mascot - nothing seemed to be an issue and there was no major interrogation before being "allowed" to collect your bags and actually leave.



So, as a grey dawn broke over Mother England, we were confronted by clean trains, friendly people, neat houses and a sense that perhaps there were still some decent Poms living in England rather than all having migrated to Australia.



We changed trains at Earls Court and got off at our destination, namely Bayswater which is nearby and about 10 mins by bus into Central London. Our backpacks weigh about 20 kgs each so we hefted them onto our backs, headed off from the railway station and had gone about 100 metres only to find we had arrived at our Hotel!! Thanks to Joanne (our good friend and Jane's colleague from Telstra) we had been advised to stay at a hotel called the Berjaya Eden Park Hotel (35-39 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater Tel. 44 20 7221 2220)



We walked in about 7am and were advised that not only was our room ready for us but that we had also been upgraded (there's that magic word again) to a suite. Our room is called the Eden Suite and consists of a bedroom with its own balcony and television, a dining/lounge area with a separate dining and lounge area (and another television) and a large bathroom which is all accessed from a mezzanine level entry into the suite. Both of us needed a hot shower to relax a little bit more after the hectic activities on the flight deciding which wines, champagnes and menu items to indulge in prior to arriving.



Once unpacked, we ventured off to the streets of Bayswater and the very first impression we gained was the melting pot of nationalities living in England. We experienced a virtual cacophony of languages ranging from the cultured tones of the utterly British, through the harshness of eastern block Russians, Ukrainians and Poles, to the velvet like romance of Italian and French, with just a little bit of polished Aussie drifting into our hearing each time we passed a quaint little English Pub!!



Seriously though, the (ethnic) mix of people here is incredible. For those readers who are seasoned travellers to this part of the world, I guess this is a no brainer however, remember this is a first for Jane and I so we resemble the proverbial "kids in the lolly shop".



With the assistance of well meaning locals, we found our way to Portobello Road (scenes of which, I am advised, were used in the Hugh Grant film "Notting Hill") and we spent quite a few hours wandering amongst the ecclectic and bohemian shopkeepers, stall holders and shoppers who all contribute to the reputation of this great little area.



From there, we wandered to Notting Hill and eventually found our way into Kensington Gardens which borders onto Hyde Park. We toured Kensington Palace, the past home of Princess Diana, and spent a short time strolling amongst the gorgeous gardens and lawns. From there, we headed back home and it was at this point that those little legs of Jane's finally gave out and with a sigh, a flick of the hair and a short, but sincere, "good night", Jane was no more that two eyes and a slightly tussled forehead peeping over the doona - gone to blissful sleep.



Day 2 saw us up early - me with a 6am teleconference with my project team for Uni and Jane just keen to get going after having a 14 hour cat nap!!!



Weather reports predicted a "scorcher" today with an expected top temperature of 20 degress celsius so after smearing ourselves in block out and zinc cream (NOT), we had a quick breakfast, then off to catch "The Big Bus Company of London" hop on - hop off tour. This turned out to be the best thing we could have done (25 pound each) and unlimited useage for 24 hours from the time you first get on. For any one intending to come over here, I suggest you use this service as they also offer discounted tickets for major attractions such as Madam Tussauds and The London Eye (which Jane and I took advantage of). Prices are very much cheaper if bought from the Tour Operators rather than at the venues and you receive express entry rather than having to queue up.



Anyway, we then did the usual tourist things including Madam Tussauds (which by the way is absolutely amazing - Jane got to meet and be photographed with John Travolta and Brad Pitt whilst I got to spar with Mohammed Ali, shared a joke with John Wayne and gave Johnny Wilkinson a gob full over the 2003 Rugby World Cup with a special mention of that bloody kick that gave them the win!). We have photos to prove all this of course, some of which will find their way onto this blog during our trip.



We continued on our way via Oxford and Regent Streets, famous for their shopping, and into Picadilly Circus (interesting point here - Circus is latin for circle, hence its use to discribe the circular designs of some areas such as Picadilly, Oxford and others.) Okay, I can hear some of you yawning but I found it interesting!!!!



On to Trafalgar Square, then via 10 Downing Street to Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. We then jumped on a boat and headed up the Thames on a river cruise to the Tower of London, along the way noting Shakespeares Globe Theatre (which is a accurate reproduction of Shakespeares actual theatre in which he performed) and other attractions including Southwark Cathedral and the HMS Belfast, the (then) longest ship commissioned by the British Navy which was built in the same dockyard in which the Titanic was built (although slightly more successfully in that the Belfast is still floating!).



Next, St Pauls Cathedral which really does need to be seen to be appreciated (quick note to Jane's mum - Judy, you would be very impressed if you how magnificent the inside of the Cathedral was). Then a quick look at the Tower of London and over the Tower Bridge (I kept looking up as we crossed the bridge expecting the head of Marie Antoinette to land on the roadway in front of us!)



Jane and I then cruised back up the river, onto another bus and this time found ourselves getting off at Buckingham Palace. Strangely disappointing when compared to other buildings within Central London. The magnificence with regard to the architecture and construction of some buildings tends to overshadow the Queen's Palace however, there still exists a sense of royalty and palatial existence when one views the Palace through the grids opf the security fences that surround same.



We walked around the exterior boundaries of the Palace, which takes up an expanse of land consisting of very many city blocks, and then moved on to Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall. All magnificent and absolutely mind boggling when one sees the conditions these buildings are in whilst remaining aware of how long they have been standing.



It was at this point that Jane's little legs got tired again, so we returned to our own Palace and then to a nearby typical English pub for a quick drink before indulging in a local Greek restaurant.



Overall, a busy day but well worth the effort and we both came away absolutely in awe with the history and expanse of London.



Today, the 16th, we woke to rain and an expected 11 degrees so we rugged up and headed to the London Eye, a 135 metre high Observation Wheel, which (on a clear day) has views for 25 miles in all directions around London. Due to rain, we only managed 23 miles however were informed by attendants that the 2 miles we couldn't see were mostly paddocks with not much to look at anyway.



This was great viewing over all of London and puts the travels we have done thus far into geographgical perspective. London really resembles Melbourne in the layout of streets and the ability to navigate between points (not to mention the weather as well).



The "flight" on The Eye takes about 30 minutes and Jane and I then walked home in the rain, stopping for lunch in Soho at another great little English Pub called the Red Lion. Interior of the pub was exactly as depicted on television programs filmed inside pubs over here, namely dark, claustrophobic, old world style timber and full of Pommies!!!. Food was fantastic and we then undertook classic tourist activity including strolling along Carnaby Street and other well known shopping areas.



It was at this point that we actually remembered you all, so we rushed home to complete this blog and give you all an update of what we have been up to for the past couple of days.



As you can see, it has been a relaxing, leisurely couple of days and we will be having a reasonably early night tonight in preparation for lunch tomorrow with Jane's friends Santino and Anna who welcomed a new baby into the world last Saturday.



We will continue posting updates and are looking forward to your comments and responses.



Our love to you all, have attached a couple of quick pics for your viewing.



Take care and thanks for reading the blog.



Jane and Rick.