I'm in the UK! I arrived
yesterday or was it earlier today? I’m a little jet lagged.
Some of you know I lived in London 34 years ago! It’s hard to
believe it, where has the time gone? Yet, I have a few ‘things’
to show for it that I never fathomed back then... namely wonderful adult children who
too have taken this trek!
In the intervening years, spurred on by the Olympics in 2012,
some parts of London have changed. Heathrow, for example, was unrecognizable, now a modern,
efficient airport that whisked me out the door in minutes. I hopped on the new,
purple luxury express train to Paddington station and in no time was near my
old haunts of Bayswater and Queensway.
Sitting at an outdoor café I enjoyed tea like I haven’t tasted
in years and breakfast, since Air Canada now only provides a muffin and
margarine! I sat and people watched and
harkened back to the days of my youth, remembering friends who had lived nearby
and all the adventures, good and not so good we experienced together. Some had experienced enormous sadness and challenges at
their young age and I wondered if they were even still alive. I realize those relationships grounded my memories of Britain. Sadly, I have lost
touch with them all.
The neighbourhood is more upscale now, having transitioned
from poor student hostels to high end hotels, not surprising given the quick
access to Kensington Park and Oxford Street.
When I went to pay my bill my money was declined! Apparently
the (unrecognizable to me) pound notes I bought in Canada were
replaced last month! I would have to go
to a bank and change them, but none were open on a Sunday.
With luggage in tow and little energy left I took the tube to
Kings Cross then a train to Canterbury, my destination for the next few days.
It was a relief to get out of the city and into the serene, verdant, pastures of rural
England with their tidy hedge bordered fields. Some were dotted with cows,
horses, sheep and lambs.
Arriving with throngs of other
tourists in Canterbury I found my hotel behind the with adjoining pub and carvery and
checked in to my teeny room, yet with all amenities.
Time to catch some zzzs. I’m sure there is more adventure
to come!
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