Lily's London Adventure: Hitting the Ground Running

Hey there, MFG Faithful (all six or seven of you)! I’m back from a short trip across “The Pond.” And let me tell you…London as a tourist is a ton of fun! I haven’t been back to one of my favorite cities since I went there on business in 2000. Back then, I saw London from a cab as I toured 12 hotels in two or three days. Not much fun and not very educational. When Lenny and I were given the opportunity to spend his Spring Break there, we jumped.

Being a complete “Experience-phile,” I could not wait to soak in what London had to offer. And who really could blame me? It’s one of the world’s oldest cities. It was a chance to people watch in a whole different venue. Despite the vast similarities of western cultures – it was a whole new football pitch.

In short: We weren’t in Kansas anymore!

This week’s entries will be a little travelogue of my vacation in London. I saw and experienced just a taste of what London has to offer in the few days that I was there. But for a curious observer of life like me, it was the experience of a lifetime! So, I hope that you enjoy these entries as much as I enjoyed the trip!

(Picture: Me in awe of Kensington Palace)

After the 9-hour, overnight flight, Lenny and I hit the ground running at Heathrow Airport. Almost immediately, we were immersed in the joy that is London Public Transportation. Taking a cab into London proper is travel budget suicide. Most travelers know that the best way into town is taking the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station in Central London. The short 20-minute journey gave Lenny and I glimpse at what “real life” in London is really like.

“Graffiti is a Universal Thing.”

The area surrounding London is a mix of England’s version of suburbia, dotted with urban decay. Once the train left the confines of the airport, the first things I saw were rolling hills of green. The houses were tightly knit together, but the spaces in between were huge! To me it was like a rolling countryside as a number of cottages and brownstones whizzed by.

But then, as we got closer to the edge of the city and the industrial area, the urbanity of the location started to set in. Just like here in the U.S., graffiti is the media of choice for the urban rebel. The walls lining the railway were riddled with a myriad of tags and signs. As I looked out the window, I kind of chuckled that youthful aggression was the same no matter where I went.

The trained slowed and pulled into Paddington Station. Having never been to New York, my mind figured that this is what going to Grand Central Station must be like. Stepping off the train, I looked up at the gorgeous frosted glass and wrought iron ceiling. The station itself was modern and sleek. Travelers and business persons alike rushed about the station trying to get to various platforms. Normally, I shrink at huge crowds and busy areas. But somehow, this was an easy fit for me. We maneuvered about easily and made our way to the main concourse.

Because of the station name, I immediately thought about my two nephews. I joked to Lenny, “We should get the boys little Paddington Bears.” In an incredible piece of timing (and great positioning), Lenny pointed a short distance away. Paddington Station had a Paddington Bear Cart! I picked up two little keepsake bears that I hope the boys will enjoy for years. Tucking those away, we caught a cab to our hotel.

“Did I Warn You About the Rooms?”

Thanks to a sweet package deal, Lenny and I were staying in a section of London called Kensington. Having worked in the hotel industry, I knew what we were in for was not a typical American experience. Man, I hate it when I’m right!

(Picture: The view from the door of the hotel room)

This room (minus the bathroom space) was smaller than my guest room here in my house! I called housekeeping to borrow an iron and ironing board, and that took up half the free space! But, since a vacation hotel is merely someplace to crash at the end of the night…it was perfect. After figuring out where to put the luggage, we headed right back out to walk the neighborhood.

“It’s Like Boston, Except Way Older.”

If the name Kensington sounds familiar, you’re probably remembering Kensington Palace. This is where Princess Diana lived when she divorced Charles. But the palace is merely a footnote in Kensington Gardens. This 260 acre park is home not only to Kensington Palace, but too many monuments and hidden treasures.

Lenny and I spent about two and a half hours walking the grounds. It was a very crisp winter-like day…the kind I enjoy. I was so happy that I could wear my scarf, gloves, and pea coat. You just don’t get to do those things very often in Arizona.

As we walked through the park, I couldn’t help but compare London to one of my other favorite cities, Boston. All the buildings had wonderful architecture. The crown moldings, the bricks, and classic design. There’s just something about being surrounded by things that have a historical value. You don’t get this kind stuff in the U.S. unless you’re on the East Coast, where the pioneering of our country began. But even then, half the buildings I saw on my walk were older than cities here in the U.S.

While walking, we strolled through the Italian Fountains, found the Peter Pan statue, stopped by the Prince Albert Memorial, were accosted by pan-handling squirrels, and pretty much just enjoyed the scenery. It was great to know that all of the pains and hassles of work and our regular lives were 5,000-plus miles away. And we could really just enjoy ourselves. It was just really refreshing.

(Picture: Peter Pan and one of his many fans)

“We’ve Heard More French Here…”

The walk back to the hotel in the middle of rush hour was a learning experience. Well, heck…crossing the street was an experience. Since they British drive on the other side of the road, we had to remember to look the OTHER direction before crossing the street. Luckily, the British paint “Look to the right/left” on the ground. They figure tourists getting hit by double-decker buses is a bad thing.

But the walk also provided Lenny and me with an interesting observation. London is more of a melting pot than any city we’ve every seen. In two blocks, we heard more languages than either of us could fathom. There was Indian, Italian, Spanish, German, and more French than you could shake a stick at! Even the restaurants we passed by were a line of international choices! I wondered how we would ever decide where or what to eat!

However, on this night…we didn’t have to. French-Japanese fusion cuisine...here we come! But that’s another blog for another night!