Tag: london

Flying Emirates to London

Early Morning Dubai Airport

Packed and ready to fly Emirates to London via Dubai. A surprise visit by my family calling in with food for a brief goodbye party before I left to go traveling again. One of those special moments that we all appreciate. After they left, all I had to do was wait for the chauffeur that came with the business class ticket I had booked with Emirates. At least I didn’t have to ask any of the kids to take me out to the airport with its traffic problems and parking. It will be different when I return because it will mean someone having to be at the airport for the sunrise.

Excitedly looking forward to being able to check in through the business class line, then heading up to the Emirates lounge for relaxation before boarding the flight to London.  The airline has a great reputation as one of the top airlines in this part of the world. The flight was going via Melbourne, Australia, and Dubai in UAE so a couple of stops. Their lounge was way better than traipsing around the duty-free shops. A wonderful display of food fit for a king, preparation for the flight to come!

The first leg to Melbourne I was disappointed that the crew wasn’t particularly friendly. I suppose they were so busy they didn’t have time, it appeared to be a case of working to rote, getting everyone served because of the short flight time. Overall, I didn’t find any of the crews to be that friendly. The Melbourne-Dubai leg better, and Dubai-London pretty average

Seeing the huge new Dubai airport was certainly a wow, it had been some years since passing through this hub. Obviously, still work in progress but everything bright and shiny and massive. Arriving into Gatwick airport, of course, rain, and very cold as the Beast of the East weather pattern was still hanging around. I was grateful for the chauffeur drive into the hotel in London. I was so tired my eyes were permanently open! It was brilliant having the chauffeur service, it took all the hassle out of changing buses and trains. It was quite literally the best part of the Emirates experience, with a pleasant chatty driver, the long drive was interesting

My favorite hotel when I stay in London is the European in Kings Cross where it’s so handy to the trains, shops, and eateries. Check in was easy, although, despite a request for a downstairs room, someone hadn’t done so. Some quick scurrying located my favorite room on the ground floor, I have had it a couple of times here, a lovely large, inexpensive room for London on the ground floor. I find stairs a problem these days. I walked down the street towards Kings Cross in an effort to adjust to the jet lag, but a waste of time. Heading back to the hotel to face a broken nights sleep.

The new Dubai Airport halls
Emirates aircraft

 

Last day in London

Statue
Statue
Thatched cottage
Thatched cottage

Today was going to be my last in the Uk and for me sad, I love england and don’t really want to go home despite family being there.
I took the inbound train to Blackfriars station,and made my way to the temple station to start the day. The reason was the temple area has been occupied in some form or another since the 1100’s. History ,I love and when you see something like this you  can only marvel at what men achieved before ,with what we consider modern know how. I suspect they may have known a lot more than we actually give them  credit for. You only have to see the number of  ‘old buildings’ in London alone that stand today  to wonder about building methods that out last anything todays’ builders can do.

After admiring these I found myself in Fleet street, a very famous street in the past as a newspaper publishing and journalists haven. It started to rain so I ducked into Starbucks for a coffee and a wifi fix. By the time I had finished both the rain had stopped and there were the sunny skies again. You can only wonder at the english weather and marvel at the number of seasons in a day!
Walking down here I was treated to the sight of a sole survivor of the london fires that demolished some much of the city in the 1600’s. A fascinating little place, and a living monument to those that lost their lives in the Great fire.
Todays’ goal was to see St Pauls’ cathedral. I stopped and wandered around one of the oldest churches in london. There was a service in progress so I took time to listen, and after a brief look around the building.

One of the sights of London I had wanted to see for a long time was the Cleopatras Needle alongside the Thames. Using my trusty map when I remembered I had it I was soon there. Fascinating, and at the same time concerning, how something built for the eastern climate manages the English weather. It seems to as it has been next to the river for a long time. While standing admiring this  marvel ,
 I figured while I was here I might as well go and see the London eye, there was absolutely no way I was going to go in this gigantic ferris wheel contraption and be suspended for the hour it took  to do the loop above London. Crossing the Jubilee bridge for great views of the river and all the old buildings brought me to the South bank of the river.
I was taken by surprise by the presentation of this part of London and the numbers of people just enjoying themselves. Although the large queues at the eye would hardly call it enjoyment. There were buskers ,and photo ops galore as long as you were prepared to pay for it. Some just plain greedy like the guy playing the steel drums, I didn’t think particularly well , but the sound is certainly distinctive. We were treated to a ten minute Shakespeare production like I have never seen. It was enjoyed by all who saw it. A great pity there were passersby who spoiled it by walking through the middle while the actors were providing the entertainment. After leaving here it was back to the goal of the day.

By this time I was totally lost in so much as which direction to go. Finding the streets on the map hard to read , I really must get some new specs when I get home.As usual I went just where ever I felt was right! This time I ended up crossing one of the bridges over the Thames. What great views of Tower bridge as well as the tower of London, we visited here last time we were in London. Blue skies the order of the day now . The bells from one of the churches ringing, the noises of cars and people melted in to London. I stopped for photos along the way, by this time I hadn’t any idea where I was until a signpost that said St Pauls this way, ah, the relief! I made my way to the cathedral   following the signs.
I have seen many churches ,cathedrals and abbeys on this trip but St Pauls’ lived up to its name. Truly a sight to behold. Best of all there was an organ recital  within the hour. The day was nearly gone, but I stayed to listen to the recital, only a half hour, magnificent on the cathedral organ.

Strangely as I was heading back I found I had been right around and was essentially where I started the day. Yet another church ,this time a choir at its practice. Beneath the church crypts  from long ago presented for todays people. These gave me the creeps for some reason and I didn’t linger in them. Strange really as I have now been in some very strange places and huge depths like the salt mines in Poland,but for these, I couldn’t stay in  them.
Finding the way back to the trains easy and back to the hotel/hostel and to pack for the next day when I leave for Vienna. Flying with Easyjet I feel like a traitor for not using the trains but they are becoming very expensive, and flying  on this occasion much cheaper.