Day One - Arrival in London and Early Exploration
After a brief detour by way of Chicago (Hello!? That's the wrong direction), we were on our way aboard a United Airlines 747 en route to Heathrow.
"I have a premonition about this flight."The flight itself was a little disappointing, as we had been accustomed to the very nice entertainment system we had experienced on (the now defunct) Northwest Airlines during our previous trip to Europe. Rather than on-demand films and games, we were given a strict schedule and only a few films to choose from. I chose Premonition, which wasn't the best film in the world, but it served its purpose for this occasion.
It was an overnight flight and we were able to sleep a decent amount, making for a pretty nice flight overall. However, as we approached London, some excitement ensued, as the aircraft was struck by lightning. Twice! We saw a couple of very bright flashes of light, each accompanied by a loud "crack," but no damage was done.
The tube system was quite easy to navigate -- perhaps the best I've encountered -- and we made our way to Barkston Gardens Hotel, which was a decent room with a fantastic location; just around the corner from the Earl's Court Underground station.
We found a nice man inside a nearby pub and inquired about a place to eat. He recommended the Troubadour. It was a fine choice and we enjoyed our meal before returning to the hotel for a change of clothes and a little rest.
With Knightsbridge being within walking distance and the tube issues at the moment, this would be a good night to visit Harrods.
Harrods
(Click to Enlarge)
London's most famous department store is named after Charles Henry Harrod, who opened a family grocers shop on the site in 1849. The shop has grown to become the destination for expensive and glamourous shopping, priding itself on its motto Omnia Omnibus Ubique -- All things, for all people, everywhere. Bought by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed in 1985, the seven-storey building sits upon 4.5 acres and is illuminated by 11,500 lightbulbs.
On our way back, we noticed a very large crowd gathering on a corner, generating quite a good deal of excitement. We crept up close enough to ask a few people what the commotion was about and it turns out that J.K. Rowling was there for a live reading and book signing at the Natural History Museum, to begin at midnight, when the latest Harry Potter book officially went on sale.
Making our way past the euphoric masses, we grabbed a quick bite at Pizza Organic and then headed to a Sainsbury's grocery store for some supplies. As we shopped, we heard many young women scream with delight as their books were scanned and paid for.
Back at the hotel, we settled in for the night. We were finally in London.
