Recalling London

Day Ten - Our fond farewell

We finished packing after our morning ablutions, then hopped a cab for Piccadilly Station. Within minutes we were boarding the Heathrow Express, which brought us from downtown London to Heathrow in 15 minutes flat. We had allowed plenty of extra time for security, but after a short wait we were through the checkpoint. To kill the new-found free time, we decided to do a little duty-free shopping. We looked around for a while, and in the end purchased more booze, as if the three bottles we were already bringing back weren't enough. At the prices they had on some things, the only reason we didn't get more was the difficulty of carrying everything around.

Duty-free booty in hand, we set off in search of our gate, which turned out quite some distance away. We had hoped that there would be a place nearby where we could buy drinking water for the flight, but that was not to be. So, still having some extra time, I headed back to the stores to get some water and get rid of some of the extra British currency we had on us.

As it turns out, not only was it a long way back, but they also have a security check for people coming back from the gates. (Oddly enough, I didn't have to go back through security after I had purchased my water.) Luckily, the security people were quick, and they directed me to a store where I could buy sundries. The cashiers in that place weren't quite so quick, though, and I was starting to get antsy about missing the flight. In the end it worked out and I returned to Kerah some time later bearing water, tic-tacs, polo mints, and a Hello! magazine for her to read on the flight.

Once aboard the flight, we gathered up some more Virgin Atlantic swag, and shoehorned ourselves into their cramped seats for the return trip. It took a bit longer than the trip over, but it was much easier since it wasn't a red eye. We each watched a couple of movies, I played some of the video games on the console, and we arrived back in the states only seven or eight hours later.

We recovered our bags and schlepped through customs. We made it through without incident, and returned to our life in mainstream America. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to London, and hope that we can visit the rest of the U.K. sometime soon. John and Tess lent me Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island" for the trip back, and I really liked his accounts of British life. I'd recommend it for anyone who's interested in a humorous account of adventures in England, and I'd also recommend adventures in England for anyone who's interested in a good time.

Cheers!

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