The Journey Begins

We left Gold Coast on a wet miserable morning wearing three layers of clothes. We arrived in Tokyo to 30+ degrees. Kazumi arrived at our hotel soon after we did and took us out for a delicious meal of sushi and then moved to another restaurant to ply us with Japanese noodles – which we were far to full to eat, though they were tasty.

The flight next day to London was comfortable to say the least, the seats were so spacious and the food and service was superb. However, a twelve hour flight is still twelve hours of monotonous hell no matter what class you’re in. Landed in London at 2:30 in the afternoon (four hours after we left Japan in clock time) where it was sunny and very warm. So as soon as we got to our room and were able to divest our (excessive) luggage, took to the streets and strolled over Waterloo Bridge and round the Embankment and back to a pub for a couple of well-earned pints.

Monday was a Bank Holiday. They’re a sleepy lot, the Brits. We were up early and the morning being fine and clear, we set out for walk along the Embankment to encounter little traffic and very few people. Nothing seemed to be ready to open before 10 am. Without intending to we found ourselves at the end of a small queue waiting for the ticket booth to open its doors for the London Eye. Within ten minutes we were in one of the first capsules doing the round. Everything everyone says about the Eye is true. It’s a must. The views are superb. Could look down on the river with all its activity, a birds eye view of Buckingham Palace and one could see as far as the Wembly Stadium.

Every trip to London warrants a cruise down the Thames to Greenwich and a stroll through the pretty village and the sprawling park, up the hill to the Royal Observatory. We enjoyed the young Australian’s commentary on the way down as he pointed out the pub where Great Expectations was written, where convicts where dispatched to Australia and the scene where they shot the motor boat chase in James Bond "The World is Not Enough." Our last visit must have been before Dava Dobel’s fascinating book Longtitude was published for we had somehow hurried through the rooms containing Harrison’s clocks without appreciating their significance. Not this time. We paused for an hour or more admiring the incredible craftsmanship that developed such historic timepieces – and ticked another goal fulfilled.

As noon approached we stood near the meridian line and waited for the time ball to drop, as it has done for hundreds of years. I was impressed to discover that in resetting my watch in the plane to London time, it was accurate to within five seconds.

By mid-afternoon the crowds had built enormously. There were, reportedly, 310 people on the boat back to Charing Cross yet the company is in the hands of receivers and due to shut down with all staff (only two per boat) sacked as of 3 September. At £9 return and boats every 40 minutes it doesn’t make sense – go figure. I can’t believe a cruise on the Thames is going to become a thing of the past.

An obligatory trip to the theatre rounded out a perfect day. We saw Les Misérables – a first for us. I cannot explain why we missed all the previous opportunities to see it. Needless to say the West End production was magnificent if not the most uplifting way to end the day. We walked home through the crowds. The hotel is in a great spot - walking distance to so many places. One block to the Embankment, 2mins Covent Gardens and a quick walk to Leicester Square.

No trip to London would be complete without shopping. Walk… walk… eventually sore feet demanded a new pair of runners, after that it was see London from top deck of a big red bus, caught in a traffic jam for over an hour but passed lots of famous landmarks. A visit to the British Museum to admire the Elgin Marbles was memorable. Too vast to be able to inspect more but just to be inside the place was awesome.

It’s difficult choosing the right clothes to wear. Mostly it has been very mild but then the sun comes out and you find you’re wearing too much. Locals say we have been here for their entire summer – four days!

London’s double-decker buses are one of the easiest ways to get around — not as quick as the Underground maybe, but the views and experience of being part of all the live activity cannot be bettered.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is always a drawcard for huge crowds but the ceremony never disappoints. Neither does a visit to Harrods, especially the food hall.

Another opportunity to buy tickets to the theatre presented itself when our bus stopped right outside the box office on opening time. Billy Elliot would have to be one of the best shows we've ever seen. True to the movie, but more emotionally charged. The young performers especially were enthralling. We're beginning to like this retirement thing...