28 August 2020
The day has arrived at last and heading back to Europe 2 1/2 years after last Visit. I am on a direct flight to London, via a transit stop in LA. The first leg of 11 hours went well and as usual I slept most of the way. The short layover in the US is often challenging with lots of bureaucracy, everyone is treated as a visitor to the US so gets processed through US customs and then back through security again. Lots of lining up and showing my passport but I have 5 hours to fill in so not too bothered.
I am travelling with only a carry on bag to make logistics easier so all went surprisingly well. There was a fair bit of queuing but the line moved smoothly and was was back in lounge with only few hours to wait before boarding my Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
Heathrow Airport was much the same queuing and lining up but the Irish Passport works wonders and I am whisked through and out in no time into the sunny late afternoon day to catch the express train to Kings Cross Station. I am staying nearby the station at the Hotel Crestfield as I am back the next morning to catch the Eurostar to Paris.
It’s a quick shower and change then off to the underground to catch a train a few stops to Leicester Square to join the bustling crowds and find a real English Restaurant for dinner. Those people who know London already understand there are no real English Restaurants left however, there is Chinatown nearby and it’s a very pleasant evening to sit outside and soak up the wonderful ambiance of this crazy, busy city and watch the mass of humanity go by.
That’s the first day over with and I have even made it to 9pm without collapsing. I found that staying up as long as possible is best way to get over Jetlag. So it’s an amble to the nearest Underground and back to my hotel.
It’s a 6am start in morning to catch the 8am Eurostar to Paris. I know why don’t I stay longer in London, well there is no good answer to that, I’m on a “go where the mood takes me” kind of tour.
Via Francigena Italy - 2022 