Best Laid Plans...

Ahhh, the best laid plans...Friday was planned. I would arrive at 6 am and drop off my suitcases at the hotel and take 3 trains to reach Borough market in a part of old London. Well, the plane was 2 hours late and I arrived at the hotel exhausted. I was greeted with a very warm welcome from Nejo, the concierge man I met the first time I stayed here four years ago. It's always a pleasure to see him. I left my luggage and went to check in. When I started staying here everyone was so nice, like Nejo, and they always upgraded my room and treated me so kindly. The last couple of years they have not been kind at all and each time I request the upgrade I am told no with unkind comments being made. Today I asked again, one never knows and I was told no in a not very kind way. Then the person said she would ask the manager and a very kind lady came over and looked at my record and suddenly not only did she say to upgrade me, but it seems there was a room ready for me to check into, and I'd just been told there wasn't. As the girl was registering me I told her it was my birthday trip and she was so nice then. Paperwork got done and I went to visit my friend and he said the new manager is wonderful and the whole atmosphere has changed with her here. Thats good for business, the other ones were downright rude!

So I got my things in my room and went for the complimentary breakfast in the lounge. Then I returned to my room and started preparing for my trip into the city to the market and decided to take a little nap. I texted the man I was going to meet and told him I'd be there later and the next thing I knew someone was pounding on the door. I looked at the clock and FIVE hours and passed! I was sure whoever was at the door was at the wrong room but I opened it and the reception staff had sent me a chilled bottle of champagne and a lovely plate of cheese wedges, crackers, fruit, celery and a delicious hot apple something that was like the center of an apple pie without the crust. All to celebrate my birthday! What a thoughtful surprise! I ate most of the food and laid back down and then I was out for 3 more hours!

I woke up very rested and I was ready to see London! It was too late to visit the markets so I consulted with the concierge, a different man, and got directions to go to the London Eye. So a very brave me headed to the airport, bought a day pass on the tube/underground and headed into London to spend the evening. I am very comfortable asking questions and I advise everyone to do that. The man at the hotel had told me where to change trains but I checked with the man working at the trains he gave me a much better place to change, where I walked a few steps to the next train rather than up and down stairs at the station I'd been sent to. I got off at the Westminster station and walked across the bridge Finally I made it to the London eye and getting on it was interesting. It never stops, you get on it while it is moving! The trip was very pleasant. There were 5 of the most adorable young men from sweden on there and we had a pleasant time visiting. They came in for the weekend and one of the guys was afraid of heights and I felt so sorry for him, but he got better when we were at the top and it was nice to see how proud he was of himself to have done it. I am currently reading a book set in Sweden, "the Girl Who Played With Fire" so we discussed that for a while too.

After the memorable ride on the Eye, I stopped and talked to some people near there selling tickets to a 'London at Night' tour. I decided to take it and it was beautiful and very informative! I boarded a double decker bus and climbed to the top for the best views. We passed all the famous places and the driver was so nice and dropped me off after seeing Harrods lit up beautifully. I was at a station where I wouldn't have to change trains to get back to the airport, so I could settle down for the long ride back. I stopped at a little store that was open, it was after 11 so I didn't think there would be many choices for dinner still open. There were all kinds of things and I finally decided on a Cornish pastry and felt just like a local getting on the train with my snack. These pastries were what the workers would take for lunch when they went to work long ago. I'd seen them on one of the travel shows and a British man on the tube told me the same story. It was a rather crispy pastry with beef and potatoes inside, delicious! Just right for a midnight snack! Finally the train almost reached the airport and the people I'd been talking to showed me a new way to get back to my hotel, again a good time to ask questions!

And now I am back in my room safe and sound and quite possibly exhausted again so goodnight from London!