Across the Ocean

I'm losing track of time but a short nap will help that. Yesterday, while still at the hotel at Dulles, I got a ride to the local Kohls. Along with not having a fan now as I head to my destination that was 100 degrees 2 weeks ago, my watch stopped working. That was a big thing to me. Three years ago Cesar gave me the Swiss watch for my birthday as we ate Swiss fondue for my birthday in Switzerland. One of the most touching gifts I've ever received. I'm afraid it is symbolic of something more important in my life stopping, but will hope that is not the case. I'm sure that a new battery will be all the watch needs, the other issue, maybe not so easily fixed. I never wear a watch except when I travel and can't be without it when I do. So the trip to Kohls was to purchase something to have for this trip. No fans at Kohls. I Medes to get a taxi back to the hotel because the shuttle wouldn't be back there for hours.

I called the taxi and waited about 15 minutes. I got in and the man was immediately kind. We started talking and I told him where I was heading and he said it wasn't a very good time to be going there! Not the first time I've heard that! I hope all is fine. We started talking about travel and he told me that the countries that are in the Mediterranean are the most beautiful in the world. I asked if he had been there and he said he had been to 104 countries! that is amazing! I was so impressed and asked him how he did that. He told me that he had been in the diplomatic corps for his country and that he traveled with the king! He told me a couple of stories of his past life and it was fascinating! I was sorry the ride was so short to the hotel, fascinating man. With all he has done and he said now he is just a taxi driver in this country. I thanked him for sharing his story and we talked about how everyone has a story. I feel like I am so lucky to get to hear such interesting stories from such interesting diverse people! Maybe when my international traveling ends I will travel around America gathering stories from people who lived lives so different from those I'm familiar with, a thought. I never cease to be amazed at how different lives are for others. And that was just a taxi ride!

And now I've arrived in London and sleep is calling my name! It's cool and rainy and I love it! If I wake up at a decent time I will wander into London and enjoy the day before I fly on tomorrow to my next stop, one of my final destinations. Travel is getting more challenging for me now. I arrived and got into a taxi at the airport for my hotel. Every time I do that I feel like I'm in a movie! When I arrived at my hotel, the one I've stayed at every time I've been here I found out I'd booked a different hotel. I know all the concierge gentlemen so I got a nice greeting there but my favorite one is on vacation this week. I did not like the way I was hustled at the reception desk when we figured I'd reserved a room at the wrong hotel and I was so disgusted with his behavior that I decided to leave and try a new hotel. So here I am and it isn't so bad being in a different place. I guess I can have a new home away from home now. I guess this is definitely a trip of new beginnings! And sad goodbyes too. Everything changes, and endings are always hard for me. Even the airlines aren't serving the same food and the service is so much less than it was even the short time ago when I started this traveling. No one does what they say Anne disappointments seem more prevalent. I was supposed to be on a plane with the totally reclining seats and when I walked on, it was one of the old planes with regular seats. No one seemed to mind that the reason so many of us booked that flight was to have the beds. The flight attendant just said in small print it says they can change the aircraft if necessary. I seem to be constantly dealing with things that are not as I was told they would be. Disappointments are becoming a bigger part of life...

And with that, I will try to catch up on my sleep! Sweet British dreams to come!