This blog, I am sorry to say, is just a little late. I am back in Australia, but I am sure you want to know how we finished up....So here's the last big wrap up.....
So, one more flight down and we made it back to England. Nice easy flight from Copenhagen to London. And knowing it was nearly over, we shouted ourselves the luxury of a cab to the airport! Such a good idea. Actually, it was more like, we packed the bags and thought...'Nah!' no way in hades are we lugging these cases around, up and down steps and in and out of trains. Cab ride was worth every cent, and in actual fact, it wasn't very much at all. So make sure you do it. I would love to stay in Copenhagen longer, I cannot wait to take the family back there and hang out. I am definitely going to book a cruise from there one day. Still gorgeous weather, everyone was at the beach, mind you, while there were lots of people there, we didn't see anyone actually in the water.... so go figure. But back to London.
It was great to fly back in there. They spoke English, the signs were in English, not that we have had any trouble at all - great thing speaking the international language...but, best thing was, we knew exactly where we were going. We didn't have to look at any maps, check out any train schedules or um and ah about which was way the best, most monetary effective way of getting to our bed for the night. Gee it was a good feeling. The biggest challenge was psyching myself up for the steps with my suitcase. However, after desciding that we would be able to cope with elevators, stairs and luggage London men proved themselves to be worthy of a rave review.
I am thrilled to say that CHIVALRY IS NOT DEAD.
At the very first flight of mega steps, with me standing at the bottom looking woefully up, a charming young man sized up my dilemma immediately and before I could take more than one step had left his girlfriend and offered to carry my bag. Sensational bloke!!!!! Then at flight no two...the same thing, another guy immediately offered to carry my bag. This was not a small thing. This was a bag, jammed packed to the luggage limit - I was stoked. Jayllee, relieved. It was so, so nice. Then the day we left, a young man offered me his seat on the train as soon as entered the carriage. So England, such a nice way to finish. I am so very impressed.
To our surprise we had another apartment for the night. We had booked a room through Wimdu, and thought we where back to were we stayed at the beginning, but we weren't. Anyway, it was a lovely little spot, and there was a nice young couple from Germany there too. So that was nice.
We went up to Hertfordshire to check out the uni. This gave Jayllee her Harry Potter moment. She latched onto my arm and was like, "Mum, we are at King's Cross station...." I'm like..."yep." She began leaping around on her seat...."We're on platform 9..." I figured this was meant to mean something...and then I clicked. Looked vainly about for platform 93/4 ...didn't see it... but enjoyed the thought. Had to smile, when we came back and went back for photos, there was an older couple walking around talking about Harry Potter. But great little train ride up to Hertfordshire. The uni looks nice, nothing too exotic, and yes, it has the obligatory mega flights of steps to climb. Incredibly, it was nearly thirty degrees, so I was a tad hot and flustered. Huge shopping centre just down the road, so Jayllee, the broke uni student, will enjoy that. It will be nice when she is settled in there, and I will be able picture exactly where she is.
For the last wander round London, we went into Trafalgar square, where the count down clock was. It was pretty cool to get a photo with the clock on zero for the days. When they first started that clock, I never dreamed that I'd be standing there when it hit zero. There were quite a few athletes walking around. Russians, Canadians, Slovakians and their carers were easy to spot. We were going to look through the national museum but there was a huge line, so not liking lines we left that. But we ended up in the right place and time to choose to watch the torch relay going down Regent street. We were outside Hamley's toystore, which was a great spot. A nice lot of pre torch entertainment, so that took an hour or two. We got to yell and cheer, have no idea who the lucky torch carrier was, but am glad for him. I'm sure he enjoyed his moment in the sun. The buzz in London was awesome. It is seriously making me think about saving up for Brazil. Everyone's happy. There weren't bad crowds on the underground. It was even nice walking around up the top. We sat in on the big outdoor concert at Hyde park and enjoyed the music, and the free seats under the trees, as we ate maccas and peopled watched to our hearts content and feet's relief... Our feet are officially tired!
Summer has finally arrived in England and Jayllee is walking around the place like a local. We have covered a mega amount of territory.... Singapore, India, England, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, Scotland and Sweden - not a bad effort for three weeks.
My wallet is a united nations lucky dip of coins!
My feet are officially on strike.
I managed to ride the underground elevators and look up and down - and not shed a tear...
I am looking forward to going home.
It has been a treasure of a trip with Jays..... it's nice to know that even at the ripe old age of 43 I can surprise my daughter now and then....
Europe, been there done that...again...quickly...next time, hopefully, I'll have longer.
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