Alexa, play “No Sleep” by Wiz Khalifa.
This journey to the United Kingdom was my first to begin with an overnight flight, and it was also the longest period of time I have flown. Seven hours in an upright, or slightly reclined if the person behind you (in my case Helen) was kind enough to sacrifice leg room, is not ideal to begin with, and the inability to sleep certainly does not help.
Nonetheless, us yinzers listen to our local artists like my man, Wiz. No sleep, no problem. “Live it up like it’s the weekend” (or like it’s only the next two weeks).
Jan awaited our arrival at the airport where we met out tour director, David, and we immediately boarded a coach bus for a driving tour of London. Another Jan, our informative tour guide for the next few hours, boarded our bus to talk about the different sights along the main streets, and we stopped for a visit at Buckingham Palace before our first scheduled excursion of the trip: a tour of the Tower of London.
The group I was with decided to wander through the grounds and towers on our own rather than follow a Beefeater. We walked through torture chambers, looked at war artifacts and gawked at the royal Crown Jewels – and let me tell you, some of these jewels were bigger than my big toe.
The stone stru
ctures that make up the Tower of London’s village beautifully contrast against the very modern glass architecture of the new buildings in London. Leaving the tower, we strolled past the Tower Bridge and, as natural tourists, snapped photos before returning to the group to check in at our first hotel.
We relaxed briefly, discussed our use of the Tube (which I completed one of my assignments on and I still don’t entirely know what’s going on) and enjoyed a welcome dinner of fish and chips – because what else would Americans eat as their first meal in England?
With a full belly, droopy eyelids and excitement for the trip, I’m turning Wiz off and calling it a night.
P.S. Went on a date with Craig today for coffee and noodles. Kinda nervous.
