We’ve done that amazing thing you do with international flights and have found ourselves in Tomorrowland. Actually, we’re in the place where time actually ‘starts’ (It must have been wonderful back in those heady days of colonizing, when almost the entire globe was coloured pink and called the British Empire.)
One of my best travel tricks, though some might call it more of a compulsion (!) is to immediately switch my time and date to wherever I find myself and then go to great lengths NOT to be reminded of the time back home. This seems to be the best way for me to adapt to the new world I’m in.
However, my computer is very helpfully telling me the time. ARGH. I know I could change the settings and I just might have to. Then again, maybe I’ll do like that whole generation of my parent’s age used to, and just tape over the time that continually flashed ’12:00″ on the VCR 🙂
The good news is that we arrived safely in London. The not-so-good news is that our baggage did not.
That should pose no problem for an ever-prepared travel writer, non? Ah-hem…I have many great bits of travel advice and rules, but like I did most of my teenage life, I tend to ignore or purposely break nearly all of them.
Air Canada told us we could spend $50.00 each for some replacement items. Not quite enough to cover the cost of new shoes, considering I arrived in my sandals and that it was pretty darned chilly last night. Yes, yes I know. Dumb idea. Please see paragraph above.
The good news was that we each carried our toiletries on board, so I spent my allowance on a pullover sweater – thank you H&M! thank you Chinese workers!
We checked in to our cheap student-housing digs at the London School of Economics and are now ensconced in my new favourite coffee shop, Patisserie Valerie, with two-hours of free WiFi.
I would like to say that our luggage has now arrived as Air Canada said it would, but alas, they are now saying it won’t come until this evening.
I’m so glad I ALWAYS stick to one rule; to arrive a few days early to acclimatize and allow for these kinds of things. I certainly hope the bag shows up soon…it’d be rather dodgy to try to hike Offa’s Dyke Path in sandals.
Thanks for including the links for the places you are at. It’s fun to picture you and Kevin there.
Hey Laurie…glad you like that. I love being able to visualize where people are at too. It makes it feel more ‘real’ to me. And right now? I’m having a lovely cuppa Earl Grey tea while we decide where to go for dinner. Such big decisions!
I’m shocked, Colleen! I can’t believe you’re not one of those people who can pack for three months of travelling in one small carry-on! 🙂 I hope your bags arrive soon and the rest of your trip goes smoothly.
In my heart, I am indeed, one of those people with only a charge card and a spare pair of underwear in my back pocket. But alas, my hiking boots all on their own, would have taken up my entire carry-on allowance 🙂 However, the bags arrived last night and I’m finally warm again!