9 May 2015 - London, Day 3: Busy, Busy, Busy Seeing the Sights

Day 3 was a big and busy day for me, and I was glad to have been able to rest the night before, because, like the first two days, day 3 involved plenty of walking, especially because I ended up on another trek through a park! This day was the day that I checked some of the most recognizable sights in London off my list, and I had gorgeous weather in which to enjoy them.

The first thing I did was go to see Parliament. Of course, we Canadians have our own Parliament, and it's impressive in its own right, but the Parliament building in London was breathtaking. Have you ever been to a place that just exudes an aura of authority and history? Parliament is like that. Even without going inside, you can feel that this is a place where big things have happened and will continue to happen. The pictures can really say it better than I can, so here are a select few out of the hundreds I took of this stately, gorgeous building. (Click for bigger images--I didn't want to break anybody's device trying to force it to load extra-large versions of these.)

Parliament looking imposing from the river side.

The requisite selfie.

Since it's right there (you can see it peeking in from the corner in the above selfie), the next thing to admire was, of course, the iconic clock tower that most of us refer to as Big Ben. In fact, Big Ben is actually just a bell, but I'm going to keep referring to the whole thing as Big Ben for convenience. It was an incredible experience to see it in real life. I've seen pictures, of course, and shots of it in movies, but nothing compares to actually standing right there looking at it. Here are some of my favourite shots.

Probably one of the best shots I got in London. featuring Big Ben, a black cab, and the London Eye all in one!

My next stop was supposed to be Westminster Abbey, right across the street from Parliament, but it was closed to visitors on this particular day due to the VE Day ceremonies. This was a bit disappointing, but I decided not to dwell on it for two reasons. Firstly, the exterior of the Abbey is gorgeous enough. Like Parliament, it radiates a sense of authority, of a religious sort rather than a political one. It's the kind of place that I always joke would eventually get me to start going to church. Secondly, it was at that moment, while I stood admiring the Abbey, that an amazing experience kicked off. The bells inside the Abbey began to ring out beautiful music, and, to quote my journal entry regarding this day, I was just swallowed up by a feeling of experiencing something big, iconic, important. Soon, Big Ben started striking the hour. All of these bells ringing together created a soundscape that's hard to describe. Again quoting from my journal, in that moment I was in London, experiencing something that tons of other people experience every day and have been experiencing for centuries, something that even more people will never get to experience in person. Anyone can Google what Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey look like. I had done it dozens of times myself. Anyone can listen to a recording of the bells, and I certainly had, in movies and television shows, but nothing can compare to actually being there, standing in front of the Abbey with Parliament just a short walk away, listening to the bells ringing.

The Abbey from the Parliament side, across the street.

How could you look at something like this and not feel at least a little intimidated?

My plans to visit the Abbey disrupted, I didn't really know what to do with myself. I had expected a visit there to take some time, and so I hadn't planned to do anything else that day. I walked around for a bit, just appreciating the buildings around me, and I came to a small park that offered a view of the river. Across the water, I saw the London Eye, and, while I had never planned to ride it, I once again exercised the lovely flexibility of travelling solo, and thought, "Why not? I'm here, and it's right there." So, I marched myself across the bridge, found the ticket booth, and took a ride on the iconic Eye. It didn't make me feel as connected to history as the bells at the Abbey had (to be fair, I doubt anything really could have topped that experience just then), but it was a fun little ride, and I got some great pictures.

With my ride on the Eye finished, I still had lots of daylight left that I didn't want to waste, and so I decided, inadvertently, to have another trekking adventure! My intentions were simple enough. On my first day, I had seen lots of Barclay's Cycle Hire kiosks around Green Park and the other parks I'd been through on my way to Buckingham Palace. So, I thought it might be nice to hire a cycle and have a little ride around Green Park. Since we have Bixi in Montreal, I knew how the service worked, so I found a kiosk and printed out a code to unlock a bike. Of course, someone grabbed the last bike in the rack before I had a chance to get it, so I was left standing there with a code but no bikes. To make a long story short, determined to get my 2 GBP worth of bike time, I hauled myself all the way from Green Park to the northeastern tip of Hyde Park, where the next cycle hire kiosk was, which took me much longer than it probably should have because I kept getting turned around by the park maps. In the end, I did get a bike to ride, and I cycled around Hyde Park for a bit, though I was too tired to go very far by then. The bike was comfortable and the paths in the park were wonderfully maintained, so it was a nice enough ride in the end. I really can't say enough good things about the Royal Parks. They actually feel like being on a movie set. When you walk through, people are actually having outdoor exercise classes, doing yoga on their own, going for quiet walks with their babies in strollers (excuse me--prams/pushchairs), reading on the grass, and just generally enjoying the outdoor space. The grass is beautifully maintained and, often, there's a canopy of trees overhead filtering the sunlight down in a very flattering way, making the whole place look that much better.

By now, it was early evening and I was pretty much exhausted after a long day of walking, so I went back to my hotel with my now-customary Tesco supper, and pretty much fell right into bed and slept like the dead after showering and eating. I didn't even write a journal entry that day, but, luckily, I made up for it the next day.

(I also made a quick stop at London Euston train station to pick up my sleeper train ticket, as well as learn how to validate my BritRail pass so that I would be prepared for my first train trip outside of London, in between all of my activities.)

Continue to Day 4

Go Back to Day 2

8 May 2015 - London, Day 2: Museum Hopping

My first full day in London was spent visiting the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert (V&A), and the Science Museum, since these three museums are all very close to one another. Another fun fact is that they are all free to enter, making it very pleasant for a traveller who wants to see as much as possible without constantly being dinged with entry fees! I also chose my museum day well, since it kept me inside most of the time and this was the only day of my trip on which it rained for any length of time. I seriously lucked out on weather for my whole trip, only getting rained on once or twice the whole time. Considering I was in the UK, I count myself very fortunate.

Museum 1: The Natural History Museum

This imposing, intricately constructed building is an absolute beauty. I think, in all honesty, standing outside and admiring it was the best part of the visit for me! Not that there's anything wrong with the place, of course. The thing for me was that most of the exhibits and information dealt with things that I, as a university student with several years of science education in elementary and high school, already knew. I wouldn't say that the museum is geared toward children, exactly, but it's nothing that you haven't seen before if you remember your early science classes and/or have visited a natural history museum before. Another thing that cut my visit short was that I arrived pretty much as soon as the museum opened, since I wanted to get three different places in that day, and this meant that I showed up at the same time as the multiple school groups that were visiting that day.

Of course, I fully support children being taken to museums to learn about science. It's a great opportunity for them to see amazing things and become more interested in science as they realize that it isn't all about learning facts for a test. At the same time, I have anxiety issues that make it difficult for me to handle the presence of loud, unpredictable groups of young children, and a large number of exactly that sort of children entered at the same time as I did. I managed to get through a few rooms, and it was all very nice and well-designed, but eventually the groups of children cranked up my anxiety until I started to feel ill, and I decided it was probably best that I move on and leave them to enjoy their school trip. I enjoyed admiring the building for a little longer and taking some more pictures when I was back outside.

Museum 2: The V&A

The V&A was a much more relaxing visit. It was really interesting to see all of the beautiful art pieces, from Roman statues to religious triptychs, stained glass and handmade clothing. The illuminated manuscripts were especially beautiful, considering that books are a passion of mine! I walked around for a while and admired lots of different kinds of art, but the previous day's trek was getting to me and I was pretty sore and tired, so I decided to take a break. To my delight, the V&A boasts a lovely little courtyard, where they sell light lunches and water, so I bought a bottle of water and settled down to rest on the grass for a while. It was nice to just be able to sit quietly and people-watch, taking in the pleasant experience of listening to people chattering away in British accents as though it was no big deal (which, to them, I'm sure it's not, but this Canadian is unashamedly in love with English and Scottish accents, so it was a treat).

Museum 3: The Science Museum

The Science Museum was definitely my favourite visit of the day, but I had been expecting that to begin with, because science museums have always been really enjoyable for me. There are always lots of neat little gadgets and displays to look at, and this was certainly no exception. As it was the end of the day and I didn't have a lot of time to spend in the museum, I evaluated my options and decided to prioritize the Information Age floor, since, again, a lot of the other subject matter on offer was the kind of thing I had already learned about in school and from other museums. Because of the poor lighting conditions, I wasn't able to get any pictures of the displays, but I had a great time checking out slide rules, counting machines, switchboards, early computers, and ERNIE, the famous random number generator. Back in the day, it (he?) was used to generate the winning numbers for Premium Bonds, and hopeful people would send letters and gifts to it (him?) to try to get their numbers picked. Another display that I really liked was a selection of early word processors and personal computers. As a bit of a computer geek, I loved looking at the earliest iterations of the PC. It really evokes a sense of wonder, thinking about these still-very-recent machines and comparing them to the powerful home computer I'm using to write this blog post. The last thing I looked at was a video display that told the story of the BBC's first international television broadcast. There were interviews with people who had worked on that broadcast, as well as clips from the little performances that each country came up with to show in the broadcast. Like the computer display, it really made me think about how recently the world was amazed by something as simple (by our standards) as being able to see a live broadcast from another country.

At 3pm, the museum observed a two-minute silence for VE Day, which made me happy because I think it's important to keep that kind of tradition alive. It was strange, but exciting, to think that I was observing this silence not so very far from Winston Churchill's war rooms. London is a place where a great many important historical events have come to pass, and you can almost feel it in the air there.

At closing time, I took the Tube back to Hammersmith, got another Tesco supper and happily settled back into my room pretty early in the evening. One of the joys of travelling alone is that you can simply call it a day when you get tired, and tired I was after all the walking I'd done in the past two days! There was something immensely satisfying about settling into bed to watch some TV, knowing the whole time that I was in London--really in London. I'd made it, spent a full day seeing the sights, and I still had a few more days to do whatever I liked, in a place I'd been dreaming of seeing for years.

Continue to Day 3

Go Back to Day 1

7 May 2015 - London, Day 1: Arrival and Quite the Trek

My flight from Montreal to London went off without a hitch. I did get selected for "additional screening" when going through security, but that was no big deal. All it involved was standing in a tube with my arms up to get scanned, and then I was on my way again. Having a free checked bag made moving around the airport and getting on the plane so much easier, since I only had my backpack. The flight was long but I did manage to sleep a little bit. I wished I had thought to accept one of the pairs of headphones the flight attendants were handing out--I didn't know you could watch entire movies on planes now, and choose which movie you wanted! I could have watched The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies instead of sitting there for over six hours. In the last hour and a half or so of the flight, I put it on with subtitles and watched it that way, which wasn't too bad. In any case, I had better things than a movie to look forward to!

Arriving at London Heathrow airport was quick and easy. The duo-tang I had put together with all of my reservations and plans in it came in handy when I wasn't sure what to indicate as my address on the entry form. I was able to show the border officer where I would be staying in London, and then I was on my way! My bag was even one of the first ones on the baggage carousel. In fact, the whole process took so little time that I was ready to leave, but it was too early to check into my hotel. I took my first Tube ride into London (I still can't get over the fact that there are Tube stations IN Heathrow) and I loved it, just as I loved the public transit system the whole time I was there. The Underground trains are clean and comfortable and it's nice to occasionally go above ground. It's easy to follow the signs and indicators to figure out where to go.

I tried ringing the bell at the Hotel Orlando, where I stayed for my week in London, but there was no answer, so I hung around in the Broadway Shopping Centre, which is connected to Hammersmith station on the District and Piccadilly lines' part of the station. I used some free Tesco Wi-Fi to post an update for family and friends, letting them know I was okay. Little did I know that Tesco would become one of my favourite places for the rest of my trip!

I finally got checked in and went up to my room for the first time. It was small and simple but plenty nice enough for me, seeing as I wasn't going to be spending entire days in it. It had a bed, a bathroom with a shower, a TV, a little desk, and a closet and nightstand to store my stuff. Pretty much everything I need from a place to stay. Plus, the free breakfast is pretty good. Same thing every day, but a hot meal in the morning was very welcome, and the staff are nice. If you're looking for a not-too-expensive place to stay in London, the Hotel Orlando is a good choice. It's not luxury, but the neighborhood feels safe and you get all of the essentials.

After dropping off my suitcase, it was finally time to put my Travelcard to use and start exploring London! My first stop was Kensington Palace, which I had a bit of a hard time finding after getting out of the Tube. It was a nice neighborhood to walk around in, though, with expensive-looking houses, and I ended up walking down a grand, guarded street lined with mansion-like embassies on either side. I finally found the palace and its gardens, and it was all very beautiful.

There were still a few flowers on the palace gates to celebrate Princess Charlotte's birth a few days earlier. At first, I wasn't intending to go inside and visit, and I started walking around the gardens and taking a couple of pictures before moving on to Buckingham Palace, but I decided it would be silly to be there and not see any of the inside, so I bought a ticket and went in to see the rooms. They were very ornate and well-preserved, and the whole place really made the history of the palace and its gardens sink in. Realizing that I was looking out on essentially the same gardens that royalty had viewed and walking through the same rooms they had used when they lived in the palace was striking. Here are just a few of my favourite pictures from inside.

The birth announcement for the princess

After seeing Kensington Palace, I started the trek over to Buckingham Palace. I say "trek" because I had somehow got it into my head that it was only a 20 minute walk or so from Kensington Palace. It turned out to be over 45 minutes and more than two miles! Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park were beautiful to walk through and all, and I did have excellent sunny weather, but my feet and back were less than pleased with me by the time I finally reached Buckingham Palace. There were a lot of people there, so it was impossible to get a clear shot, but I did get some pictures.

By that point, I was pretty tired and hadn't planned to see anything else on my first day, so I got back on the Tube to Hammersmith station and picked up some supper at Tesco. Tesco suppers would become the norm for me for my whole trip, because they offer an excellent meal deal and label their products very clearly when it comes to allergens, which is a big deal for me, especially on an international trip. They have a large variety of sandwiches and wraps to choose from, so I never got bored, and plenty of snacks to take back to your hotel room for the night. I enjoyed watching Ghost Adventures, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Traffic Cops while having a cup of tea and some interesting English chocolate bars. We definitely need Caramac bars in Canada.

Overall, the first day was very tiring but also a lot of fun, and put me in a very good mood about the rest of my trip!

Continue to Day 2

A Little Something Extra

With time ticking down until this trip of mine, I'm just getting a few more things in order. One of those things was rearranging my sleeper train plans. No, I'm not cancelling (perish the thought!); I'm upgrading! Since I ended up going with the First Class Britrail Pass instead of the Standard Class I had originally intended to buy, I'm entitled to a better berth.

From The Man in Seat 61,
an excellent website about train travel
found at www.seat61.com

So, what's the difference? Well, as you can see in the picture, the most obvious difference is that First Class cabins have only one bed instead of bunk beds. I like the extra headroom, to be sure, but I'm not really certain of where I'm going to put my suitcase now! I was planning to use the extra bed. Another difference is that First Class passengers get a complimentary breakfast in the morning, as well as a complimentary pack of toiletries and something called a "sleep kit" (not exactly sure what that is--guess I'll find out soon enough!), which is a nice little touch. First Class passengers are entitled to use the First Class Lounge to sit and eat, while Standard Class cabin passengers might have to eat in their cabins if the lounge is occupied (people who spend the night in reclining seats can't use the lounge at all and must use a separate buffet service). Fun fact: the Sleeper is the only train in England with real leather couches! Finally, First Class cabins are also air-conditioned and each cabin has its own climate controls, though I doubt I'll have to use them to keep cool, considering the average temperature in the UK around the time of my trip is 15 degrees Celsius (60F) or so.

I'm still a little nervous about having to pick up my ticket in London rather than just having it in my bag when I get on the plane to go to the UK, but that's just the way it works for overseas travellers. I'm sure it'll go fine, but it would be nice to just have the physical ticket and know that everything's in order before I get to London. Still, I'm excited about this train ride, and it'll be even nicer and more comfortable now that I've got a nicer cabin to stay in! To keep the excitement alive, here's another favourite video of mine. It shows a lot of the visible (as in, not in total darkness) journey from Edinburgh (not London, unfortunately) to Fort William and some beautiful scenery. Skip towards the end in order to see the beauty of Scotland! My favourite bit starts at 35:00.

Go Go Gadget

I haven't had any preparations to post about for a bit, so I thought I'd say a little something about a gadget I've purchased to accompany me on my trip, and hopefully on future trips as well!

This little thing is called the FosPower FUSE and it is compatible with US, UK, EU, and AU power sockets. The EU plug also appears to be of the shape used in China, Hong Kong, and a few other countries. The unit features one AC plug and one USB plug, which can be used separately or simultaneously for charging laptops, cell phones, and other devices. The UK plug is standard on the outside of the unit, and you open the unit up to access the US and EU plugs. The AU plug is created by rotating the prongs of the US plug into the slanted AU position, and the EU plug is created by attaching the EU prongs to the US prongs (the socket-looking thing on the top of the unit is actually the EU plug--you use that socket to attach it to the US prongs). It is compatible with all worldwide standard voltages and includes an extra fuse in case one blows while you're on your trip. It also comes with a soft drawstring carrying pouch. It was $15.00 on Amazon.ca.

The only downside I could see with the FUSE is that its shape is a little awkward. It's a blocky unit with three large prongs sticking off the back, so it's not going to tuck nicely in against other objects in your bag. I don't find it heavy at all, but then, I'm using a suitcase and not a backpack. If weight is a big issue and you're watching every ounce you bring on your trip, the unit does have some heft to it.

I haven't tried it out with any devices yet, but a few reviews state that you're better off not plugging in high-demand appliances like hair dryers, because they can cause the fuse to blow. Luckily, with my short hair, appliances like hair dryers and straighteners aren't at the top of my list of electrical needs.

Important thing to keep in mind: just because your adapter can handle the voltage in another country, doesn't mean your devices can! This applies to all adapters, not just this one. To my understanding, most devices nowadays are compatible with multiple voltages, and you can look on your device's charger to see what it can handle. If you need to charge a device that isn't compatible with the country's voltage, you need a converter rather than just an adapter, and these are generally bigger and more expensive. Of course, what's a little extra money on a converter, compared to the cost of replacing your fried device?

The Tickets are Coming, the Tickets are Coming!

My BritRail Pass arrived on March 18 and my Visitor Oyster Card and Travelcard arrived on March 19! I'm really impressed with how quickly these got to me. I've ordered things from Canada that took longer to ship! I suppose they figure that people who order tickets are going on a trip and want to get their things in order, which I very much appreciate, since I do want to get everything in order well in advance.

It feels so awesome to get these things and to be able to hold them, to feel that they are solid and real. Seeing the numbers on a bank statement or a receipt just isn't the same as actually holding the cards in your hands, seeing the dates and the numbers acting as proof that you're really going to do this big thing you've been dreaming about for so long. I just wish I could hold my Sleeper ticket, too, but that's something I'll have to pick up at London Euston station before I leave on the sleeper journey.

For anyone who might be interested, or planning a trip themselves, I've put together a brief overview of how these things work after the jump.

The Itinerary

Since I haven't actually started my adventure yet, and this blog is therefore pretty lonely without stories and pictures to share, I thought I'd just start off with a description of what this trip is going to entail. I haven't planned it down to the minute, of course, because it wouldn't be an adventure if I'd done that! Still, I have a general idea of what I'll be doing, and some highlights that I definitely intend to include, so I'm able to give you a little outline.

May 6 - Departure

I take off from home at 8:05pm on May 6, and the flight lasts six and a half hours. When I arrive in London, though, it will be 7:30am on May 7! I can only hope that jet lag won't sink its claws into me.

May 7 - Arrival and First Day in London

My first day in London will mostly involve getting out of the airport and checking into my small hotel in Hammersmith, West London. It's about an hour's Tube ride from London Heathrow airport to London itself. Time and weather permitting, I intend to take a stroll through Hyde Park and maybe check out Kensington Gardens after I've gotten settled. If I have plenty of time, I might also pop by the V&A or the Natural History Museum, which are close to Hyde Park, to see what's there and plan what I might like to see on a longer visit later in the week.

May 8-11 - Exploring London

London's a big, bustling city with a great public transit system, and I intend to see a lot of it! Hopefully, I'll be a pro Tube rider by the end of the week I'm spending here. I've tried not to structure my time here too much, so that I can have the freedom to spend more time on the things that interest me and less on the things that don't turn out to be quite as captivating. However, I do have some idea of the things I might like to see...

- The Royal Parks

- Kensington Palace

- Westminster Abbey

- Big Ben

- Tower of London

- Natural History Museum

- National Gallery

- National Portrait Gallery

- V&A

- British Museum

- Saint Paul's Cathedral

- London Zoo (especially the reptile house, essential for a Harry Potter fan)

- Platform 9 3/4 (also a Harry Potter necessity)

- Fancy streets where rich people go shopping (and I go window shopping)

May 12 - Day Trip to Oxford

May 12 marks the first day of my eight-day adventure on the rails! The ride from London to Oxford takes one to two hours. I'll be enjoying first class on this train thanks to my 8-Day First Class BritRail Pass, so here's hoping for good weather, lots of leg room and a nice big window for photographing the landscape! Visiting Oxford has always been a dream of mine, so my whole day will be spent wandering the college grounds and appreciating the old buildings, as well as, hopefully, getting to see some Harry Potter filming locations, like the Bodleian library and various locations at Christ Church College, pictured to the right. I'm not really sure they're going to be able to make me leave! What a beautiful place, so rich in history and beautiful architecture.

May 13 - The Long Haul to Fort William

The morning and afternoon of May 13 will be spent packing up, checking out, leaving my luggage safely at the train station, and then doing a last bit of sightseeing in London before I wave goodbye to it for a bit more than five days and start the Scottish part of my adventure. The night of May 13 is one of the highlights of my trip, and the part I'm really excited about: at 8:30pm, I'll board the famous Caledonian Sleeper train, and, at 9:15pm, we set off on a thirteen-hour, 500-mile ride up to Fort William, in the Highlands.

I'll have sole occupancy of a standard class twin berth like the one pictured on the left, and, hopefully, the journey will include samples of haggis and Glenfiddich whisky, as well as a nice hearty breakfast in the morning. The berth is equipped with a wash basin (covered by the blue countertop in the picture) and nice fluffy pillows, so I should be pretty comfortable! Travelling a long distance on a sleeper train has been a longtime dream of mine, and so I can't wait to fall asleep to the sounds of the train, to look out that window early in the morning and see the beautiful Scottish countryside rolling by. On the train, they sell a book called The Iron Roads to the Isles, which describes each station on the line and points out when to expect the most scenic sections. In that book, you learn that the West Highland Line, on which the Sleeper runs, is considered one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world. I can't wait to see it in person, but, until then, here is a nice sampler of what the journey is like. This video really inspired me to make the Sleeper journey.

May 14 - Fort William and Mallaig

I'll arrive in Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper around 10:00am on May 14, and proceed to check into my hotel and offload the bulk of my luggage. With that done, it's back to the train station to hop on a train around noon and make the 1.5-hour journey to Mallaig. There's not much to see in Mallaig, as far as I can tell, so why would I want to go there? Well, the answer is twofold. Firstly, the trip from Fort William to Mallaig represents the end of the beautiful West Highland Line, and why wouldn't I want to see it through the to end, having come so far? Secondly, and most importantly, a picture is worth a thousand words:

That's right, folks; the route from Fort William to Mallaig crosses the gorgeous Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you may recognize from the film version of  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In this picture, we see the Jacobite steam train (otherwise known as the Hogwarts Express), which leaves Fort William twice a day. Unfortunately, my arrival time doesn't coincide with the Jacobite's schedule, so I won't be able to ride the train itself, but that's all right; riding a normal train will save me some money (it's included in my BritRail pass) while still allowing me to see the beautiful scenery.

May 15 - Fort William to Edinburgh

I'll spend the night of May 14 in Fort William before getting an early start on May 15 and catching the noon train to Edinburgh. It's about a five-hour journey, assuming I don't take a little break at Glasgow Queen Street on the way there, so it will pretty much take up the whole day. From then on, I'll be using Edinburgh as my base city for day trips to other parts of Scotland, as well as exploring Edinburgh itself on May 16.

Two of the things I'm really looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh are the famous Arthur's Seat, from which you can get a lovely view of the city, and Greyfriars Kirkyard, a beautiful old cemetery featured on one of my favourite shows, Ghost Adventures.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is pictured at left here, looking much less creepy in the daytime on a sunny day! However, it's got lots of scary stories associated with it. I'd also like to do a haunted walk in Edinburgh, which has plenty of creepy places to explore in the evening by lantern light, but I'll have to take into account how late the walk ends--safety first!

Of course, I'll also want to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse while I'm in Edinburgh. I'll be busy!

May 17 - Glasgow

Even on a Sunday, there's regular train service from Edinburgh to Glasgow, and the ride takes about an hour. In Glasgow, I'll be visiting the University of Glasgow, among other places. There are so many beautiful universities in the UK, aren't there?

May 18 - Aberdeen

It's about two and a half hours from Edinburgh to Aberdeen. Like Glasgow, Aberdeen has a beautiful university to visit, as well as many historic cathedrals, and, believe it or not, a popular beach.

May 19 - Edinburgh to London

My journey will be winding down as I pack up and check out of Edinburgh, hopping on a train back to London, where I'll stay for one more night before departing for home at 2:10pm on May 20. The journey from Edinburgh to London takes about five hours, and I should be enjoying first class again on this lengthy ride, so it will give me some time to relax after spending a busy few days in Scotland.

Depending on when I arrive in London, I might do a last bit of sighseeing or just get something to eat and relax in my room for the evening, resting up for the plane ride the next day.

May 20 - The End of the Adventure

May 20 will be spent getting through the airport and onto my plane home! After leaving London at 2:10pm, I'll spend another six and a half hours on the plane, only to arrive back home at 4:25pm! That will definitely be weird, and I'll probably be heading straight for a nap in my own bed. It'll be good to be home, and, hopefully, I'll have lots of pictures to show and stories to tell about my UK adventure!