Sendiri's Journey
'Around the World in 70 Days'
Day 21 - London in a day!
Day 22 - London to New York!
Back to Map Index
Day 21 - Friday 21 August
London in a Day!
I had a terrible start to the day. I telephoned Sue and she was very unhappy. I felt extremely depressed. I started to reflect on the past couple of years which weren't the best for me. I was also feeling guilty about being on this trip. I wrote in my journal: "I think I have made a big mistake. I can't describe the effect the call had on me. It brought back all the fuzziness of the past couple of years. I feel really down and very sad."
I sat for a while and tried to pull myself together. I mapped out a walk and set off. I walked through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace and then on to Trafalgar Square.
Hyde Park & Bank of London
I enjoyed being in London and seeing these famous sights. I walked on to the Embankment Underground Station and sat and had a couple of nice coffees. I was still feeling quite down but I kept moving and caught the train to the Tower of London. I enjoyed this place - I could feel a real sense of history.
Click for bigger picture!
I caught the train to Kings Cross hoping to find an internet station at the New London Library. Unfortunately it was still under construction. I then tried the University College of London but had no luck there either. It was quite warm so I sat there for a while under a shady tree and had some lunch. I eventually found an internet site at a bookshop nearby. I received a nice email from Sue and my spirits were lifted.
Tower Bridge.
Click for bigger picture!
I caught the train back to the river, walked for a while before catching another back to Paddington. It was unbelievably hot on the train - everyone was bathed in sweat. I thought I would collapse.
Near my hotel in Paddington.
Click for bigger picture!
I rested for a while at the hotel before going out for an beer and Indian chicken curry. I was in bed early at 9pm. I set the alarm for 1pm so that I could phone my daughter Maia for her birthday.
Day 22 - Friday 22 August
London to New York
I woke early, had breakfast and packed. I went for a walk through Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace. I really enjoyed walking through the gardens in the palace grounds. I kept looking at the windows of the palace for a glimpse of Diana - wishful thinking of course!
Kensington Palace (a week before the flowers) and gardens. Click for bigger picture!
I grabbed a quick coffee and then returned to the hotel to check out at 10:30am. I then caught the airport bus to the airport.
I was booked to fly Delta Airlines but I boarded a Virgin Atlantic Airlines 747. We took off about an hour late for the 7h 30m flight to New York. I enjoyed the flight and the service on Virgin was outstanding - I was most impressed. I watched three movies so the time passed quickly. We flew past Iceland and Greenland and then down the east coast of Canada and the USA. The view from the plane was great.
I survived US immigration at JFK airport (which I thought was rather drab and uninviting) and then took an airport bus to the city - 1.5 hours through very heavy, Friday afternoon, peak hour traffic. As we approached Manhattan the sun was just setting and the city skyline looked magnificent against a vibrant orange sunset. I felt excited, and a little nervous.
My hotel - the New Yorker - was right next to Madison Square Garden. At 8pm (1am London time) I ventured out on to the streets even though I was very tired. I had a beer at a NY bar and then grabbed a very ordinary Chinese meal. I walked up to near Times Square but I didn't feel all that comfortable. The streets were dark, crowded and quite dirty. I needed time to adjust but tonight I wasn't in the mood. I collapsed into bed about 10pm and drifted off to sleep listening to the familiar sounds of NYC.
Top
