Heathrow Airport is a big place. We were supposed to have a seven hour layover there. Instead we faced a nightmare and were detained through the holidays. Luckily, we were able to leave the airport and our nightmare slowly became less of a disappointment. The airline put us up in a fancy hotel the first night which a singing bus driving delivered us to. We had vouchers for dinner along with breakfast and lunch the following day. Although the meals were buffet style they were delicious.
Our first morning was spent trying to find a place to leave our bags for the day and rest our heads that night. We decided on a Shakespeare Hotel on the other side of the city to be closer to the consulate. Due to the holiday tube strike we chose to stay close to the consulate. Although the Shakespeare Hotel sounded fancy, it was not. We were supposed to have two beds, but only one was to be shared. Stephanie's side of the bed was partly in the fireplace. We had to place a coffee cup in the windowsill to prop the window open to breath fresh air. We were four flights up with no lift and a number of bags. We paid for the internet and had a terrible time accessing it. After complaining to the front desk I had to sit in the stairwell to Skype with my entire family on Christmas Eve. Our shower leaked when other people utilized the pipes and our bathroom faucet randomly spewed water. To our advantage, we were out exploring most of the day and did not have to endure the smallness of the room until the evening.
The Big Bus (tour) became our friend. We were walking to the consulate so that we would know how to get there when the time came and a man stopped us to inquire about the Big Bus Tour. We obliged and it all worked out beautifully. Although it was a hop on-hop off tour we rode the entire way through. We saw a multitude of neat things and made a list of the places to which we wished to return. With our tour came a free Harry Potter walking tour which showed us seven locations used in the films. It was awesome and, of course, rainy. After our tour we went to dinner at a Taylor Walker pub. Stephanie had lamb. I had salmon and a Carling beer. We both nommed on Camamberet cheese. Since it was Christmas Eve we decided a bottle of wine and an assortment of wafer chocolates seemed a good way to celebrate. Two days later and we still had about half a bottle of wine. We never did finish it.
Christmas Day most places were closed, including public transit, so we walked the city. We actually walked all the way to the consulate this time. Once there a friendly, everyone in London is friendly, armed guard pointed us in the direction of Shepards Market, where he assured us some pubs would be open. What we found was a Turkish restaurant with a few Christmas specials on the menu. After some time of deliberation over what to chose from the menu our server arrived. As we pointed to the menu and voiced our desired selections he informed us that we would be served every item listed under each special. We spent all that time deliberating only to be served small portions of all the options. Lamb, tabouli, broad beans, falafel, spicy shrimp, etc etc was feast before us. After picking though those options it was time for dessert. I decided on what sounded traditional- Christmas pudding. I was quite displeased with my Christmas pudding. It was not pudding at all. In fact, it was a sort of dense chocolate cake with prunes deep inside and something of an egg drizzle atop. It was not good. Stephanie made the best dessert decision; she ordered Eton mess. It was fruity, meringue-y, delicious, and light. She was nice enough to share with me since I could not even stomach mine.
From the Turkish restaurant we walked to Buckingham Palace. We arrived at the Palace a short time before the rain did. We oogled over the grandness of everything and took loads of photos. We next walked to Westminster Abbey, stopping along the way to take photos of Big Ben. At this point the mist had started and the rain was moving in. Of course we took photos while at Westminster also, and could not resist getting some fresh roasted nuts to munch on for the walk back. The rain was really falling now, but we marched on and although we were freezing we stopped for ice cream at Baskin Robbins. We had to leave before I finished my cone due to Stephanie feeling sick from all the Hookah smoke from the nearby lounges.
Other things seen and experienced in London: Picidillay Circus, Tower of London, London Bridge, Fleet Street, Baker Street, The Sherlock Holmes Museum, The London Eye, Regent Streeet (owned by the Queen and Norway), Margaret Thatcher's house, The Prime Minister's house, Bridget Jones' "house", Abbey Road, eating fish and chips with our Big Bus tour guide on Boxing Day, etc etc. Oh, and my new favorite television show is 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Our time in London ended once Stephanie and I had waited in the queue at the consulate, made various phone calls from one of the infamous Red Booths, sipped hot cocoa at Starbucks (where I napped and waited for Steph while she was at the colsulate for a second and then third time), received a new passport, and boarded our plane to Madrid.
Thanks London for being so friendly and for not completely ruining Christmas.
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