I had planned to miss my graduation about a month after working. I knew I couldn’t afford it, and I would run out of vacation days as well. Rather than spending $2k on plane tickets for two trips, I’m spending $1k on plane tickets (which includes my jaunt through Europe starting tomorrow) and spending two weeks away from work (which I am thoroughly enjoying.)
So the trip. I had to leave work 3 hours early, an hour earlier than previously planned because my mom needed some help with stuff before I left. Of course, right after I get there, she locks herself out of the house (15 minutes lost.) As well, the phone system at work went down, and my boss was not aware I was leaving work an hour earlier, so I am sure I looked like an ass. Maybe he’ll read this and realize I was doing work. Anyways, we get everything worked out, and get to the airport 2 hours early.
As I enter the airport I see that Delta is all backed up, and no one is at the US Air booth. At this point I think everything is great…but then there is weather afoot between Rochester and Philadelphia (where I’m flying to the UK from.) We’re delayed by an hour, and the desk openingly lies about whats going on. I was receiving texts from the Orbitz telling me it was delayed while the desk was telling us “in 10 minutes the pilot is going to decide whether we can make it or not.” Very annoying. Luckily when we do make it off the ground the flight is quick, and we land at 8 (only half an hour late.) So I can calm down.
Queue to get on the flight and my ticket gives a big red light on the machine. I’m nervous, whats wrong?! Apparently there is tiny text that if you don’t have bags you have to go to the desk at the gate to check in for your documentation. Problem is, I did this in Rochester, and I have a bag too. I make a snide remark because the page I printed out said “You’re ready to fly” while I’m not, and the person at the gate didn’t appreciate that (luckily she was gone by the time I go through again.) Get my documents checked and want to check that my bags are making it. I give them my tag, and they don’t really respond, and let me know I’m all set for the flight.
The flight was rather boring, and for the 45 minutes we were on the tarmac a baby in the seats ahead of me was screaming the entire time. It also screamed about 15 minutes after I fell asleep both times, so I don’t have much sleep for the second day in a row (over excited the night before my flight.)
We land, and guess what happened? No luggage. This had happened the last time I had a flight with BA from the US (an angry e-mail will occur in the near future, will google for an important person there when I get back to the US.) They acknowledge its a disaster from the US, and that it never made the connection. So I’ll be wearing the same clothes for three days in a row. Luckily my friend Kristina had told me to pack an extra pair of underwear, which I changed into once I got into the hotel.
Because I had lived in London proper for 6 months, and the area for a year and a half, I didn’t have anything I felt I HAD to do. I let my friends know when I was arriving and planned from there. Literally when I had landed I had nothing planned for the day. About half an hour later I had the entire day done. Met with my friend Mike to talk about business and some possible US expansion for his company and areas where I can collaborate (Thanks Sherwin for some of the tips). I then met Emma at tower bridge and had dinner at Nando’s before meeting her workmates. They were at a rather posh club, and here I am in a tshirt, shorts and a backpack. Luckily I’m able to get in because of whose hosting the party, and get Emma to buy me a drink! Have a good time, take the tube with one of her work friends to my stop and walk the 15 minutes to my hotel.
I’m staying in campus housing at City University, which is very cheap (21 quid a night, so for central london is VERY good rate) but also very cut rate. Toilet is shared among 12 people, and two shower stalls are as well. The showers also don’t have anywhere for you to put your towel or soap, so everything goes on the floor or on the divider. Its fine for what I’m doing, but if I had to stay here for a year, I would find somewhere else to live immediately. Also, when I came in (at 10:30 at night after not sleeping for a few days) they claimed I didn’t have a room (I called earlier in the day to confirm my booking was fine) and then looked in the ‘other’ book and found it. So needless distress on my end for no reason.
Second day also had no real plan, but ended up rather well. Went to a few museums (Imperial War Museum is great!) and then came back to my room, hoping my baggage would have been back. It wasn’t, so I took a shower, and then collapsed on the bed for an hour. I didn’t get dinner before I went to go to my friend Balsa, his girlfriend and kid because of this, so I was scrambling a bit. Luckily I was able to get something before they arrived. We went to the Pret where I had a rather depressing birthday party two years ago, and then went to a pub right near where I used to work too.
Saturday the plan was to meet Emma at 12:30 and then go from there. At 10 she told me to push it back to 1. Then on my way to get breakfast at 12 she told me 1:30. I arrived at Bond Street at about 1:15, and after a bit moved out of the tube station, my mobile got coverage and she said she’d be there before 2. I read that as 2, so went to the Ferrari shop at Oxford Circus. Few minutes later she texts me saying she’s here, so I fast walk over, completely miss her and then she catches up to me. We went shopping for a bit, went to Westfield and then went to a rather horrible experience at Pizza Express. The end result was I felt sick, Emma had silver wear which had someone elses food baked on it, and the free dessert we got I couldn’t eat because of feeling sick. Rather annoying.
Today was a lazy day. I’ve been rather exhausted, and just been “go go go” the entire time. I looked for about an hour to find a place which served breakfast and found one, which didn’t look too good, so I just went to a grocery store and got a sandwich meal deal for 3 quid. Went to a few more museums around the Leicester/Trafalgar square area, got a rather boring meal at Hamburger+ (it should not be physically possible to drink a milk shake through a straw, and burgers should be required to be made medium/rare or not made at all) then went to see Ingloruious Basterds. It was rather good, although I want to see it again, also, the Brits don’t get a lot of the American humor.
Now I’m just getting ready for bed. I’ll finish it tomorrow but its not like I have much to do anyways. Off to Holland for two days, and then we’re going to Belgium for the race! Next report likely after I go to the US.