Departure
Because of the recent terrorist threat, the newscasters suggested early arrivals at airports for international travel. So, we did, but I think fours hours early was probably overkill.The flight from Brisbane to Singapore was reasonably pleasant, with a nice seat companion named Brandon, who was traveling to Moscow.
We actually did get in a bit of sleep, too, as well as one can sleep squeezed into an airline seat: even an Emirates seat can get fairly uncomfortable after six or more hours.
Then, the delays started. Departure from Singapore was delayed by a dead animal on the runway.
Dubai
Then, landing in Dubai was delayed by... who-knows-what, but we were circling around over the most hideous desert ever for a long time before they let us land.Wow. HUGE airport! Massive. Had to take a train to go from concourse to concourse... and still had to walk a lot. Good job Nanny's knees were in perfect shape: she was going like a trooper. All those delays didn't make things any easier for her, though (or for any of us, for that matter).
Another delay at the gate -- and another on the tarmac -- allowed time for me to make some observations about the general atmosphere surrounding the city, observations that gave rise to impressions on Dubai that made it a lot less than desirable as a travel destination.
Probably just me, though.
Birmingham
We arrived at right around 20:30... they'd made up the delay in the air. All of us were feeling the strain, now. I resolved that next holiday, the breaks between flights would have to be longer.So, it was a pretty motley crew that finally emerged from customs, to be greeted with great fanfare by Julia's rellies! They had been sitting there waiting for us for hours! It was truly heartwarming to be greeted with so much love -- they are such a beautiful family.
The flight crew's first officer had announced on arrival in Birmingham that the weather was lovely -- clear skies -- and indeed, it was refreshingly clean and cool. Having studied Google Maps back home actually helped me get a sense for where we were going as Dec drove us back to their place near Wolverhampton... for example, the Jaguar engine factory indicated we were getting close.
Jackie and Derek place is in a little collection of homes between Coven and Pendeford, with a paddock with cows nearby: truly life in the English countryside.
I so could live here!
-- Fri London with Tracey and Andy
Walk around renovated train station, coffee, then slow train down to London. Trying to follow GPS to hotel, got turned around a bit, finally found it. After checking in, went out to Covent Garden, watched violinists amidst the pigeons, then to Trafalgar Square, long walk along the "mall" to Buckingham Palace, reached it at nightfall. Got back to the hotel a bit late.
-- -Sat Went to Piccadilly Circus via the tube, had coffee, then to Harrods, then to Westminster Abbey (Big Ben). Back to hotel, the Virgin Train back to Birmingham, then local train to Wolverhampton.
-- Sun Get-together party
-- Mon Birmingham with Jackie and Derek (Market / Canals)
-- Tue Julia at Slimming World in the morning, pick up the car, dinner at the Pie Factory
-- Wed Drive down M5, then driving narrow roads in intoxicatingly beautiful Devon to Torquay-> Plymouth
-- Thu Huge Hike around Plymouth
-- Fri Driving tiny narrow road in intoxicatingly gorgeous Cornish countryside to Port Isaac, then to Delabole
-- Sat Tintagel Castle, Clovelly -> Ilfracombe
