Observations From 10 Days in London, England

A 10 Day Layover in London, England

Written. December 25, 2008
Updated. May 27, 2013

My wife, Carrie, and I, had booked a one-way ticket from New York City to Delhi with a short layover in London, England. However, since there was no price difference when making it a 10 day layover, we called up some friends and stayed for a while.

Along the way, I had these observations, thoughts and musings.

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We got upgraded to first class on our London to New Delhi flight for some reason that we do not know, but I never want to go back to coach again. I actually wrote this blog entry from 35,000 miles above the ground.

Piccadilly Circus is like London's Times Square...filled with lots of neon and too many people!
Piccadilly Circus is like London’s Times Square…filled with lots of neon and too many people!

 

As a huge James Bond fan, I always loved finding 007-related images in London
As a huge James Bond fan, I always loved finding 007-related images in London

 

 

While it was Christmas season and there were lights and displays in the more touristy areas, it just didn’t feel like it does in the USA where it beyond commercialized.

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The biggest benefit of the economic crisis is that the dollar was quite good in conversion rates. Gone are the days of 2 to 1 Pound to Dollar.

 

 

While in London we saw a graffiti filled cement park where people were doing all sorts of freestyle jumping acrobatics, flips and more
While in London we saw a graffiti filled cement park where people were doing all sorts of freestyle jumping acrobatics, flips and more

 

 

After just under 2 weeks in London, Carrie and I have already picked up some of their ways of speaking. (Flat, quite, dodgy, mobile, thanks love, quaint, cheers, etc).

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It pretty much rained or was cloudy the entire time we were in Europe.

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Andrew and Lucie were the best hosts ever! Thanks so much guys…it was great to see you and now you have to come visit us Stateside so we can return the favor 🙂

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We are now members of the couchsurfing community, which is an online networking site where people offer up their couch for a night or two for free. There are members worldwide and we hope to use this as a great way to see the local’s way of live as we travel. To learn more, check out Couchsurfing.com.

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You think our airport security is harsh, try flying through Gatwick!.

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I still love Big Ben and double decker buses as much as I did when I first visited London at age 4.

 

Big Ben, London England
Biggah-Ben. That’s what I called it Big Ben when I visited London as a 3 year old in a stroller with my parents