Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

After the night in San Jose I moved down to Santa Cruz to stay in a hotel I had had a good time in back in '05. What a difference a couple of years can make.

I was given a 'disabled' room which was freezing cold, the TV picture was green and there was a herd of wildebeest in the room upstairs. At one point a guy next door treated the world to a full on acoustic blues set. Despite my flu symptoms being at their most unpleasant (don't ask), I left.

I stayed here for four days, watching baseball, taking photos and resting up for the flight home. Bliss.

Last California night was spent at San Francisco La Quinta Airport hotel.

So the big day dawned. Most of it is now a blur (thankfully) so a rough chronology will have to do. All times PDT (GMT -8)

8.00amΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ Shuttle to airport
1.00pmΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ United flight departs
11.00pmΜύ :ΜύΜύ Arrive Heathrow
2.00amΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ Depart Paddington
8.00amΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ In the pub (only it’s now 4.00pm BST of course)
2.00pmΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ At a gig (10.00pm BST)
4.00pmΜύΜύΜύ :ΜύΜύ Bed (midnight)

Honorable Mentions

Chinese check in guy at SFO.
Cabin staff United Flt 930
The girl I sat next to.
Ground staff at Heathrow.
British Rail (or whatever they're called this week) Passenger Assistance at Heathrow and Paddington

Dishonorable Mentions

United ground staff at SFO
The guy who sat in front of me on the flight who trod on my good foot (really)
Airline breakfasts
Truro Station
JETLAG

So I arrive and thinking like an American, decide two days in a good hotel (no names) would be better than straight home. Big mistake...

I specifically request a double bed and get 2 singles pushed together, the bathroom (no bath) is so chaotic you can’t get to the sink without shutting the door, the TV is the size of a postage stamp and is in the corner of the room a foot from the ceiling (7 channels) and all this for $140, much more than I paid in California.

And then home.

These last posts seem a bit of a whinge but I still had times I will never forget and met fantastic people. Travel broadens the mind and travel in adversity more so.

Get out there!Μύ