TRIP REPORTS ARCHIVE
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All I wanted was to drive on the left
by chexfan
This trip
report will start w/ a quick introduction of Qip, another one
of my
roommates.
I’m not
going to lie, traveling from Seattle to New Jersey nearly every week (sans
Xmas and Thanksgiving) since August has gotten to me. Sure the occasional
jaunt to New Orleans definitely livens things up, but the weekly transcon
has
gotten to
me.
So two
weeks ago I decided to play with my fares for work. I discovered that when
buying tickets for two weeks, it was cheaper to fly to LHR than home to
SEA during the middle weekend (plus it’s more miles!). My only other
previous trip to England was in the summer of 1998 when my crew raced at
Henley. We got to spend a whopping 14 hours in London and I have been
meaning to get back ever since. This seemed like
a good
time!
I called
Qip and wanted to see what he was doing for the weekend and if he’d be
interested in heading to London for the weekend. Upset that he lost out on
the opportunity to be a part of the second Trip Report, he jumped at the
chance! I was able to book my ticket and secure upgrades both ways while
my Mileage Plus account lost 80k miles
for Qip’s
ticket.
Friday
8Mar
Of
course, with my luck, the 1500 flight got delayed and took off at 1555. 5
minutes before my scheduled flight, but it was on the new
Fairchild-Dornier 328JET and not a J41. I arrive to IAD at the A gates and
take the People Mover over to the C Terminal where I was to meet up with
Qip at
the C6
RCC.
As I
entered I flashed my silver RCC card and walked on. Then I stopped in my
tracks and back pedal to show my Int’l Biz ticket and request some drink
coupons. The lady handed me one that I gladly accept, and move along to
find Qip. Surprisingly, the RCC was dead quiet with only a handful of
people. I had just been in there two weeks prior w/ koko, geo, punki,
hunki, and baraboodish and it was hopping then. It didn’t make sense, but
oh well. Anyways, after a quick scan around the RCC, I don’t spot the
Qipster. So I get a Becks from the bar, pull out my London Lonely Planet
and kick back waiting for Qip to arrive. At the end of the first green
bottle, I realise that el Qippo still hadn’t shown up yet his flight
arrived and hour + before mine. Oh well, he’s an adult so I’m sure he was
somewhere in the airport, like looking at presidential sticker books or
something. An Amstel Light was then acquired from my stack of RCC Drink
Coupons that have fallen my way and my co-hort for the weekend trots
in shortly
thereafter.
We
discuss his first trip in First and how much he enjoyed it. It was now
around 1800 and the flight LHR was leaving @ 2045! Plenty of time to go
through the drink coupons!!! Qip got had gotten two upon his entry into
the RCC and we work on the next round
of imported
bottles.
Around
6:40p we got up and left the C6 RCC and we (or should I say, I) decide to
do the RCC Shuffle. I came to the realisation that walking down to the RCC
in the D Terminal was unnecceassary so we scamper off to the C23 RCC. We
ask for some drink coupons, and are told of the closer RCC to our LHR
gate. I explain that we were already there and the TV was bigger there.
She rolled her eyes and turned over a drink coupon to
each of
us.
We made
our way downstairs and grab two Heinekens and watch one of the Pac10
Conference basketball games. We were trying to recap our trip to SLC for
the Olympics the previous month and how much the SLC Natives just simply
didn’t appreciate the two of us and our humour, when a gentleman from
Ottawa interrupted us. He took offence to our notion that the Olympic
hockey game we saw wasn’t exciting as the Ski Jumping. Oh well, to
each their
own!
We passed
the time in the RCC watching the basketball game and perusing the latest
issues of Entertainment Weekly, Time and Ebony. Around 8p Qip asks if we
should make our way towards the gate C3 where we were to take off from. I
agree and we meander down the C Concourse to our gate where our Boeing 777
was waiting to take us to the United Kingdom. Earlier in the week Qip had
taken the trip up to Everet to visit the Boeing factory and he was happy
to proudly exclaim that if it wasn’t a Boeing he wasn’t gonna be going. I
guess we
were all
lucky.
Boarding
was delayed just a bit as there were some mechanics still on board
correcting an issue w/ the oxygen supply. As the First and Business class
cabins were invited to board, we let those in a rush get in line first
ensuring them to be “Randomly Selected” for
extra security
screening.
We
boarded and took our seats in 12E&F. It was the first time I had ever
sat in the middle section but they were the only two seats that were
available next to each other. We stowed our backpacks and shortly
thereafter, our FA came around offering drinks. We both desired a glass of
champagne and the FA placed the two plastic glasses on our shared console.
Knowing that a very fun weekend was in it’s infancy, I proposed a toast.
In reaching for his “flute” of sparkling white, Qip successfully managed
to spill it in my lap. Ahh no problem! I get up and ask the FA for some
napkins. A reply of “Already?” came from her mouth with a smile, followed
up by “Well I guess I know who my trouble makers are going to be on this
flight!” Troublemaker? Troublemaker? Oh well. I use the napkins to mop up
the mess in the center console and sit on my blanket to make sure that my
legs wouldn’t be sitting in the
champagne drenched
seat.
A few
minutes later, a couple comes up and declare that they are in 12D&E.
But how could this be one may ask when Qip was in 12E. Answer was simple.
We were supposed to be in 13 E&F!!! Ooops. We pick up our stuff and
move back a row. It may have been childish but it was kind of funny to see
the gentleman’s face that was supposed to sit in 12F when he realised that
his seat was just a
bit moist.
Ooops!
Shortly
after we moved back to row 13, an FA came down the left aisle offering
pre-departure beverages. Being in the center, Qip thought that it would be
a sinch to get another drink. This, young, attractive, dark curly haired,
thin 5’4” FA offered a drink to the passenger to Qip’s left, he sat there
smiling looking for a 2nd beverage. This young, attractive, dark curly
haired, thin 5’4” FA looks at Qip smiling and I bear witness to her
completely snubbing my friend! It was
quite hilarious
actually.
The
flight taxi’d from the gate on time and we took a flight-path noth up the
Eastern Seaboard. Watching the Map, we were able to notice that we flew
over Egg Harbor, NJ, Mystic Seaport (which I believed to be incorrect b/c
we were too far inland) and other random cities
that Airshow
displays.
I go into
the overhead to get some reading material for the flight, when I realized
that I had left my Lonely Planet London guide back in the RCC. Sure, it
had maps and phone numbers, and other important things, but we would
survive w/o
it… I
hoped.
At the
first drink service I request a nice cold Heineken to go along w/ my bowl
of warm nuts. Mmmm… nothing like a cold beer and mixed nuts. I am done w/
the first Heineken before the FAs finish distributing the first round of
drinks. The making of a long flight were
in the
works.
For
Dinner, the menu read as:
Choice
of
Dessert
was the
usual Praline
Cheesecake
Being a
good catholic boy on a Friday in lent, I ordered the chicken but ate
everything else. Qip went with the chicken as well and enjoyed it. Dessert
seemed nothing out of the ordinary that one would expect on a usual
Trans-con in
F.
I don’t
remember all the movie choices as we both turned Kevin Spacey’s K-PAX on
for our entertainment. I was thoroughly enjoying the movie as well as my
bottomless glass of Heineken… too much. I popped some Tylenol PM and was
asleep before I found out about Prot’s
return to
K-PAX.
I awoke
about two hours later to see the second airing of K-Pax’s credits rolling.
Everyone in the cabin was asleep, so I stowed my personal video screen
and re-joined
them!
The
pr-arrival Continental Breakfast w/ fresh fruit was being served as I
awoke. I declined it and went to the bathroom to freshen up. As I was in
queue for the lav, the FA asked me if I’d like a Heineken to start the
morning. Jokingly, I reply “After I brush
my teeth.
OK?”
Now this
leads me to the toothpaste that is given out in the Business Amenity Kits…
What is up with this stuff??? I mean, sure the word has “paste” in it, but
c’mon. This stuff is horrible.
Plain and
simple.
Shortly
after I returned to my seat, the FA brought a Heineken back to me. I
thought I was joking, but I guess he didn’t pick up on that. Oh well… 7:45
in the a.m.
isn’t that
early!
Saturday
9Mar
We hit an
ATM and got some British Pounds and made a quick buy at a store for a
London city map. Qip and I followed the signs to the Underground. As he
was in the queue to purchase tickets, I noticed a very attractive Virgin
Atlantic FA standing in line. I could only be so lucky if we were on
the same
train…
Qip got
the tickets and we made our way down the escalator for the Piccadily Line
Train to take us to the hotel. As we were waiting, My favorite Virgin
Atlantic FA came down the escalator as we were boarding. YES! A great 45
minute train ride it would be! Being at the end of the line, we had no
problems getting a seat, but the Underground’s cabin did fill up quickly.
Just as the doors were closing a female, came rushing on board and took a
seat next to Qip. It was none other than the young, attractive, dark curly
haired, thin 5’4” FA who was on
our IAD-LHR
flight.
About 2
minutes into our train ride, I start chatting w/ the young, attractive,
dark curly haired, thin 5’4” FA. We quickly learned that her name was Dawn
and she used to be based at SFO. She was very helpful, in assisting us w/
places to go and the like for that Saturday night. Unfortunately the 45
minute trip on the Underground to Piccadilly Circus went by too fast (plus
I missed my Virgin Atlantic FA get off of the train somewhere in between),
and we had to separate from the young, attractive, dark curly haired, thin
5’4” FA. We bid adieu and
we were
off.
Getting
our bearing on the map to where we were, Qip and I made our trek to
Hilton’s Trafalgar
Hotel.
Going
Somewhere
We
continued down the street shortly before noon and spotted Big Ben, not
once, but twice. From there, we walked past Parliament and Westminster
Abbey. We followed the signs and made our way to Buckingham Palace where
it was completely mobbed with people all lounging around this thing. At
this time, we realised that hunger was starting to kick in and we began to
hunt down the nearest pub that served
fish and
chips.
We didn’t
realise how much time had passed after tasting some of the local brews and
chomping on some fish and chips. The day was passing us and it was 3:30pm.
We decided to head up to the National Portrait Gallery. We browsed around
there and realised that we were running on empty. We got back to the hotel
and made a call back to the Seattle for a phone number of a friend, Tomas,
who is now studying at Oxford. We get the number, and place a call to Tom.
We arrange to meet him around 8pm in the lobby of the Trafalgar. Now that
our evening plans were firming up we retire for an hour or so to make sure
we could make the most out of our Saturday
night in
London.
Saturday
night, we just stayed local to the pubs around Trafalgar Square. We
munched on chips and fish (again) and drank an impressive amount of beer.
Now, I must say that I was not expecting this, but at 11:15 the pub made a
“last call”. Umm… EXUSE ME??? It is at this point that I realise how NOT
COOL that is. Anyways, we get kicked out of the bar around 11:30 and Tomas
decides to take the train back to his parent’s place in East Horsely. Qip
and I are on a mission to
find more
beer.
We make
our way up to Leicester Square where it seemed a concentration of night
life was going on. I give our young, attractive, dark curly haired, thin
5’4” FA a phone call and agree to meet up w/ her and her roommate at some
random club. We waited in line at this club, and it seemed that it had the
largest number attractive females in line. The bouncer person gave us some
lip about not letting us in, but with a sweet American accent and the
ability to talk about surfing, he lets us in gratis as everyone else was
turning over a £6 cover charge. We found our United flight attendant and
her FA flatmate, drank some more and danced it up until 2:30 or so.
Leaving the techno-hip-hop dance club, the four of us made our way to a
café where pizza and beer were being served. The pizza tasted horribly but
it did a wonderful job in satisfying the need for food. We make our way
back to the Trafalgar and retire
for the
night.
To be
continued…
Sunday
10Mar
Sunday
would be our museum day. We started walking up the Strand where we heard
there was a Starbucks. Qip and I each got our usual drinks from the
overpriced coffee shop and we made our way to the British Museum. Our
route took us through Convent Gardens and all the shops that one
can find
there.
We
finally arrive at the British Museum and make our way when a face caught
our attention. Never one to turn down an opportunity for a photo, I
inspect the face a bit closer. Qip and I split up and I enjoy perusing the
Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Asian, African, and North American artifacts. We
meet up in the grand lobby of the museum and I pick up some souvenir
rosetta stone pencil sharpeners for the
roommates at
home!
Seeing as
it was nearly 2pm, we realised that we needed a drink. Coincedently, a
wonderful drinking establishment by the name of the Museum Tavern was a
mere 23 steps away. We enjoyed two beers and made our way back towards
Trafalgar Square and
the National
Gallery.
As we
approached the National Gallery, we realised that time would be winding
down. Anyways, we split up again, as I had very little interest in Flemish
art. After our separate tours of the Gallery, I stop to pick up some
London t-shirts and postcards for my
niece and
nephew.
From
there we take the quick jaunt to The Trafalgar to pick up our luggage. We
hop on the Northern Line to Waterloo station where we picked up the
National Rail line heading out to East
Horsley to
Tom’s.
When we
were picked up at the Train Station, my eyes jumped with glee at the
opportunity of driving Tom’s mini-Peugeot. I asked, if I could drive home
and he said sure. Oh man, was I so excited at the chance to drive on the
left side of the road. Unfortunately, I suffered a HUGE letdown as the
Peugot had a manual transmission, and you guessed it, I can’t drive a
stick! I was sorely upset and relegated
to the
backseat.
Sunday
evening at Tom’s was quite enjoyable as a wonderful dinner was made and
wine flowed like water. Having a cricket pitch in his backyard, I asked if
he could turn the flood lights on and if we could play. Tom surmised that
his neigbors wouldn’t appreciate that too much and instead we just watched
the South Africa-
Australia test
match.
Monday
11Mar
Qip and I
were dropped off at around 8:45 and we made our way to the United
Business class
check-in.
Check-in
was a hassle-free and the agent was able to secure 12 H&J after a
while. We were invited through a special security line and were able to
breeze through x-raying w/o any problems or issues. We meandered around
and then finally remembered that we had promised thumbgirl that we’d pick
up her a bottle of Hugo’s ‘Red’ at the Duty Free shop. The perfume, cost
£24.60 and we had £25
combined. Just
Perfect!
We made
our way to whatever gate we were supposed to go to, passing the RCC as we
saw the time was now 9:15a. At boarding an agent brought Qip and myself
directly to secondary screening. These security agents were very polite
and courteous, which was a very welcomed difference from the folks
in the
US.
We took
our seats on the flight to EWR and noticed a nearly empty Business cabin.
Our takeoff was delayed a bit as we were waiting for 6 passengers coming
off of a BD flight. The taxi out to the runway was very impressive as we
passed the BA terminal. The 74s and 77s lined up next to each other was
very impressive and kind of artistic. I also saw for the first time,
a BA
narrow-body.
I was in
the aisle seat as we were taking off and I was looking out the window.
About 3 seconds after takeoff I looked and saw the very familiar
light-blue B747 with the seal of the United States on it. It was nothing
other than Vice President Cheney’s Air Force Two as he was in London for
a short
stay.
The lunch
service consisted of a Crayfish and salad appetizer. Followed up w/ a
choice of:
I went
with the cajun chicken and Qip had the seafood. Neither of us were
dissatisfied w/ our meals as our plates were
nearly licked
clean.
Dessert
was Chocolate tort w/ raspberry sauce and a very nice refreshing treat
from the usual cheesecake, that I have become accustomed
to on
UA.
An hour
and a half outside of EWR we were offered the choice of:
Being the
health concious person I am, I decided the cheese plate was the
way to
go.
Arrival
into EWR was from the south as we cruised up the NJ Turnpike, and we
taxi’d to our gate at the international temrinal. There was a decent line
at the United States nationals line as two CO flights had just beaten us
in. Processing still took under 10 minutes and Customs
was a
sinch.
Qip and I
made our way to the AirTrain where Qip was off to DEN and SEA, and the
good 'ol fan of chex was off to Hertz and
a 2:30pm
meeting!
Qip was to fly on the 8:20a flight from SEA arriving into IAD
around 1600 where I would meet up with him. I was leaving the Garden State
on UA7303 scheduled to leave at 1600 and arrive at 1720. Early in the
morning I realised that no one at work was around. I called the 1K line
and asked to get from EWR to IAD on an earlier flight. The reservation
agent informed me that my layover would extend beyond 4 hours (which it
alredy had been) and she would have to re-price my fair. I quickly
reminded her that I was traveling on an international itin and she
confirmed me on the 1500
flight to
IAD.
Duet of duck confit and foie gras w/ pork
terrine along w/ Dried apricot and cherry
compote. w/
salad
-Filet w/ tomato artichoke compote w/ Dasil mashed potatoes and
spinach
-Macadamia nut breast of chicken w/ plum sauce w/ egg fried
rice
and bok
choy
Anyways, we arrive into Heathrow and use the Fast-Track
invitations to go through Immigration and then Customs. It was a breeze
and no hassles were given w/ my 2 day stay
in the
UK.
After checkin, Qip and I had to decide what to do. We first
rambled through Trafalgar Square and played w/ the pigeons there and the
lions as well! We then walked down some street past some place where there
were Imperial Guards. I dunno, these dudes were just standing there and
everyone was taking their picture with them, so I
did as
well.
I guess little sleep on the Trans-Atlantic flight on Friday
night, a short nap on Saturday and going to bed around 5am on Saturday
night meant we needed sleep. We were still able to wake up, shower, pack
and check-out before 12:30. We left our bags w/ the bellman and told him
we’d be back around 4pm to
pick them
up.
With a 9:45 departure, Tom thought leaving his country home at
7:15 would give proper time to get to Heathrow. Unfortunately, we left
late, and the drive on the M25 took about 3 times
longer than
expected.
-Filet w/ mushrooms w/ au gratin potatoes and peas
-Cajun
chicken w/ rizotto and onions
-fish and
scallop w/
fennel
-Cheese plate
w/ fruit
-Smoked bacon and onion
caserole in
potatoes
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