Today is a big travel day. I woke up at 8:00 and dabble around a while packing and getting ready. I went to have breakfast at 9:00. After breakfast, I returned to my room and packed the best I could. I just read for a while and then left the guesthouse a little before 11:00. I had to walk a couple if blocks to catch the Airlink bus that would take me directly to the airport (€6 one way, €10 return).
At the airport, I checked in my bag. It weighed 14.6 kg. I thought it would be heavier. Then I went through security and waited at the gates for a couple of hours. I was traveling with Ryanair. They don't have assigned seating. You can seat wherever you want when you get on. The plane was compact with lots of seats and the seats don't recline. Also, everything on the plane cost money. No complementary drinks or snacks. They were also selling 'Hello' magazine, newspaper, scratchcards for charity, smokeless cigarette (just tubes with nicotine) and legal on planes, and food and drinks. Good thing this was a slightly over an hour flight. Also, the landing wasn't the smoothest. Almost everyone jumped up from their seats when we landed.
After on our way out to baggage claim, I got stopped at 'customs' because I didn't have an UK or EU passport. The passengers traveling across the channels didn't have to go through customs. It's just like traveling cross country. So, anyways, since I had a Canadian passport, I was asked the typical questions like if I was on vacation, how long am I staying, etc. After that, I was free to go. I picked up my luggage and went straight for the trains. I took the express train from Gatwick to London Victoria (£18.90 one way). After, I bought a single (one way) fare (£4.30) to get to the hotel. The one way fare was a rip off because you can get a day pass for zones 1&2 for £8.40, but that was OK since I wasn't planning on taking the tube elsewhere today. I took the Circle train and got to Bayswater Station. I was a bit disoriented about the directions. It took me a few minutes of walking around to figure it out. By the time I got to the hotel, I was hot and sweaty. Dublin was cloudy and but cold, and London was sunny and hot.
After I deposited my luggage, I freshened up and went exploring around the hotel and went to sit in Kensington Park for a little while. The street off the tube station, Queensway, is one long street with lots of multiethnic restaurants and souvenir shops. There were lots of Chinese restaurant along the street. I found one selling noodle soup. I ordered roast duck ho fan noodle soup. I got free Chinese tea and orange slices at the end. After, I headed back to the hotel. The hotel didn't have free wifi. It cost £2/hour. I bought an hour since you can split up the hour of uses. For the reminder of the evening, I started figuring out how much I've spent on this trip. I've already blown my budget I knew that when I was in Ireland.
Tomorrow's agenda: Harry Potter Studio tour and walking around London
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