Well, our two days in London are almost over, and tonight we “sit back, relax and enjoy the flight” for 11 hours to Johannesburg. I would have enjoyed the night flight from Miami to Heathrow much more, if the temperature on the plane hadn’t been so freezing cold, and also if the guy in front of me hadn’t had his seat fully reclined for the whole of the trip. The extra space one pays for in Premium Economy is somewhat negated when the seat in front is right in one’s face. I’m sure Virgin must have added an extra row of seats and squeezed everyone up.
We had fabulous sunny and warm weather for both days we were here, and took the train up to London to just wander around and do a little shopping. Eros seemed to be doing a happy dance under the beautiful blue sky.
I had to take a pic of the beautiful architecture in the Old Brompton Road.
Of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to Harrods., so we took the tube to Knightsbridge, and had a good browse around the amazing and pricey merchandise on all seven floors. A million square feet of luxury and everyday items, and all I bought was a box of crystallised ginger for my mom. I couldn’t resist having my photo taken with this giant Harrods teddy bear.
We walked our legs off around London’s streets, looking at nothing in particular and everything in general. There’s just something so unique about this city, and although it’s terribly crowded and noisy, there’s always something to admire. Here’s the historic London Pavilion, and the inevitable London red bus. Do any of you know what the statue is on the top?
One thing I didn’t get a photo of, was the metallic gold Ferrari convertible which roared away from the traffic lights like a bat out of hell with attitude. The last time we were in Knightsbridge, I saw this Gold Spider 458, so maybe the owner had swapped it for the latest model. Too much money, so little taste.
In a few minutes we’ll be on our way to Heathrow to await our eleven hour overnight flight to South Africa, and tomorrow we’ll be driving down to the coast, where we’ll meet up with our daughter who is flying down from Johannesburg. I’m so looking forward to seeing her, as well as my sister and my mom. See you on the other side of the ocean.
Have a great weekend.
🙂 Great shots, and London looks so welcoming with a huge teddy and blue skies. I am sorry about uncomfy flight, Sylvia.
Thanks, Paula. It wasn’t a pleasant flight at all, but we had a good time in London. 🙂
Nice pictures. We were planning 2 weeks there; if all had gone to plan, I’d be flying home form London tomorrow, 29th! Alas! Instead, I’m at home doing yardwork most days..
Not a Ferrari fan, so a gold one is completely not my cuppa. That statue of top is Neptune, no?
That’s a great pity. It’s a lovely time of. year to be in London. I have no idea if the statue is Neptune, but I quite like the idea. 😃
You’ll be ‘in recovery’ 🙂 Happy hols!
Thanks, Jo. I now need to recover from my bad cold and losing my voice. Woke up this morning and I couldn’t find it anywhere. 😦
Not the best start 😦 Miserable being somewhere warm and full of cold. But think of the peace the family will have 🙂 Get it back in time to sing Happy Birthday though, won’t you? Hugs!
I sang Happy Birthday yesterday. Now all the festivities are over and our daughter has gone back to Johannesburg, I can collapse in a heap for a couple of days. 🙂
THAT’s why you’ve lost your voice!!! Collapse peacefully and get well soon. 🙂
Beautiful snapshots of London Sylvia. Hope your onward flight was much more comfortable.
Thanks so much, Madhu. Yes, it was far more pleasant, but two hours longer than the flight to London. The cabin temperature was much better and the so was the service. I also didn’t have anyone sitting in my lap, which really helped a lot. 🙂
Dang! I’m twice jealous. My sister was just there! I was so happy for her. Then again, been so jelly of the pictures I was seeing. Hihi. So happy for you too. 🙂 How ungrateful of me when I’m actually enjoying my time here in Greece.
Hehehe Even YOU can’t be in two places at once. 😀
Lovely to see your wonderful pics of you in London Sylvia…and by now, you will be enjoying your time with your family in SA. So rude of that passenger, I’ve had that happen to me too. Have a wonderful time and happy, safe travels everywhere you go 🙂 xx
Thanks so much, Sherri. Yes, having a great family time here in SA. Mom’s Birthday party went so well. 🙂
Wonderful, so happy for you dear Sylvia 🙂 xxxx
Cheers to your few days in London … and the weather looks wonderful! The gold Ferrari not for me either … but it was interesting to see. See travels!
Thanks so much, Frank. 🙂
That car still looked great even if it is an extravagant status symbol.
Like London great to look at but I would not like to live there.
It is there so enjoy it as I enjoy your post.
Thanks so much, Jack. I can just see you and Pauline in the gold Ferrari. 😀
Pauline would be driving she would not trust me. I just might give it the old lead foot.😎 😉
Hahaha. She knows you too well. 🙂
Thanks for the update, Sylvia. Great that your other flight was more comfortable! And now you’re enjoying the fabulous vistas on the coast, in good time before your mom’s birthday! Have a wonderful time!
Thanks, Tiny. Mom had a lovely birthday party today. 🙂
I’m very happy to hear that!
Hope you had a great trip to SA too!
Thanks, Aletta. Not to bad a trip, but it was far too long. 😕
Have a wonderful time Sylvia!
Thanks so much, Nicole. 🙂
I am always amazed at how much I walk when I travel; I just have to see it all…Travel has always been my best weight loss program.
Yes, you’re so right. We also do a huge amount of walking on holiday. 🙂
Sounds like you enjoyed your short stay in London. Hope the flight to South Africa was more comfortable
Thanks, TA. Night flights are never comfortable, but this one was better. 🙂
Happy London visit Sylvia! Here’s to Harrods ~
Thanks, Mary. I always have to go to Harrods. 🙂
Nice to see you in London, in all the places I know.! Hope you have more space on your next flight! Enjoy and stay safe!
Thanks, Ute. Yes there was more space, but the flight was two hours longer. Then a seven hour drive down to the coast. I’m finished! 😕
Safe flight!
Thanks, Nancy. We arrived safely. 🙂
Hope you have a more considerate person in front of you on the next leg Sylvia. Lovely to just wander around taking in the amazing vibe of a great city. Safe travels to SA…
Thanks, Pauline. Yes, the second flight was far more pleasant, and the air temperature was better too. 🙂
Hello
I invite you to see new photos on my blog.
Have a nice weekend.
😀
Love the Ferrari… although not in gold. 🙂 Have a good trip.
Thanks, Kathleen. I think a Ferrari has to be red. 🙂
in oggi viaggio a Londra si ha sempre modo di scoprire qualcosa di nuovo non ci si stanca mai di essere sorpresi! Buon viaggio di ritorno nella tua nuova casa in Sudafrica…non ho notzie, l’hai poi finita?
un grande sorriso
Yes, as Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” 🙂 We are in South Africa for a month, then back to England, then back to Florida. I’m exhausted just thinking about all those flights. 🙂
Arrgh. I hate the way we get crammed into planes these days. Hope the flight to South Africa is more comfortable.
Thanks so much. Yes it was more pleasant in many ways, and the coffee was hot too. 🙂
You and that bear – very, very cute couple. I hope your hubby isn’t too jealous 😉
Hahaha. Thanks, Mabel. No, hubby knows that he’s the only man for me, 😀
You pretty much summed up the reason I can’t bring myself to do any flying anymore in that first paragraph. Eleven hour flight is like my worst nightmare, but I suppose it can’t be helped with the places you two want to go. I know you’ll get to relax once you arrive back in familiar territory.
I’m feeling better after a bath and sitting with my feet up. Long haul flights do get intolerable. I think I’m getting too old for this lark. 😕 Off to bed soon. I’ll probably feel different in the morning. 🙂
Thanks for the update! Nice to travel along with you on your journey!
Thanks so much for coming along with me, Torrie. Tomorrow I go to see my mom, our daughter and my sister. So excited! 🙂
I’d go for Britannia on the building, but not being a Londoner I could be totally wrong! And I hate it when people lie in your lap like that, how are you supposed to see the screen to watch a movie? Or eat a meal? Selfish… hope tonight’s flight is much better and see you in SA!!
Thanks, Jude. I did look to see if Wiki would enlighten me, but couldn’t find it. The flight to SA was much more pleasant, but sooo long. 😕
Awesome Friday in London.. I like it.
Thanks, YC. Yes, we did have fun. 🙂
Great photo’s of Londen .Hope you get a nice flight to Johannesburg.
Thanks, Marylou. Yes it was a better flying experience. 🙂
Beautiful photos of London. Hope you have a nice flight with a little more room than the last one. Looking forward to the next leg of your journey 🙂
Thanks so much, Ingrid. Yes, I did have a bit more space. 🙂
safe travels once again! Loved your photos- you and the teddy bear is a great one!
Thanks so much, Lisa. I couldn’t resist the photo with Mr. Bear. 🙂
Great shots of London. Lucky you with the weather.
Thanks, Debra. Yes, we were very lucky indeed. 🙂
Safe travels, Sylvia…and let’s hope for a better flight re fellow passengers
Fab post,with great pics…..
Hope you won’t freeze during your next flight , and have a polite passenger in front of you !
Wishing you all the best, a big hug from
A.
Thanks so much for your kind wishes. 😃
I admit to having a phobia about flying, Sylvia, not assisted by your story of selfish passengers attempting to crush your legs. Anyway, so glad that you had a wonderful time in London. And now I know which city stole the blue skies from us shivering mortals on the SE coast!
Thanks, Sarah. I have to say that as I get older, flying is becoming far less appealing. Sorry about stealing your blue skies. You may have them back now. 😀
We are traveling to same route in reverse……Got lost in White River SA today….quite an experience!
It’s a very long time since we were in White River. I wonder if it’s changed a lot in 30 years. Safe travels. Cindy.
Pragtige foto’s soos gewoonlik
Thank you. So pleased you enjoyed them. 🙂 xx
thank you for taking me back to a fabulous city, Sylvia! i’ll take London anytime! 🙂
thanks for sharing and safe travels to J. 🙂
Thanks, Lola. Yes, London is a great city to visit, especially when the weather’s nice. 🙂
Thanks for sharing:)
Thanks for your visit here, Mukhamani. 🙂
That place looks familiar! 🙂 I think the statue on the Pavilion looks like Britannia, but I’m not sure. Hope your next flight doesn’t have a rude person reclining their seat in front of you!
That’s what I guessed. I hope so too. 😃
Oh man that’s what I hate about selfish people who recline all the time, I’m no shy about expressing my dislike either though, I tell them right out.
.. Politely of course 😛
He was a lot bigger than hubby and me too. 😳
It’s like a domino effect on planes. One person puts their seat back and everyone else has to. I really used to try not to, despite the discomfort.
Looks like a cross between Boadicea and Britannia.
I like London. Years since I’ve been though. I loved working there. It’s soooooo exuberant.
Buen viaje for the next leg. 🙂
Thanks, Kate. I also try to be considerate of the person behind me. He was also one of these bouncy people who can’t sit still. I wanted to hit him over the head with my bread roll. 😄
Yeah. It’s not the fault of the person behind because the one in front is thoughtless. We had one in front passenger shove his seat back and spill my red wine. We ended up with bottles of champagne as compensation 🙂
I too hate it when people just stretch themselves eating up so much space that too in daytime !!! And after paying extra, this must have been horrible !!! Lovely pics and have a safe trip 😀 Eagerly waiting to see a new world from your eyes 🙂
Thanks so much, Ady. I’m so looking forward to seeing ‘my’ beach again. 🙂
Just like my office, airplanes are always freezing. I can’t stand that! Wow, thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.You look so cute standing with the teddy bear, Sylvia. Have a wonderful time!
Thanks, Jill. How is one supposed to work or relax with cold air blowing straight at one? I turned off the air flow thingies over our seats, but it didn’t seem to help. Maybe I’ll complain if it’s the same story tonight. I don’t like making a fuss though. I’m all for a quiet life. 😃
Wow…… Fab shots, how fun. I don’t envy sitting with that man in your lap, . I can’t imagine being on a plane for that length of time. Your pics are great. One day I’ll make it to England;)! Looking forward to your next adventure 😉 can’t wait. Safe travels .
Thanks, Kathy. Glad you’re enjoying my adventure. I luckily didn’t have a strange man in my lap on last night’s flight. 🙂
whew, glad to hear that:)
Oh I hate when the person reclines the seat all the way like that – and did you say even with an upgrade! argh. Eros in the blue sky is a great capture – and I really like the biker/grand building shot…
and safe travels on your next flight xxoo
Thanks, Yvette. Glad you enjoyed my ‘point and shoots’. 🙂 We’re safely in Umhlanga now, but very tired after what seems like a very long two days. xx
xxoo