Arrived in London England UK

I arrived in England today at 7am. I ended up being the last person through customs as the custom’s officer was giving me a hard time. I didn’t have my itinerate on paper to show him (it was on my laptop) and he said my passport had no history (just obtained a new one last December) and I didn’t have a return ticket to show him. So I got a bit of a lecture and he said he wrote a warning in my passport.

I finally got out and there was only one bag left on the carousal; my backpack. So I grabbed it and went to purchase a train ticket. The high speed train is like £24.50 and takes 15 minutes to Paddington station. Well the tube is only £5.60 so the Dutch in me took the obvious route. I also learned I had to take the tube to the next station. The tube took 35 minutes and the express took 15 minutes.

The problem was my friend Ben Corrie was waiting for me and he had to go and teach a class to a group of high tuition paying corporate students. He ended up being 10 minutes late. He had to meet me to give me the keys to his flat. Another Dutch decision; stay with a friend. Ben stayed with us last Christmas for 10 days, so it’s not like I am imposing.

So now I have my keys and I figure out how to take the tube close to his place. Well I was close but had to walk. I looked like a touristic zombie with a huge 80 litre Bora 80 Arcteryx back pack and a laptop in my hand, open trying to see the map on a sun washed screen. I eventually found the flat and figured out how to use the skeleton key and deadbolt in the right order.


Here is a picture of the complex Ben's flat is in and his street. That is his Land Rover out front.



Here is a picture of Ben’s flat.


Here is his Kitchen




Here is where I am staying (the living room)

Well it is time for bed now.