Day One and the fun has already started!

Heathrow is a monster of an airport!
We landed at dawn with a red sun rising on the horizon - it was 5 degrees warm.
It took about 4 hours to finally get through Customs and all the bits required and to work out how to get into the city.
So we took the underground - good idea at Heathrow but terrible idea by the time we got closer to the city. Hundreds of people trying to pack in to the wagons in an effort not to miss the train.

Let's just say I had some intimate moments with total strangers - boobs were touched, bottoms also - people breathing in my ear....all of which was promptly followed by a courteous 'sorry'!

Then we had to haul those dang heavy suitcases up and down the stairs of several train stations ( no lifts) and as I composed myself while trying to catch my breath Gayle just laughed at how unfit we both were!

We dropped our bags off at the Ibis Whitechapel after working out how to get there and headed off again into the Underground to go directly to Gayle's best shop in the whole world Harrod's.

The bottom floors look a bit like our Myer's stores but as you go up higher the floors take on a very Egyptian theme - very ostentatious.

The clothes and items are very expensive - very high end but there seems to be a lot of money floating around as the shop is packed and lots of people are walking around with Harrod's bags.

We stopped for something to eat and we must have looked a treat because when Gayle asked the waiter whether she could have another iced tea - she was told that 'we do not do refills here" - UM....
yeah?!!!!! I wasnt expecting a refill - I was expecting to PAY FOR IT!!"

Just a touch embarrasing!

Did we really look that boganish.

I think the waiter realised that he had really offended Gayle and bough her back a chocolate.

I had a burcher muesli with vanilla yoghurt and ginger stewed apples (thought it would help me shift a day's worth of aeroplane food) and Gayle had Welsh Rarebit and two iced teas.

We then hit the store and worked our way passed amazing crystals, 1000 pound bed sheets, 9000 pound pieces of luggage and shoes that were gorgeous but outrageously expensive.

Ahh...one can dream!

Finally we headed back to Whitechapel (again a squishy ride in the Tube) a quick visit to the local Tesco for some food and checking in to our room.

It was only later that we discovered that we were next to a Mosque with a call to prayer happening on a regular basis. Also Gayle discovered that we have a disco shower - when the water comes on there is a light in the shower head which changes colour.


The air conditioner doesnt work - so we currently have the window open but we can hear all the traffic outside and the toilet is in behind a cabinet in the wall.

Well all of this goes to make our first day a lot of fun.
Nothing terrible has happened and these little inconveniences all add to the fun.

Tomorrow we are heading to get on the Hop on hop off bus for a trip around London and stopping off at the Tower.

Now to sleep before I can no longer keep my eyes open.