Home Sweet Home

 One last view of Thames, out of window of house, as packed up and headed across The Pond....

Then join morning traffic getting to airport.

Delta and Virgin Atlantic share counters, kind of, so confusing where to check in and drop bag. And seems "lack of communication" an international issue as told to go to one of Virgin counters where staff said we needed to go to Delta?!? Explained told to go there by Delta and Virgin so she accepted bags! But said had to go back to Delta for security check and sticker on passport before main security (TSA)?? No wonder airports crowded these days, a maze to get through with back and forth and even agents not sure what is going on?!?

As advised, we got there 3 hours ahead so had time for some shopping Duty Free and whatever. And one last breakfast...Full English would have been nice but a bit much when sitting on a plane all day! Shirley had bagel wirh egg and bacon and I had poached egg on toast and Cumberland sausage and both had one last pot of tea :)  

Then Shirley and I needed to head to our gates. Shirley returning to St Louis via Detroit, as better schedule, and I flew direct to Atlanta. 

Luckily although flights pretty full we both lucked out and had empty seats next to us for long flights. Detroit is not big International hub so Shirley able to quickly clear immigration and customs. Atlanta being big International Hub had long line at Immigration and took about 40 minutes to clear, as usual! 

Atlanta Immigration line winding to agents . . ,

Then rides arrived and took us HOME❣️😊

Shirley did not want to see UK/London on a tour where on and off bus with a group of Americans. I can guarantee you - she did not see that at all!! 🤔

No American style hotels but stayed in flats and houses with all kinds of plumbing, showers, toilets, locks, stoves, plugs, lighting, tvs, stairs, doors, washers and dryers, gardens and on all kinds of streets. 

She rode public transport, buses, boats and tube, like locals - no a/c coaches. And she really leaned about small country roads, speed cameras, round abouts, unclear GPS instructions so driver stressed as not sure which way to go, locating Park and Display machines and Parking signs.

She grocery shopped at Sainsbury Local, M&S Food, local corner shop/Post Office, outdoor market and Aldi's. 

She met up with English and other nationalities while out or for lunches and tours of boats and Palaces to hear their take on exhibits and life. And even some political comments! Ask her what they think of Harry🤣

She did not eat at American style hotels serving American style meals. Meals at pubs, Pret-A-Manger English chain, Kebab house, small sandwich Cafe, English hotel for tea, English Pizza chain, take and bake meals from English grocers. We did go in a McDs to look but did not buy!!

Yes, we did do Tourist sites but with locals and the Multi-media guides giving details not tour guides giving quick overview. Although some places just walked around like Trafalgar or The Mall. And as on our own could spend as much time as wanted looking at a room/painting/stained glass window/wood carving/furniture piece. Or take a break and sit and take it in before moving on. Plus as we set the schedule, could do services at Cathedrals or Royal Chapel and hear beautiful choirs perform. Or get up early and share Communion with local brother and sisters in Christ as ee are all part of worldwide church. And as Open Day at Oxford able to walk in and out of places not usually open, without a fee or appointment. We could do what rooms we wanted to do at a museum, we could sit in a cafe in crypt and be amazed at ceiling and surroundings while having a cold drink, or wash hands with sink in front of stained glass windows! We could take in a Charity production, see English theatre and help out horses at same time. And learn about and use Red Pillar Mailboxes!

We could shop when saw places wanted to go in be it a Souvenir store, a candy store, a brush store, a charity shop, a bookstore or Department store like Harrods or Marks and Spensers! 

Choices were ours to make . . .

Maybe commentary would have been better from trained tour guide who had reference book always at hand. Maybe some days an American meal would have been better than yet again trying new and different. Maybe sitting on an a/c coach would have been better than a hot tube ride. Maybe having a small hotel room with a/c would have been better than a fan in bedroom on a hot night. Maybe seeing more and just as overview would be more comprehensive. Who knows??  

Shirley was great and went with the flow of a local and I think got to see a more "real" view of UK. She even got good at which way to look on crossing a road, we walked across a lot since not on tour bus!  A real accomplishment since "backwards" to what used to 😉

Thank you Shirley for letting me "play tour guide" and seeing UK through fresh eyes and noticing things had forgotten about or never noticed. I loved it!

The unreal part was weather! September usually warm, not hot, and rain showers -- not in 2023! UK had record heat, 93 one day, which made walking, being inside and getting around hard at times but we managed! Hardly used rain jackets, umbrellas or long sleeves packed but did use washers and dryers 🙂 

Now it's time to catch up on sleep, enjoy a/c, have lots of ice in drinks and understand what people are saying as no funny accents 🤣

And think about next travel adventure . . . 

“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

"Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” Anthony Bourdain

"When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen

Until next trip...stay well and Thank You for reading and loved the comments ❤️