Hey guys! I’m blogging from the other side of the pond today: London, baby! From what should have been a super smooth journey, it was anything but. Where to start:
- I got to the airport on Sunday night and get told at immigration that I need to be offloaded my flight to sort out a visa issue.
- At the visa office first thing on Monday morning, I’m told the process is going to take at least a week. I freak out because I had a family wedding coming up in London in 3 days.
- Fortunately I landed a really nice officer who understood my circumstances, and agreed to do it for me in an hour. Hysterical fits of tears may or may not have helped sway him.
- I’m rebooked on another flight on Monday. Unlike my original flight which arrived at Heathrow, only flights landing at Gatwick were available.
- The commute from home to the airport usually takes me under 90 minutes. After sitting in the car for 2.5 hours, I was convinced I was going to miss my flight, which only meant one thing: Palpitation Central.
Fortunately by 10 pm on Monday, I was at the other end of the emotional spectrum: checked in, through security & waiting to board. After a 20 hour door-to-door journey, it was a physically and emotionally exhausting trip. That being said, it’s all a distant memory now. If anything it’s made me appreciate the little things all the more like:
- Free Wi-Fi & Pinkberry in the Dubai airport
- Catching up with an old friend over lunch Whole Foods (predictable or what ;)) and another with a walk through Regent’s Park
- Drinking a cup of liquid gold i.e. English breakfast tea with real English milk
- Indulging in some retail therapy
- Walking up, down and all around rather than rely on a car/public transport
- Spending the evening with family, some who I haven’t seen in years.
Yesterday was drizzly all day & I am jetlagged as hell. But damn, it feels good to be home!
Got any bad travel stories? Do tell…
What’s the best thing you ate yesterday?
Everything in this post (except visa issues) is tempting me to hop on the next flight there. There’s nothing like a London Summer. Enjoy the wedding and make sure to have a cuppa for me xxxx
We sure are missing you here 😀
Oh my God, this definitely IS a nightmare!! So glad you arrived safely and on time in the end.
My most adventurous trips happened to and in the Philippines. Travelling there is very SPECIAL and you need GOOD nerves 🙂
Enjoy London and have a great wedding!
PS. Switzerland is pretty nice too, so if you want to hop over quickly, you’re very welcome 🙂
Ah Switzerland sounds SO tempting…chocolate may or may not have something to do with that 😉
what a nightmare. Iam sure God will balance it out by making the trip super duper good.
Have fun
z
Thanks Zainab!
Oh my gosh I am so excited for you! What hell getting there you poor thing- I would have shed some serious tears too 🙁 travelling is stressful enough without added drama! I am gals you got there safe (and tired) in the end 🙂 London is so fantastic (I hear, I have never been!) I am very jealous ;)The tea alone is a draw card lol. I hope you have a fantastic time at the family wedding Khushboo. My mama and I caught a bus to Naples when I was 13, it was such a hilariously ill-fated venture- far too long for a comment- but it involved the mafia (not kidding!) and a nudist (which was only hilarious in retrospect!) The best thing I ate yesterday was a crusty baguette filled with Swiss cheese, olives, tomatoes and rare roast beef- it was a lovely lunch 🙂 And, lindt lindor ball gelato- I know- does a more perfect concept exist (I asked Sara from nourish and flourish- we think not) xo Sophia
OMG that must have been one heck off a bus ride! And just the thought of lindor ball gelato has me drooling ;)!
Glad not “gals” sorry!
I’m SO glad you managed to make it there safely! 🙂 Best thing I ate yesterday — smoked salmon 😀 And best thing today will be the cherry blossom roll from Kofuku! Enjoy London, wish I could walk around here, it’s what I miss most about NYC! And that fish you ate looks delish.
Mmm that’s my favorite roll there…hits the spot every time!
Yikes! I’m glad you made it here eventually. How do you have a US passport?!?
My friend arrived yesterday, and our first stop was Whole Foods as well haha. I’m surprised I didn’t see you in there!!
I got the passport via my mom as she lived in San Fran when she was younger! We went to the Piccadilly branch – kept it local 😀
Awwr girl, sorry to hear about all the travelling woes 🙁 I consider myself super lucky because I’ve never had to deal with anything like that… no lost luggage, no cancelled flights, no security issues… the worst I’ve had was flights being delayed for 30 mins or getting “randomly” selected for an additional patdown as I went through security. But I’m glad to hear that you made it over safely <3
Banging on wood on your behalf, Amanda..you are very lucky!
travelling stresses me out more than anything. it really really does. I am glad everything worked out in the end!
The stress starts from the packing!
I would’ve freaked out! Sounds like it all ended up ok in the end, which is what matters! Hope you have a blast in London. 🙂
I made a veggie pesto dish yesterday that turned out much better than expected. Yay!
Mmm that sounds good..I’ve been on a pesto kick lately, especially with pan-fried zucchini!
Glad you made it to London okay though! And the things you did after sound like great mood uplifters. Are those chopped macadamias in your Pinkberry :D?
Hazelnuts 😀
travel problems are the worst- they give me so much anxiety so i really feel for you! sounds like you recovered nicely though 🙂 best thing i ate yesterday was a tabouli salad from my favorite place in boston for tabouli salad, soo yummy!
Mmm I hope hummus was involved 😀
Ah, that just sounds like such a stressful trip! I’ve been lucky so far (knock on wood) to avoid any issues like that. I’m glad to hear you made it over there though and have been enjoying your time so far!
Knocking on wood for you too 😀
im sorry about the hassle and bless that officers heart 🙂 you have some fun there and keep us updated!
Thanks Dixya 😀
Oh yikes! Sounds like it started off a bit rocky, but it can only go up for here, right?!
I’m already afraid of airplanes and all that travel, so that would totally throw me off.
Glad to hear you made it over there safe and sound!
Haha after losing my suitcase twice, I went through a long period of getting nervous about checking in important things…and just when I was over it, something new comes up 😉
Ha! funny you should post this today, I just had one of the worst experiences with a *flight* this past week. It was beyond hellish. Bottom line, what was supposed to be a 2 hour flight, turned into 6+ hours on the airplane. Luckily, I’ve never had to deal with visa issues. Have fun in London!
Oh lord delayed flights are a pain but when you’re stuck on board? That stress multiplies by like a thousand!!
Wow, that does sound like a nightmare and would be SO stressful!! But thankfully things worked out for you!
Thanks Hannah 😀
AH so sorry about your troubles, but so glad you made it alright!! Traveling can be SO stressful at times!! Froyo almost always makes up for things though!! Glad you’ve been having a blast!
Agreed- there’s (almost) nothing fro yo can’t fix!! 😉
Awww… so glad you made it to London safe and sound. I’ve had some travel nightmares… but it was my own fault, once I planned a trip on miles from Genoa to the USA… i went from GEnoa to Munich to London to NY. 17 hours total. my husband was PISSED! and from now on I’m not allowed to use miles unless he okays the journey. lol.
I have to ask, how come you have a US passport if you are from the UK?
Oh man that’s one heck of a long journey- although given the number of stops, 17 hours isn’t too bad.
My mom grew up in San Francisco so I got the passport through her! 🙂
So glad you made it safe and sound! How stressful!!! Enjoy your trip! I love London!!!
Thanks Jess- I love London too 😀
I’m so sorry the trip was so stressful! But I’m relieved to hear you made it there all right in the end!
I don’t think I’ve had a flight experience as bad as yours, just a few bad delays that have caused me to arrive at my destination at 2 or 3 in the morning. I also had a delay that caused me to miss my connecting flight, but I was honestly kind of thankful for that one because I was able to stay an extra day with my grandparents 😉
Have a lovely time in London! Such a wonderful city 🙂
Flight delays are sometimes blessings in disguises..even better when they come with some kind of compensation 😉
I am so sorry you had to deal with this! What a pain the entire thing must have been…so glad you got to London safe and sound.
I wish I was there! Have a blast at the wedding.
Thanks Ameena- luckily being in London this time of the year makes the hassle of travelling so worth it 😀
Oh man, trip from hell is an understatement but like you said, you’re there and you’re home. I’m sure you had a blast at the wedding. I’ve been stuck in airports overnight more times than I’d like to admit. It’s a pain, but it’s always been on the way home, so I never missed any of my trips.
Oh man, I think I would lose it if I had to stay overnight in the airport- glad you can see the positives i.e. that it was towards the end of your trip!!