London 1999 Diary

Monday, Dec. 13, 1999
9:15 AM, England time

Well, here I am in England. Haven't been to London yet. Tomorrow probably. For the next few days we're staying in Maidenhead, at a hotel called the Boulter's Lock.

Maidenhead is a city (well, I'm not sure it's big enough to count as a city) right on the Thames, like London. It's about 25 km west of London, but there's a train that goes there from downtown.

From what little I've seen on England, I find it very pretty and picturesque. It reminds me of a country cottage. Dad says it's like the landscape is 'manicured'. Even out hotel is really pretty. It's right on the Thames, which is very narrow where we are. (It couldn't be more than 50 feet across.) It was built sometime in the 1700s, or so it claims.

I'll tell you one thing, though: there is no way I could afford to come here by myself. Breakfast for the two of us was 19 £ (about $50). And that's just breakfast. Dad doesn't really like the hotel. He finds it too old and too far away from where he needs to get to (the GM plant where he's teaching his course). I love it, however. I find it charming, and the people are very nice.

And I love British accents. On the way here we were talking with the cab driver (London cabs are amazing). Well, Dad and the driver were talking and I was listening. And I can't get over the accent. It's enchanting!

Another thing that's enchanting: flying over Ireland and England in clear weather. I was looking out the window the entire time. I never realized how many small towns there were or how close together there were. You could practically walk across the whole country!

The weather is really nice here, and there's still leaves on some of the threes. No snow. And I even saw ducks on the river as I was having breakfast!

So far, I haven't seen enough to say I'm having a good time, but it looks to be shaping up to be a great trip!

Julie

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