We arrived at Gatwick around 7:00 am and breezed through Customs. Stopped to buy train tickets-Gatwick Express to London Bridge--then went on to baggage claim. We collected our luggage and followed the signs for the Southeast Terminal. The train was on time, but very crowded. We transferred to London Bridge, unfortunately in the middle of rush hour. It was very difficult getting the luggage on the train with everyone pushing ahead of the annoying American tourists.
Transferred at London Bridge to Old Street Station. Exited the station and had a very hard time finding the Hoxton since, of course, we hadn’t thought to bring the exact address. I remembered it was near Great Eastern Street, but despite having my handy A-Z, we still got quite lost and took another hour to find the hotel.
Check in was simple, even though we were very early. Went to our room on the 6th floor. The room was small, but very nice and comfortable. Ignoring all advice I’d ever read, we took a nap. Woke up around noon, showered, and then Dan was off to work. I walked with him to his office on Fenchurch, had a quick sandwich at Subway (wasn’t ready to try anything “new” yet), then I walked down to the London Bridge.
I was excited and just so proud of myself that I was able to find it on my own, and was giddy taking pictures, until I looked over and saw the Tower Bridge—I had to get there!
I left the Bridge and walked along the Queens Walk overlooking the Thames River. Snapped tons of pictures along the way. There are some amazing buildings along the river, especially City Hall.
Saw the HMS Belfast—impressive, but not really my thing—on to Tower Bridge!
I crossed the Bridge very, very slowly, camera out the whole time. I managed to get asked out along the way, but that is a different story. I didn’t take the “Tower Bridge Experience” and now I regret it a bit.
Came to the end of the Bridge, made my way through Dead Man’s Hole (giggling the entire time at the name) and made my way to the Tower of London. It was amazing to be in such a historical place, and odd to see a place known for such gruesome traditions lit up for the holidays and hosting an ice-skating rink! After watching the ice-skaters for a while, I used the public bathrooms (btw, the nicest and cleanest in London).
By now it was getting dark and I couldn’t resist snapping more pictures of the Tower Bridge, lit up against the beautiful nighttime sky.
Finally, I made my way back across the Tower Bridge and back down the Queen’s Walk. I got to see the Bridge lift to allow a boat to pass (and paused to listen to a tour guide tell his group how rarely it happens). I guess I thought I had far more endourance than I truly did. I set out to find Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, but it turned out to be much further then I realized, and gave up before I found it. On the way, however, I did come across Southwark Cathedral and The Golden Hinde.
I crossed the London Bridge, now lit up an interesting shade of pink, and traced my way back through the streets of London, making my way back to the Hoxton.
I used the free computers in the lobby to let my family know I survived my first day, and to let Dan know I found my way back to the hotel, then headed up to the room. Jet lag hit and I fell asleep waiting for Dan. We ate at the hotel restaurant, the Hoxton Grill (vegan pasta for me, bangers and mash for Dan), got a couple of beers from the corner store, then slept like the dead.
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