FIRST DAY IN LONDON

Once we landed in Shannon Airport, we had to go get our passport stamped, and then through security again. The gate info was not going to be posted until 7:00 AM.

Gwyn went looking in the duty free shop. Lots of Christmas stuff.

Our departure gate for London was Gate 8. We walked down to it and only waited about 15 minutes before we boarded. Our plane took off at 8:02 AM. A bit cloudy as we ascended. On our way to London!

We landed at Heathrow, and went looking for breakfast. Found a Caffè Nero and I had a yogurt, pain au chocolate and a luxury hot chocolate. Gwyn had a porridge and coffee. A young couple had three little ones that were well behaved. Dad helped the older one build his dinosaurs. Walked to the Elizabeth Line tube stop and headed to Aldgate East. First got our tickets at the self vending machine. Took the elevator down to floor 0. On to the tube and London! Sat across from a younger lady who was a doctor from Inverness down to see her family. Her brother has been in Dubai since October, so everyone was coming to London for an early Christmas.

We got off the tube and started walking. After a bit we were walking the wrong way, but my phone was showing us the direction upside down. We continued to Leman Locke, our hotel for the week. We were early, but they took our bags until our room would be ready at 4:00. We walked down the street, and found The Pastry Parlour. The pressed pear juice was really good. We sat outside since it was cooler than inside. There was a really neat metal sculpture of horses running in the water. Next we looked and saw that Spitalfield Markets was only 15 minutes away, so off we went. Walked by a Pret A Manger so we knew what supper would be. Spitalfields was filled with all sorts of neat vendors and stalls. Found socks, t-shirts and food. We spent a few hours roaming around there. We then took a walk and headed toward the Gerkhin building. Many other tall buildings now around it. Stopped at a Joe & the Juice. A little rude 20 something said "does it look like it" when I asked if she was using a chair. We sat and ate our snack. Headed back to the hotel, and stopped at Pret for supper. Gwyn got a salad and I had a turkey Thanksgiving sandwich and a chocolate mousse. We waited about 10 minutes back at Locke Lemon, then got our room key for 1802. A really nice room. We watched TV trying to stay up to 7:00. Big Bang, Escape to the Country. They have a new show where you choose a place in England or France. Shower, then bed about 6:30.