First Day in London

Well I made it.
It was an awesome trip here and there is just so much to do…

My flight was at 23:40 on Sunday evening, met the Smirnoff team and the other guy from South Africa. His name is Tyron and man he’s cute. Got these eyes that only Cape Town guys can have. Took loads of publicity pictures, exchanged ZA Rands into that expensive British currency. My daddy and sister took me to the airport - that was really emotional. I don’t how they didn’t cry. (Miss you daddy)

The international departures section of OR Tambo needs some serious revamping. It’s weird but huuuuuge. The air conditioning needs to be looked at too. I say this because I’d never been to that section of the airport before, yes, that means I’d never left SA before, not even by other means of transport

Now back to the travelling bit, where was I? Oh yes, the team (Mel and the camera peeps) left us to our own devices to make our way to the UK and find our way to the place where we are staying for the week. So we checked in, waited for what seemed like forever and then finally made it onto the flight.
It’s a crap feeling walking past the 1st class section on your way to economy for a rather long flight. I think they should make a whole separate entrance for 1st class - one where we mere mortals on a budget don’t have to imagine how happy and spoilt the other people are and how they’ll be pampered every second of the 10 or so hours.

Cute CT boy and I weren’t sitting together, he was in the row in front of me, this was saddening because we’d already kinda clicked, or at the very least able to carry a conversation between us. Plus I need to get to know him considering he is my competition. He’s a nice guy though, no matter what, and he seems to want to win as much as I do. Competition that’s worthy is good.

I thought I’d soak in all the cool and wonderful things about long flights in big planes, but as soon as the Boeing’s wheels were off the tarmac I was out like a light. Surprisingly I woke up at the moment the food was being served. I don’t know how long after we’d departed we were served, but by that time, I’d had a good power nap. The excitement plus the preparation for my big day was overwhelming. I was seeing red when the hostess said they’d run out of the chicken meal and the other option was fish. I don’t eat seafood if there isn’t an ocean nearby, and airplane food no matter what they say, hasn’t been alive for at least two weeks, so fresh isn’t a selling point. No worries, I had to eat any way. So I did.
Shortly after that, dreamland was calling, so I diligently succumbed to the calling. Slept for a very long time I believe, because the next moment the sun was up and we were an hour and a half from the Charles De something airport in Paris. We were served a light breakfast and landed soon thereafter.

Wow, the view from the air of another city was remarkable. Seeing the little cars and the little buildings and the little swimming pools and the little ant looking people. I was on another continent and I was so amazed. I had really left SA.

Got to Paris airport, didn’t really know where to go. Tyron (cute ct boy) had to get his luggage but they wouldn’t let us out of this particular section of the airport – no visas. Not even allowed outside for fresh air – sorry you’re an alien, go away.
This wonderful, extremely beautiful, tall, caramel-chocolate-skinned airport lady helped us find our way a bit. Even before we opened our mouths she said she could tell we were from 'sous africha'. She was too beautiful to laugh at her – sous africha. Anyway….

Left Paris for London at 12:00, an hour and a half later we were at Heathrow airport – time now 12:30 hmmm. Tyron’s luggage was left in Paris. These things do happen, but it’s just not cool. So he was kinda miffed, I would be too if I didn’t have my toothbrush and fresh undies to change after 24 hours en route to another continent. Oh I almost forgot; Paris airport has the strictest security ever!!!!!! They check errrthing, and I mean errrthang!

Oooh ooh, here’s comes the cool part – we got onto the London underground, so exciting, bought our one-way ticket for four pounds (too much Rands) from a lady with a proper, proper British accent. I seriously thought that the accent was exaggerated on TV and movies, and here she was doing it and doing it and doing it.
Tube took us about 40 minutes to get to this place, wherever it is we are. Oh my gosh, the outdoor advertising - so much of it. The bus branding is super tight and the way they use the spaces in the underground is fabulous. I really want to see more of that. Finally, I can look at advertising as a consumer.

Arrived at our new home, got settled in, and walked. Walked on Oxford Street and other big and small streets. All the way with our jaws dragging on the floor in awe of our surroundings. The clothing shops, the shoe shops, the book shops, everything is just so amazing. The not so amazing part is when you look at something priced at ten pounds, - mentally calculate the rand pound exchange rate and you kinda come back to reality. All the shops are huge. Big. Absolutely gigantic. With so much stuff to touch, see, smell, try on, read, and listen to.
Both Tyron and I didn’t have toothpaste; him because of his luggage being misplaced and me because I didn’t pack it. So one of our stops was to a toiletry shop. We bought the cheapest one at 2 for one pound fifty and that was a tough buy. Toothpaste is R6 right? We bought two for R21. Ouch. But some things are cool. Had a fabulous ciabatta sandwich for about three pounds sixty. (Times 14 to get the ZAR rate)

Can’t wait for tomorrow. For now, cute CT boy and I are the first ones in London so far, the rest arrive tomorrow and Wednesday. This has been so wonderful so far.

‘Dreams do come true, if it weren’t for that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them’ J Updike.

Gotta go now, more to see. Oh, the sun only went down about an hour ago – 7:30ish. The weather is warm and beautiful. I’m really glad I’ve taken this chance. Cross fingers.