Crossing the Pond

   And we are off.Our next adventure takes us to Britain for the next three and a half months.  This one begins as all must; at the beginning. Which translates to the airport. LAX to be specific, or rather the shuttle to LAX. Leaving from the Anaheim Hills area meant two things: we were the first ones picked up and we were sitting in the front. Since the shuttle driver apparently had an aversion to soap and water this proximity was less than desirable

  Although our flight was not until five pm  we arrived at eleven am. This was intentional since we wanted to see the final four games and we had a credit card that promised us access to the first class lounges. The first complication arose right away, air New Zealand did not begin bag check-in until 1 and we could not go through security until our bags were checked. Thankfully there was a place to sit and watch games on TV until check in time.

  With only small backpacks we entered the TSA gauntlet. It went fairly smooth,most people were able to follow the simple instructions. I even managed to get a badge sticker from the agent checking passports.

  Misinformation is worse than no information. I don't know who said that but I have almost always found that to be true. We had been told that once our credit card was registered it would get us into the first class lounges. It seems that in reality we need a special card so no free food and comfortable chairs for us. Happily we found a place to split a sandwich and watch some golf and the first half of the Gonzaga/ South Carolina game.

  Boarding the plane was easy, they had two doors available to move people along. We settled into our seats and found a pillow, blanket and headphones. Each seat had a screen and access to current and classic movies for free. I watched LaLa Land, Fantastic Beasts and Casablanca. John saw Lion and Manchester by the Sea. Dinner was acceptable but not exceptional. We tried to sleep but without much success. Sometime around 2am L.A time the cabin lights came on so we could have breakfast. Landing was delayed due to traffic but we were on the ground around 11:30 London time.

   The last obstacles were still to be met; British immigration check which meant an hour standing in line, then baggage claim, walk to the underground station and find our flat. This was accomplished within a few hours but our bodies still on PST had been up for almost 24 hours,(minus catnaps on the plane) We found the entrance to our flat tucked away between a Rolex shop and an L.K.Bennet store about a block up the street from Harrods. Our relief at arriving fizzled away when we realized our place was on the fourth floor, a mere 86 steps up- no elevator.

But it doesn't matter. We are here, in the land of The Bard and the Beatles, Jane Austen and Austin Powers. I am excited to start exploring the land of my ancestors. Well, maybe after a nap.