London.

It's not raining! That's only one of many good things. I arrived in good time despite being turned around and walking about a mile out of my way, caught the correct bus, got off at the wrong stop and walked another three-quarter mile back. This isn't much until you factor in my pack which has grown heavier with each stop. (It was 23 pounds when I left Atlanta and I'd hazard that it's at least 30 pounds now. Too much for comfort.) Still, I did arrive and in decent spirits. My welcome was warm and I am comfortable staying with these friends.

This is the family that I was an aupair with in 96/97. The little boy doesn't even pretend to remember me, but the little girl (she's 12 now, I suppose I shouldn't call her little) says she vaguely remembers me. Great if she does, fine if it's wishful thinking. She's fantastic. The parents haven't changed really - C. is thinner and P. looks a little bit older and is losing his hair, but not too badly. It's wonderful to see them.

This morning I walked about 45 minutes into a village called Marleybone or Musell Hill or something like that. I walked with the aupair on her way to English class, so we'll see if I find my way back... It was a straight forward path and I was paying attention, but my sense of direction is gone, I must admit.

After my killing time in the internet cafe, I shall walk back and have lunch with C. She will go grocery shopping and I will head into town for my sisterly errand. Only the love of a sister would take me into town for I am done being a traveler. Well, I should say I'm done being a tourist. I would still be happy to go visit new towns, but I would stay in the center and drink coffee and read my book. No more museums, churches, monuments, etc. Done with that.

I say go into town - C. and P. live in London, across the street from Hampstead Heathe, but they are in a suburb. It's like living in Smyrna only there are no spotty patches of development - it's solid city from here to there. So. I will get on the Tube, exit at Embankment and walk to Westminster. I'll look at Big Ben because I won't be able to miss it, I'll buy the first thing for the self-proclaimed greedy sis and see what I can do about the second. I'm thinking she's just going to have to come to London herself because I've asked in so many shops and no one has what I'm trying to buy.

So. Tube tickets are awfully expensive. It will cost me about $15 to take the bus and tube into town and back. A Tube ticket is £2.30 one way. I don't know how people live here and afford to do anything but go to work and maybe eat.

The books that I bought for the kids I will leave with them, but they won't read them for awhile. It didn't occur to me that they wouldn't be reading English yet. Duh, they attend French schools. The girl is taking English class, so she may be able to read the book, but the boy, no. I may send them a gift when I get home. I hate not having a gift to leave (that they might actually want), but there you are. I've no idea what to buy a 9 year old boy. I'll look around today while I'm out and about, but I have no expectations.

Oh, lovely of lovlies, "due to scheduled engineering" the train isn't running to the airport tomorrow. I bought a ticket for 1:45pm so that I would be able to have a decent amount of morning with the family and I'm going to have to leave the house at 10:15am just to get to the airport in time to make my flight. A cab will cost £42, so that's not an option. Almost as much as the plane ticket! Ugh. Oh, well. I will have this evening.

Okay. I'm off to wander and see if I can find my way back to the house.