T R A V E L I love London! The city has fabulous options for the walking challenged. The Southern Railway had portable ramps and helpers, the Thames Clipper made cruising the river a breeze and the sidewalks sloped at the intersections. Don’t get me started on how great the Tate is.
We flew into Gatwick Airport around midnight. An attendant pushed me through customs and the airport to the Yotel. All the citizen had to deal with was our luggage. Snuggled into our cozy but very nicely appointed itsey bitsy soundproof room with our duty free bottle of scotch, we planned the next day in London. The Yotel is terrific, low cost and nice amenities…plus Gatwick’s train connections to everywhere in the UK.
We wander around Parliament, take the obligatory selfie, saw Big Ben (it was very shiny), then boarded the Thames Clipper. Our all day pass would show us London from the river and get us around without the citizen having to push me everywhere.
There it was, The Tower of London. It is so English! Beefeaters, Ravens and history. One of my guilty pleasures is reading historic fiction about Henry’s wives, I was obsessed seeing where Anne Boleyn lost her head. There it was, the glass pillow in the exact spot poor Anne laid her head for the last time. My idea of heaven.
By the way, the Tower of London was the stuff of my dreams but if you can’t walk well you don’t get to see upstairs and the downstairs torture stuff. But, you do have unlimited viewing of the Crown Jewels. Adored Queen Victoria’s little crown, I imagine it as her “everyday” crown and want one just like it.
The Tate Modern is free and fabulous! They have complimentary scooters and the citizen had booked one for me. I am still haunted by pieces in the collection. Beautiful and thought provoking work from all over the world.
A couple of pubs later we were back in our Yotel. Next day we boarded the train to see the citizen’s Mum in Devon. I had been so frightened by the thought of making this trip. Didn’t think I could do anything “normal”.
So happy the citizen talked me into it. I might not have a hip but I can still have great adventures!
Constance left the U.S. not for spiritual enlightment (Eat, Love, Pray), or to run away from anything, but to challenge herself in a new culture, living a simple life. Portugal seemed to be the best fit, and so far it is just the right size. Read more at her blog An Adventure Abroad.
