"London Paris Trip Journal" United Kingdom Travelogue by muse_chik

1:25- It is now 1:25 local time in Alaska. I have been sitting on this ***ing palne for over an hour, following a three hour wait at this airport. 70 mph wind gusts blew the glass out of the Anchorage control tower early this morning- leaving hundreds of people stranded at the Fairbanks International Airport. All thing considered, it certainly seems as though this trip was just not meant to happen. In January, it was discovered that our previously arranged trip to Ireland, Northern Wales, Edinburgh, and London had been cancelled because EF had not booked our flights early enough & no flights to Ireland could be arranged. After this, there was a period of time in which it was uncertain as to whether or not we would go. But- we foudn flights to London with an extension to Paris. highly disapointed with the cancellation- as I was really looking forward to Ireland and returning to Edinburgh- but I guess any place in Europe would be better than hanging around at home during spring break. We've just pushed off from the gates- moving very slowly from the feel of it. Non-stop flight to seattle- hoping it goes quick.

12:50 AM- Its been nearly 12 hours, OK, wait, over 12 hours, since I first boarded the plane in Fairbanks. We are currently ini the air en route to JFK Internation Airport in New York City- and from there we have an hour to catch our connecting flight to London. The plane is full, most people are asleep, most importantly the guy sitting next to me- who is blocking my way to the restrooms- whcih really sucks as I have to pee like none other. im seated between a European woman with a very charming accent- which I can't place- and a man who appears to be Korean. I briefly considered asking him- then decided- whats the point? Seated in the row in front of me is a guy from New Zealand and two girls from Anchorage. Or so my eavesdropping skills have established. The guy, I guess, owns his own computer businesss at home and is now travelling on a 9 month extended holiday. If only I could! The girls bragged about being Alaskans- and how somtimes the temperature even drops below 0. I listened with amusement as I remembered the past 3 mornings of -25F we'd been having in the interior. I simply cannot fall asleep - which is cinredibly irritating as that is the one thing I really want to do. That and going to the bathroom. I think we have another 2 hours or so before we get to JFK- so I'm hoping I can either hold it- or the guy sitting nextt o me gets up. Still not quite excited about the trip. There is SOME excitement- but I dunno... I somehow have this feeling that the trip is not going to be all that I was hoping it would. For one- just about everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. In addition to the afore mentioned issues- at the Seattle airport, maybe 20 minutes prior to boarding, I inadvertantly discovered that our booked seats were wrong and touched off a mad rush to get new boarding passes issued to us. This is the reason why the group is now scattered all over the plane. hey. Guy next to me is moving. Bathroom break time. ---Who'd have guessed that the simple act of urinating could make one so immensely happy? Alright. So I must be REALLY sleep to actually have just written that down. Ah well. Im sure I'll have a chuckle about it later.

It was quite funny walking back to the bathrooms. Everyone with their heads tilted back and their mouths hanging open. Almost wish I had my camera- though I'm sure the flash would have resulted in quite a few angry, awakened passengers. I'm obviously rambling on now for lack of anything better to do. From my quick walk to the back of the plane, I ascertained that Gimpy appears to be the only one still even close to being awake. She gave me a little smile as I passed. Lucky sleeping people. I was really hoping to avoid the jeg-lagged, bleary-eyed first few days in London. No such luck. At least my hair remains nice and black. The product of Clairol Ultress Soft Black 1N.
Alright. Just looked up at the inflight movie just in time to see a man have a seagull *** all over his face. Nice.
Anyhow. From the sound of it we are going to be paired with not one, not two, but THREE other tour groups from Georgia, Kentucky, and Arizona. Lovely. We are going to end up with one massive group- which is especially sad because our tour director is said to be 'cute, English, and funny.' But yeah, like I said. Trip not looking TOO great... my one hope is Stonehenge. stonehenge will make the trip worthwhile. I hope. Otherwise- I'm just going to feel as though I've wasted a ton of time. And money.