London arrival April 24

The plane landed early at Heathrow and I breezed through customs so I had time to go buy a phone, although I wondered why since I don't even know how to work it. Luckily the driver showed up early to drive me to the hotel (I'd arranged this from home with 'Just Airports' - not cheap at around £32 but worth avoiding a hassle after a long flight), arriving there around 2:00 pm.

The hotel was in the Bayswater area of London. There are lots of tourists in this neighbourhood; also cafes, shops and a Marks & Spencer's. One thing I noticed is that most pedestrians don't bother to wait for a walk signal before crossing intersections.

Oyster card (internet photo)

I set out for small mall in the area in search of flat iron (for straightening hair). Came across tube station so I bought an Oyster card which everybody uses for public transportation. The pleasant clerk with a proper English accent (almost a rarity in this neighbourhood where most accents seem to be eastern European) told me which trains to take tomorrow - I'll have to make a switch, like a transfer on a bus. Then three nice police people helped me find the mall. I probably didn't get the best deal by buying a flat iron from a kiosk... but I haggled and got the price dropped by 20 pounds. 

Tomorrow I want to be eating breakfast at 7:00 and then head off to Kew Gardens first thing. It opens at 9:30 am.

I set out for a walk to Hyde Park and passed this church, St. Matthew's. Buildings sure are old here.

Classic English scene.

Instead of Hyde Park I wound up in adjoining Kensington Gardens with the Palace. Ornate black and gold gates there.

Birds here have the most interesting calls. Even the swans sound different than ours. I saw English robins - so little and cute.

I had hoped to see more flowers in England but there were some around.

I came across a golden figure with sculptures around it. Went to investigate, then noticed a dome-shaped building across the road.

It was the Royal Albert Hall!

Pasta for supper at an Italian place.

There were a lot of expenditures today:

1. The phone. UPDATE: Do not buy a phone at the airport. I found out later, from dropping into a T-Mobile store in Canterbury, that I could have got one there or probably any similar store for half the price.
2. The ride from the airport.
3. The Oyster card.
4. The flat iron. UPDATE: These could probably be found cheaper at a Boots store. However, the Boots store in Bayswater didn't have a great selection so, in retrospect, I probably would have done what I did.

If I keep this up, I'll be home in two weeks.