Further Wanderings

As per usual, I didn’t really “realize” I was on my way until well after my mom and dad dropped us off at the airport. It probably wasn’t even until British passport control that it felt like I’d left home. And even that was really just because they intently scrutinized my Syrian visa before admitting me (sigh… and I thought I’d gotten past these sorts of hassles when I got a new passport sans Pakistan visa…)

Anyhow, now feeling well and truly “away” Sarah and I got a train, then a bus from Gatwick to the Clappham suburb of London where we found the appropriate house and were happily greeted by Sarah’s friend Sara (at least she doesn’t have an “h,” otherwise we’d be in for written, as well as verbal confusion.)

A busy Oxford Street at Friday Lunchtime. Nothing special really… shopping streets are shopping streets in almost any city in the world, but I just like this picture.

In an effort to A. cut down on the time it takes to write these entries and B. make it easier for you all to read them in a single sitting, I’m going to try and do my best to summarize each section of the trip, rather than report on every last little detail. A few of you may remember how well that worked last time (i.e. not at all) but I’ll try.

[read on]