weekend in Wales - through the windscreen, crossing the Severn
I'm sorry it is taking me so long to provide the next instalment on my trip. The jetlag is really bad this time, I've never had it like this.
I am also having trouble working out how I will share the story - do I reveal the relationship stuff slowly and drag out that part of my tale or do I just tell it as it happened and then just share the story of the travel after that?
My flight landed at Heathrow at about 5am, I caught a train into Paddington Station, left my suitcase and camera bag/laptop backpack at the left luggage place there, bought my Oyster Card and headed to the National Gallery, I always love visiting the National Gallery when I am in London, they have a lovely Monet and a Van Gough that I like to visit each time I am there. There is something marvellous about free entry into such a wonderful gallery. There is no pressure to race around and see everything and "get your moneys worth" - I like to go and just spend time taking in a section of the gallery or better a few works that I really enjoy.
On arrival at the gallery I discovered it doesn't open until 10 am - I was there a few hours too early. I then decided to check out another favourite destination when in London, the markets at Camden. Unfortunately the sections like don't open until 11am. So back on the tube and back to near the National Gallery, I found a lovely little cafe and sat down to a leisurely breakfast. Finally it was time to go to the gallery, I enjoyed visiting all the impressionists and sat surrounded by the wonderful art, gazing at it, enjoying it and then took out my kindle to read a book surrounded by the art.
Finally, it was time to get my train to Bristol and it was nice to be able to sit and watch the english countryside through the window, there is even a point where you get a good view of one of the chalk white horses carved into the hillside (I think that area counts as Wiltshire).
I was pretty tired, having been travelling for about 36 hours at this point and very little sleep. Nerves were high, finally to be seeing my sweetheart from my youth. I thought I'd probably meet him at the entrance of the station - by the way the Bristol station is a wonderful one having been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. I'd never heard of him before then, but learnt about him and that in 2002, Brunel was placed second in a BBC public poll to determine the "100 Greatest Britons".
I dragged my suitcase towards the entrance, down stairs form the platform and up another set to the entrance area when suddenly, half way up the stairs, struggling with the heavy bag (I should have found the lift) my swain appeared beside me, his first words were "do you need a hand with that?" I was quite flustered to have our first meeting in 25+ years to occur half way up the stairs, I nearly dropped my bag. Finally at the top of the stairs I was able to move out of the way of my fellow travellers and say hello.
** I forgot to adjust the date/time on my camera so tht data is wrong
@rach_who thanks @falcon11 thanks - I used to keep a travel journal and didn't do so on this trip and now regret it, so am using my 365 to record memories and what I did on my trip - I really should have done it through the trip
@falcon11 thanks - I used to keep a travel journal and didn't do so on this trip and now regret it, so am using my 365 to record memories and what I did on my trip - I really should have done it through the trip