Here we are!
We made it to Budapest! But more on that later.
However, first, Continental cancelled our fligthts due to the Hurrican in Houston. The good news is that they are refunding our money so, we went ahead and bought our third set of tickets to London, this time with Air Canada.
Spent a lovely night in Horley, about 5 minutes from Gatwick Airport, and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips at a little pub, sitting outside on wooden picnic tables. It was great except that of course all the outside people are smokers. Except us. *sigh* But the meal was terrific, the wine so so, and apparently the beer was great.
It's a very small-town atmosphere: main street, clusters of teens here and there chatting since on a Saturday night in Horley I don't think there's anything to do. The church bells chimed, but I doubt that was a real lure for the teens.
Typical brick semi-detached homes with charming and well tended front gardens. The smallest front yard we saw was the size of a single mattress but dad was out there with his 2 kids, each with trowel in hand, digging heartily and something. Yet they weren't to busy to say hello and greeted us warmly as we passed by. Do we have the look of tourists, or what?
While waiting to catch our shuttle from Gatwick White House to the airport, we chatted with another couple who had overnighted there.
" where are you from?" they asked.
Now normally I reply Canada, Alberta, Calgary, Red Deer, sort of working my way down until I see a glimmer of recognition light their eyes. This time I did it backwards.
"Red Deer, Alberta..." and I never got to Canada as they rushed me with open arms.
"Red Deer!" they said. "We just came from there."
"What?" Who goes to Red Deer?
Turns out they spent a few weeks touring the Rockies, Canmore and even Red Deer. The first question they asked was, "Where the hell is the Sears store? We looked everywhere." It's not big mystery. They moved from north to south but there seemed to be little point in telling them now.
And so ended our quickie trip to London and off to Budapest.
However, first, Continental cancelled our fligthts due to the Hurrican in Houston. The good news is that they are refunding our money so, we went ahead and bought our third set of tickets to London, this time with Air Canada.
Spent a lovely night in Horley, about 5 minutes from Gatwick Airport, and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips at a little pub, sitting outside on wooden picnic tables. It was great except that of course all the outside people are smokers. Except us. *sigh* But the meal was terrific, the wine so so, and apparently the beer was great.
It's a very small-town atmosphere: main street, clusters of teens here and there chatting since on a Saturday night in Horley I don't think there's anything to do. The church bells chimed, but I doubt that was a real lure for the teens.
Typical brick semi-detached homes with charming and well tended front gardens. The smallest front yard we saw was the size of a single mattress but dad was out there with his 2 kids, each with trowel in hand, digging heartily and something. Yet they weren't to busy to say hello and greeted us warmly as we passed by. Do we have the look of tourists, or what?
While waiting to catch our shuttle from Gatwick White House to the airport, we chatted with another couple who had overnighted there.
" where are you from?" they asked.
Now normally I reply Canada, Alberta, Calgary, Red Deer, sort of working my way down until I see a glimmer of recognition light their eyes. This time I did it backwards.
"Red Deer, Alberta..." and I never got to Canada as they rushed me with open arms.
"Red Deer!" they said. "We just came from there."
"What?" Who goes to Red Deer?
Turns out they spent a few weeks touring the Rockies, Canmore and even Red Deer. The first question they asked was, "Where the hell is the Sears store? We looked everywhere." It's not big mystery. They moved from north to south but there seemed to be little point in telling them now.
And so ended our quickie trip to London and off to Budapest.
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