London is unlucky for me - two approaches and two misses. For the first time in London, I lost my luggage - with souvenirs after 3 weeks of traveling in South America. The next was customs control, which caused me almost a heart attack. In the city, the phone refused to obey.
Heathrow Airport –part 1
First mini adventure at Heathrow was when I was passing through transit and security control. It turned out that my make-up bag, with which I fly everywhere in Europe, is just 2 cm too big for Great Britain`s rules. So, customs official gave me her dimensional bag and politely asked me to choose the items which she can throw out.
Gracious! It's good that even though the deodorant has landed outside the bag. It saved the eye makeup remover liquid – it`s obvously that my eyelashes must be done 🙂 Even in the jungle! I had to reorganize my makeup bag willy-nilly and flew on.
Heathrow Airport – part 2
Tired of jet lag, I get off at 6 am from the plane.
Fortunately, this time my backpack appeared on the tape. I breathe a sigh of relief and head towards the exit. In one hand I have a mobile – the talk with my family that I am whole and healthy - the other is pushing a luggage trolley with a backpack filled to the brim. The "nothing to declare" zone - the Schengen comfort zone.
Suddenly, a finger beckoning at me - I'm being checked. I think "fuck" and I'm going. I have no other way.
Lovable customs officer with a smile asks where I was and whether Great Britain is my destination. Thanks God no. First his words were: Peru? For what? Cocaine? God, and here I reminded that between intricately packaged things I have chocolate, Pisco and tea containing coca leaves. Oops ... The oficer said that even tea in bags can not be transported. In the same second I have a vision, ending my journey in jail.
Fortunately, my face and small "small talk" about Peru, leaves and adventures had made him looked at me and the intricately had packed backpack. His hand lands between packed things - next to tea - but only hits the bottle of Inca Cola. He watched and then resigned from further control. Almost with tears in my eyes I say I've been packing my backpack for over half an hour. A nice touch at the end of the customs officer helps me to complete all. I said to him thank you, wished a good day, and I go out.
London time
I admit that the islands have never dragged me - cold, wet. However, I decided that there is an opportunity, so I will catch an evening flight to Warsaw and lick London.
I was planning a quick round: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament and along the Thames, all the way to Tower Bridge.
On the way back I came up with a lunch - a typical fish & chips. With GPS in my hand I went from the right place. I ate - terrible - incidentally. And here the problem began. The phone started going crazy. I do not know if this is due to pressure changes? Time zones? For less than 24 hours. 3 planes 3 continents.
My favorite application - Maps.me offline maps has stopped working, the phone lost GPS and the battery was flying down dramatically quickly, charging from the power bank was also failing. Drama. Where I am and which way I must go. I made sure that London is not my favorite place on earth.
When I saw the Thames, it's easier for me - I knew where I was. I came to Piccadilly Circus - a quick glance and took metro to the airport.
I say goodbye to London after 20 o`clock and I do not miss it at all.
