London 🇬🇧 Travel Day
It has been a while since I have posted anything. This is for a good reason. While traveling, we enjoy just being in the moment and taking in whatever is before us. It is important for us to stop and “just enjoy”. I do take pictures of course to capture said moment, but lately I stop and really enjoy the moment and scene this is before us. This is such a blessing for us to not feel as rushed.
Our travel day to London was uneventful. Train travel in Europe is so efficient and more relaxing than flying. We are not opposed to flying, but we certainly prefer other modes of travel since we have the time.
When we did arrive in Paris from Amboise, we did have to get a quick taxi ride from Gare d’Austerlitz to Gare du Nord, which is where we boarded our train into London. The station was very busy as you would expect, but we filled in the hour and a half before we boarded with a sandwich and enjoyed watching the comings and goings of so many travelers like us.
Since the UK is no longer part of the EU, we did have to go through passport control, twice, first by French authorities to stamp out of the EU, then by the UK Border Force.
Boarding the train was quick and efficient, and we enjoyed our ride through the French countryside, which is so beautiful in early spring. Trees finally showing off their wonderful, beautiful bright green leaves and flowering plants and trees all over to just enjoy and take in the wonder of renewed life after a long winter nap. Spring really is such a magical time, and we are so thankful we get to experience it while traveling here in Europe.
The tunnel under the English Channel is 50.45 kilometers or 31.5 miles. The time it took was around 30 minutes. Not too bad for, and it did give me a chance to catch a quick nap while there was nothing to look at outside the window.
Arrival in London at St. Pancras was orderly and very easy to find the taxi station. We were expecting to go through the UK Border Force again, but I am sure the new procedure using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was all we needed for our entry. It was a little disappointing to not have our passport stamped in, but we both appreciate the efficiency of the new system.
Our stay at the Holiday Inn Kensington High Street was very nice and so close to many areas we wanted to visit. A long travel day followed by a walk through the local area and meal at a Thai restaurant that Annette found was a good day for us as we were ready for some rest and an early rise the next day to explore London.
Until Next Time…
