Heading to the UK

We left for the Uk on Thursday around 6:30 pst. After 20 hours, two plane rides, two different tube (subway) lines and a train and a cab ride we made it to Brighton and are sleeping at Stina's flat. Needless to say, anybody with two crazy kids like ours will understand what a journey it was.

The flight to LAX was fine, but after we landed had take a bus over to Terminal 2 and go through security again before we could board our ten hour flight to Heathrow. Virgin Atlantic flight 24 non-stop to London. The kids passed out, but tray and I got an hour of sleep and arrived pretty wrecked. We got off the plane and headed to customs. The line was huge, but luckily for us a security office let us pass on through because we had kids and they were starting to go nuts after being stuck in plane seats for 10.5 hours. We get passed customs and head for the baggage claims. Grab the bags and start down the tunnel for the tube. We keep walking and walking, seems like we are in this underground tunnel for an hour. Finally get to the Heathrow tube station and lucky for us….Kids are Free. Jump on the Piccadilly line and sit down in a car with just a few people on it for now.

First of all we went fairly slim on the baggage. One large suitcase with rollers, a smaller one on rollers and overhead bag and my messenger bag. Basically if I had my messenger bag over the shoulder I could roll the big case, strap the overhead bag onto the smaller case and roll the lot, carrying them is another story, which I was to find out soon enough.

We stay on the Piccadilly line until South Kensington and then transfer to the District Line and then on to Victoria Station. It was about ten stops to South Kensington, and I noticed that the doors don’t stay open very long. Finn was falling asleep and along the way more and more folks were loading into what was once our empty car. I began to notice that it was going to be hard to get off the train in one piece, as we were pinned in the back of the car. Five stops to go, more people, three stops, ….more people. We arrive at South Kensington and grab the bags, and start pushing people out of the way as politely as I can. Tracy lugs the half-asleep Finn and Reed is following me. The bags get stuck on some guys boots and the clock begins to tick. Tray and Fin are out and I make the way push through he crowds and out the door. Put the bags down, look behind and Reed starts yelling still on the train. The bell begins to ring signalling that the train doors are about to close and I reach back, grab Reed and pull him through the door just as it closes. That was seriously close.

Take a couple of deep breaths and collect ourselves. Ok…now we need to head up to the platform to catch the District line, but Finn is tired and melting down. Wants me to carry him. I have all the bags and Reed wants to walk himself, and not hold hands, people everywhere and we round a corner……no escalator, which became a typical theme. So….grab the bags and head up, kids are melting down, I can’t carry them. Tracy makes her way holding Reed kicking and Screaming, Finn crying and I am only halfway up. Finn stay here…I will take the bags and come back to get you. Just then and young professional in a nice suit passes us and stands at the top….debates a moment and heads on back down the stairs to help us out. Grabs the big case and lugs it up the stairs, I reach the top and say thanks and he is off…..amazingly nice, and could not have come at a better time. We reach the top platform and head to platform 2 to catch the District line. The train was clam, but once we hit Victoria Station, it was a non-stop sea of people. Down narrow passage ways, around tight corners we weaved our way to the rail station. Up and down stairs, and twice some nice guys stop to help me carry the bags up the stairs, while Tracy led the Boys. We would have to stop and make sure we were heading the right way. I must have looked totally out of place in the rush hour crowd, as I was the only guy in a short sleeves shirt, sweating. Most people were dressed in long coats, scarves and sweaters. I was amazed at the ability to move such large numbers of people through the subway stations.

It would be really hard to be in a wheelchair in this town, no escalators, no elevators, only stairs and hoards of people moving as fast as they can to get to their trains and busses and cabs.

We make it up to the main platform and move to the side to regroup. The density of people was just amazing, constantly flowing, constantly moving. Like water in a large river, they just keep coming, never stopping. We meet Christina at Café Ritazza grab a few beers and jump a train to Brighton. Finn and Reed pass out on the train and we have to carry them off, catch a cab and take a short drive to Clifton Hill and Cristina and Ed’s place. 20 hours after we got to the airport in the Berg we get there, but now the kids are awake and don’t crash out until 3:15 am. I wake at 9:00 am and take a quick walk to check out a little of Brighton. I woke Tracy at 11:30, but the kids slept tell 1:00 pm.

We head out with the Kids and Christina as our guide. Check out the Lanes, a classic small street, ally way district with shops and pubs, lots of pubs. Make our way down to the water and let the kids play in the rocks. By now we are all hungry and head to a great little place called the Coach House. It is so great having a local quide to show you all the great places. The Coach House was a great find, classic British fare with great beers on tap.

Swung by a Irish Pub with some live music and Dancing going on outside. Head down to the Brighton Sea Life center, which opened in 1827 and still operates in the same building. Definitely worth checking out, just for the interesting architecture and the kids loved it. Leave there an it is fully raining….make our way to the station and catch a cab home……End of Day one.