Some other topics

So I was hoping to write a few posts about things here in London and my new lifestyle that is so totally different from what I was doing in Georgia.  Turns out I’m not very creative at coming up with ideas that you all might find interesting to read (and I might enjoy re-reading in the future)!  So I’m going to copy from some other expat blogs – those more creative and funny than me.  I find lots of blogs that have “top 10’s” or FAQ sections, so I’m going to steal their questions and put in my own answers. 

TRAVEL FAQ’s

1. Which airport would you like to never see again?

Charles de Gaulle in Paris. A 3 hour layover should be more than enough to enter an airport and get onto a connecting flight, especially as we arrived on time and the second flight departed on time.  First was the bus when we deplaned to take us to the terminal.  I was on that bus about 45 minutes. Then a crowded waiting room to get on another bus to get to the next terminal. Then the next bus ride.  By now nearly 2 hours had passed since landing. Then security at the new terminal. Finally, a run - not a jog but a dead sprint - to get to the gate on time.  Seriously – 3 hours should be enough. What’s wrong with this airport?

2. What is your travel nightmare?

Maybe getting abducted like those girls in “Taken”? Nah, I’m probably too old to be sold into white slavery. J But ending up somewhere unsafe would be pretty terrible.  There are lots of scenarios that would be inconvenient (cancelled flights, lost hotel reservations, stolen wallet/passport) but I can’t see how one would be much worse than the others – they are all a headache and could ruin a trip.

3. Would you rather stay in a fancy hotel and do less activities or stay in a hostel and do more activities?

Somewhere in between. I don’t prefer to share a bathroom in a hostel or be in a dorm with lots of kids 10-15 years younger than me. But I also don’t splurge on hotels if the trip is for sight-seeing. A clean, basic room with the essentials in a safe neighborhood is my standard.  I’ll save hotel splurges for somewhere fabulous, like Hawaii or Bora Bora.

4. Do you have any pre-travel rituals?

Not really. I’m an extremely slow packer but no rituals.

5. What is your favorite airline to fly with?

In the US, I find the big ones are pretty similar so I usually stick with Delta – I live in Atlanta and it makes sense to keep all my miles in one place.  In Europe, I prefer the “nice” airlines – British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa – but they are more expensive.  I hate the discount ones (Ryanair, Easyjet).  You end up spending more $$ to get to the airport, pay for your bags, the hassle of no assigned seating so you stand in a queue for an hour before boarding.  It may be cheaper, but you’ll still pay one way or another. 

6. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

That’s really tough, especially as my travel list keeps getting longer the more places I go. It could change daily.  Right now I’m obsessed with Asia because I’ve never been.  And yesterday I read a fabulous article about Boracay in the Philippines, so that sounds really good right now!

7. How do you survive long-haul flights?

I’m crazy, but I LOVE long flights.  To be fair, I don’t do them all that often. I love the uninterrupted time. There is nothing else I can do. Nothing else I should do (like working, cleaning my flat, exercising, etc.). Just 8-12 hours of time to nap, eat, read and watch movies.  It’s a vacation unto itself.

8. What is your favorite stamp in your passport and why?

The next one – I can’t wait to get there.

9. What are your top 3 necessary items for travel?

Camera, a book and sunscreen. 

10. What is your off-the-beaten-track trip in your current home?

Nearly all of London is covered in tourists and if you are only here for a few days, that really isn’t long enough to see the subtle differences if you hang out in a less touristy area. It will all look the same to you.  So I would say – leave London for a day. Go to Bath, Brighton, Winchester or one of the gazillion castles within a 2 hour train ride.  Include a village walk, a teashop lunch and a pub dinner. It’s nice to see what England has to offer outside of London. 

More to come later like this!!