Classic Trip - London/Paris 2004 Business Office 1
UPDATED: Photos nosotros idea were lost forever take away maintain been constitute together with then delight relish the next study amongst newly added photos.
Although we've at nowadays been to London a few times...including when the undercover was bombed...it had to start somewhere. Back when Tim was inward high school, nosotros idea that Spring Break would last the perfect fourth dimension to larn our feet moisture amongst some overseas travel. Come along amongst us every bit nosotros brand our really start trip to London together with Europe.
We had ever wanted to gain out from the North American continent but were hesitant because of accessibility. Even Canada together with United Mexican States are quite a trouble inward a wheelchair, what would lands further away last like?
Finally, nosotros took the adventure together with booked airfare together with hotel to London. I had read quite a few reports close how inaccessible the world transit was, relieve the taxis, together with how in that place were non whatever curb cuts together with few accessible buildings. Let me position to residue correct hither that London is inaccessible. It is really accessible together with you lot shouldn't permit a affair similar your wheelchair stand upward betwixt you lot together with a keen trip to this beautiful together with historic city.
Come along together with estimate for yourself…
Saturday
The hardest business office close this trip is the flying. From Los Angeles it's a 10 hour, nonstop flight…overnight! We chose Virgin Atlantic together with paid a $40 premium over such USA carriers every bit American Airlines together with United because many people had recommended Virgin to us. British Airways had a lower cost but also charged for wheelchairs over thirty lbs. (we originally planned to take away maintain the ability chair but changed to a manual when Lester Mfg. told us it would cost at to the lowest degree $200 for a voltage transformer that would go amongst the battery charger). Virgin had no such restrictions.
The seats are your measure pocket-sized economic scheme seats but the airline did topographic point us inward the bulkhead seats for extra legroom. Virgin also supplies each rider amongst a goodie handbag that includes a slumber mask, booties, toothbrush & toothpaste, together with earphones for the in-flight amusement (no charge). The in-flight amusement consists of over 300 hours of movies (all uncut together with a gain of ratings - parents take away maintain the selection to lock out the to a greater extent than mature titles from their children), TV shows, documentaries, news, sports, together with more. Each topographic point has its ain private video monitor together with then everyone gets to picket whatever they want
An on-board aisle chair provides access to the bathroom. On the 747 going over, the alone modification was a pocket-sized aisle inward front end of the restrooms that could last blocked past times curtains. On the Airbus 340 on the agency back, a total size accessible bathroom was available - the biggest bath I've ever seen on a plane.
The bird landed at Heathrow International at 11:45am. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dour immigration official speedily stamped our passports together with nosotros were on our way.
Taxi companies wanted to brand us take away maintain 2 cabs amongst the wheelchair together with luggage (it's debatable whether nosotros would take away maintain jibe amongst our 2 bags…at to the lowest degree it would take away maintain been really tight). The Heathrow Express - a high-speed develop betwixt the aerodrome together with London - would driblet us off on the incorrect side of town at Paddington Station. I had booked our hotel, the Days Hotel Waterloo, specifically because it was close an accessible Tube station (Waterloo - 3 blocks), together with then nosotros took the Tube.
From Heathrow, you lot purchase your ticket together with discovery a station attendant. They are slow to discovery every bit they vesture vivid orangish vests. The attendant takes you lot to a elevator where you lot tin can descend to the platform. You board a Piccadilly Line train…which has close a 6" footstep upward into it…and alter trains at the Green Park Station to the Jubilee Line. The Jubilee Line volition take away maintain you lot to Waterloo. Cost was £2.80 compared to £13.00 for the Heathrow Express together with only about £50.00 for a cab ride…double that if you lot demand to take away maintain 2 (on a subsequent trip, when the Underground wasn't working, it cost us the equivalent of $110 to take away maintain a cab from the aerodrome - ed). After a 45 infinitesimal ride, nosotros walked out of Waterloo Station together with continued on to our hotel.
The Days Hotel is straight across the street from the Imperial War Museum inward the Southbank/Lambeth (SE1) surface area of London. It's centrally located together with has a brace of wheelchair accessible autobus lines running past times it together with is a v infinitesimal walk from the nearest accessible Tube together with develop station. It's also within walking distance to Westminster Bridge together with the London Eye.
There are 2 fully accessible rooms hither (rooms 12 and 14), both on the the world floor, amongst roll-in showers although the sleeping surface area is rather pocket-sized past times USA standards. Each room volition slumber 3 adults or 2 adults/two pocket-sized children. On each flooring higher upward in that place are also larger "family" rooms amongst only a flake to a greater extent than room that volition adjust a wheelchair but take away maintain small, non-roll in, showers. Our charge per unit of measurement was £407.25 for the week, or close $740.
We arrived at the hotel around 4pm. Too early on for bed, fifty-fifty amongst our jet lag, together with then nosotros went for a walk over to the London Eye to larn our bearings.
Coming dorsum to the hotel, nosotros went to dinner at the Three Stags pub across the street from the hotel. Our start repast - at to the lowest degree for me - was to last the worst ane of the trip. My married adult woman enjoyed her fish sandwich, but the cheeseburger I had in that place was really bad. The hand-pumped ale was start rate, however. Luckily, the nutrient alone got ameliorate from here.
We hitting the sack around 7:30 to larn a goodness night's residue to start our trip on.
Sunday
After breakfast, our start attraction was to ride the London Eye. Thisis (was at the time) the world's largest Ferris bicycle amongst clear, drinking glass capsules that tin can each concur 20 v people.
Wheelchair riders larn a discounted ticket together with ane individual gets to become on gratuitous every bit an attendant (or "carer"). The electrical current cost for adults is £11.50 £18…around $20 £30…yes, things tin can larn really expensive hither peculiarly amongst a weak dollar. Disabled riders are £14.30. Attendants (or carers every bit they are known every bit here) go along for free. You tin can larn tickets together with a fourth dimension ahead of your ride but it actually isn't necessary. We did, when nosotros walked over the nighttime before, but when nosotros came dorsum in that place was really niggling inward the agency of a trace together with wheelchairs larn to skip it anyway. Up to 8 wheelchairs are allowed on board the Eye at whatever given time.
The Eye is completely accessible. The bicycle is stopped together with a ramp speedily deployed together with then you lot tin can curl correct in. The capsule is large plenty to roam the entire cabin inward your chair.
There is non a hint of a thrill ride at all. The half-hour journeying is silky polish together with gives riders a stunning persuasion of London. I recommend you lot exercise this start affair every bit you lot tin can easily reckon where everything is together with how far away the sights you lot desire to reckon are.
You tin can purchase a persuasion guide for £3.00 at the entrance that points out the major landmarks spell you're inward the air. Two souvenir photos of your political party on board cost £10.
After our ride, nosotros walked along the riverwalk amongst the River Thames along our left side. Not likewise far afterward, nosotros came along Shakespeare's Old Globe Theatre. This is an exact reproduction of the famous theater where Shakespeare premiered many of his plays. The master burned downwards hundreds of years agone together with buildings were erected on the master site close a block away (you tin can take away maintain a small walk over together with reckon the circle on the the world that marks the master place of the theater wall - enquire whatever docent for directions).
American thespian Sam Wannamaker came over inward the 50's to discovery the Globe together with was dismayed that in that place was niggling to grade or commemorate it. He made it his life's go to heighten the funds, exercise the research, together with rebuild the Globe.
Today, it stands along the Thames together with soundless puts on performances from May through September. We popped inward to take away maintain the tour. The cost is £8 10.50 for adults, £6.50 8.50for students…and carers are free!
Even though it's an every bit exact replica every bit could be, the theater is soundless accessible. Our tour guide, John Sheppard, takes us into the yard where 3 balconies overlook the middle the world where the Groundlings would (and still) stand upward to take away maintain inward a inexpensive play. Standing inward the open-air middle the world alone costs £5 to reckon a play.
Being Easter, after the Globe nosotros caput over to Westminster Abbey. To larn in that place nosotros take away maintain the Jubilee Line Tube from London Bridge Station, close 2 blocks from the Globe, to Westminster Station. Both take away maintain lifts amongst niggling or no gaps betwixt platform together with train. Westminster Abbey is close 200 yards from the station exit.
Touring is strictly forbidden on Sundays here, but nosotros become inward for the Easter service. We larn to heed to the marvelous piping organ together with take away heed the beautiful singing of the men's and boys' choir. We were seated correct inward front, close 10 feet from the coronation spot where British royalty take away maintain been crowned for centuries. One wretched chap behind me happened to opened upward up a tour volume together with was reprimanded - that's how strict the Lord's Day tourism prohibition is.
I'm surprised that Tim constitute it really interesting, commonly teenagers aren't thrilled to take away maintain to sit down through a seventy infinitesimal church building service. We'll come upward dorsum afterward inward the calendar week for visiting.
For dinner, nosotros constitute a really dainty pub ane block away from the hotel, the Bar Room Bar (or BRB) at the Tankard, which serves delicious wood-fired pizzas along amongst their ales together with lagers. It also had a large, fully accessible bathroom.
Monday, Apr 12th
Today, nosotros take away maintain plans from morning time until night!
First, nosotros take away maintain a traditional English linguistic communication breakfast of fried eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, together with toast at the Waterloo Deli side past times side to Waterloo Station inward the Lower Marsh market. The nutrient is good- if a flake fried - together with the java is similar most English linguistic communication coffee…weak. The £3 cost is really reasonable considering our hotel charges £6 for the same thing.
We take away maintain the subway scheme from Waterloo to London Bridge Station. Cross London Bridge (just a basic span nowadays, zip to write abode about) together with after a flake of a walk, nosotros terminate upward at the Tower of London. Again, nosotros alone take away maintain to purchase 2 tickets because carers are free. I'm getting used to this! It saves us quite a flake of coin amongst this policy.
After beingness escorted onto the grounds, nosotros hold off within the gate for a Yeoman Warder led tour…better known every bit a Beefeater. The tour guide is really professional, knowledgeable, together with - best of all - has a keen feel of humor.
He is also sensitive to the wheelchair together with makes certain Tim is inward the front end at all times.
First halt is Traitor's Gate where prisoners would come upward inward from the river. We reckon the ravens together with the site of the chopping block where such high-profile prisoners every bit Anne Boleyn were beheaded…more mutual prisoners were executed off of the grounds on Tower Hill forthwith to the north. After explanations of all the buildings on the grounds, the tour ends inward the chapel together with we're sent off to the edifice next door to reckon the crown jewels.
Crew at the Tower of London
There is quite a queue to larn through but the jewels are pretty spectacular.
Next, nosotros walk across the famous Tower Bridge (the ane most people mean value of every bit London Bridge) together with take away maintain tiffin at a hot domestic dog stand upward along the riverwalk. As amongst the burgers here, Londoners demand to become a long agency to brand hot dogs every bit goodness every bit the U.S.
The afternoon is spent resting off our jet lag together with inward the eve nosotros render to the tower. This fourth dimension nosotros take away maintain the Jubilee Line to Canada Water Station, transfer to the Docklands Light Railway, together with take away maintain that to Tower Hill Station. It's an accessible road but nosotros belike could take away maintain only taken an accessible autobus trace to larn hither quicker.
Dinner is at the Liberty Bounds pub across the street to the due north of the Tower of London. We take away maintain a steak pie together with fish and chips. Both are goodness but the pie is really heavy together with we're alone able to larn close one-half of it down.
Afterward, nosotros caput across the street to the go out of the Tower Hill Tube station. We come across upward amongst our Original London Walks tour guide, Donald Rumbelow. People come upward from all over the globe to take away maintain a walk amongst Don because he spent thirty years inward the City of London Police Force together with became the world's inaugural proficient on the London series killer commonly known every bit Jack the Ripper.
On the Trail of Jack the Ripper amongst Donald Rumbelow
As the lite of hateful solar daytime fades, Don leads the pack of walkers (and ane wheelchair) off into the black streets of Whitechapel where the murders occurred inward the 19th century. Although much has changed, a goodness percentage of the surface area looks every bit it did at that fourth dimension including the Ten Bells pub where the prostitutes hung out. The Ten Bells is soundless inward trace organisation today.
Don tells of how the investigation was seriously botched past times departmental rivalry. The City of London together with Scotland Yard had competing jurisdictions. With the boundary trace running through Whitechapel, the killer worked both sides together with police pull didn't cooperate amongst each other…to the betoken where bear witness was destroyed or ignored.
He points out the locations where the v victims were constitute together with he dispels the myth of the happy, attractive London prostitutes every bit portayed inward the movies. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 vivid painting of 19th century London emerges during the 2 hr tour.
It's a lurid, graphically described tour through some haunting streets. It's also a lot of fun. I take away maintain to tell that, similar at the Tower, Mr. Rumbelow took keen tending inward seeing that Tim inward his chair had a front end row topographic point the entire tour.
When it's over, nosotros discovery an accessible autobus road that takes us dorsum to our hotel.
Stay tuned for Part 2 together with Paris!
-Darryl
Copyright 2004 - Darryl Musick
Although we've at nowadays been to London a few times...including when the undercover was bombed...it had to start somewhere. Back when Tim was inward high school, nosotros idea that Spring Break would last the perfect fourth dimension to larn our feet moisture amongst some overseas travel. Come along amongst us every bit nosotros brand our really start trip to London together with Europe.
We had ever wanted to gain out from the North American continent but were hesitant because of accessibility. Even Canada together with United Mexican States are quite a trouble inward a wheelchair, what would lands further away last like?
What Jet Lag looks like...taken close 1/2 hr after our arrival
Finally, nosotros took the adventure together with booked airfare together with hotel to London. I had read quite a few reports close how inaccessible the world transit was, relieve the taxis, together with how in that place were non whatever curb cuts together with few accessible buildings. Let me position to residue correct hither that London is inaccessible. It is really accessible together with you lot shouldn't permit a affair similar your wheelchair stand upward betwixt you lot together with a keen trip to this beautiful together with historic city.
Come along together with estimate for yourself…
Saturday
The hardest business office close this trip is the flying. From Los Angeles it's a 10 hour, nonstop flight…overnight! We chose Virgin Atlantic together with paid a $40 premium over such USA carriers every bit American Airlines together with United because many people had recommended Virgin to us. British Airways had a lower cost but also charged for wheelchairs over thirty lbs. (we originally planned to take away maintain the ability chair but changed to a manual when Lester Mfg. told us it would cost at to the lowest degree $200 for a voltage transformer that would go amongst the battery charger). Virgin had no such restrictions.
The seats are your measure pocket-sized economic scheme seats but the airline did topographic point us inward the bulkhead seats for extra legroom. Virgin also supplies each rider amongst a goodie handbag that includes a slumber mask, booties, toothbrush & toothpaste, together with earphones for the in-flight amusement (no charge). The in-flight amusement consists of over 300 hours of movies (all uncut together with a gain of ratings - parents take away maintain the selection to lock out the to a greater extent than mature titles from their children), TV shows, documentaries, news, sports, together with more. Each topographic point has its ain private video monitor together with then everyone gets to picket whatever they want
An on-board aisle chair provides access to the bathroom. On the 747 going over, the alone modification was a pocket-sized aisle inward front end of the restrooms that could last blocked past times curtains. On the Airbus 340 on the agency back, a total size accessible bathroom was available - the biggest bath I've ever seen on a plane.
The bird landed at Heathrow International at 11:45am. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dour immigration official speedily stamped our passports together with nosotros were on our way.
Taxi companies wanted to brand us take away maintain 2 cabs amongst the wheelchair together with luggage (it's debatable whether nosotros would take away maintain jibe amongst our 2 bags…at to the lowest degree it would take away maintain been really tight). The Heathrow Express - a high-speed develop betwixt the aerodrome together with London - would driblet us off on the incorrect side of town at Paddington Station. I had booked our hotel, the Days Hotel Waterloo, specifically because it was close an accessible Tube station (Waterloo - 3 blocks), together with then nosotros took the Tube.
From Heathrow, you lot purchase your ticket together with discovery a station attendant. They are slow to discovery every bit they vesture vivid orangish vests. The attendant takes you lot to a elevator where you lot tin can descend to the platform. You board a Piccadilly Line train…which has close a 6" footstep upward into it…and alter trains at the Green Park Station to the Jubilee Line. The Jubilee Line volition take away maintain you lot to Waterloo. Cost was £2.80 compared to £13.00 for the Heathrow Express together with only about £50.00 for a cab ride…double that if you lot demand to take away maintain 2 (on a subsequent trip, when the Underground wasn't working, it cost us the equivalent of $110 to take away maintain a cab from the aerodrome - ed). After a 45 infinitesimal ride, nosotros walked out of Waterloo Station together with continued on to our hotel.
The Days Hotel is straight across the street from the Imperial War Museum inward the Southbank/Lambeth (SE1) surface area of London. It's centrally located together with has a brace of wheelchair accessible autobus lines running past times it together with is a v infinitesimal walk from the nearest accessible Tube together with develop station. It's also within walking distance to Westminster Bridge together with the London Eye.
An Overview of Our Hotel together with Surroundings (from the London Eye)
There are 2 fully accessible rooms hither (rooms 12 and 14), both on the the world floor, amongst roll-in showers although the sleeping surface area is rather pocket-sized past times USA standards. Each room volition slumber 3 adults or 2 adults/two pocket-sized children. On each flooring higher upward in that place are also larger "family" rooms amongst only a flake to a greater extent than room that volition adjust a wheelchair but take away maintain small, non-roll in, showers. Our charge per unit of measurement was £407.25 for the week, or close $740.
We arrived at the hotel around 4pm. Too early on for bed, fifty-fifty amongst our jet lag, together with then nosotros went for a walk over to the London Eye to larn our bearings.
Coming dorsum to the hotel, nosotros went to dinner at the Three Stags pub across the street from the hotel. Our start repast - at to the lowest degree for me - was to last the worst ane of the trip. My married adult woman enjoyed her fish sandwich, but the cheeseburger I had in that place was really bad. The hand-pumped ale was start rate, however. Luckily, the nutrient alone got ameliorate from here.
We hitting the sack around 7:30 to larn a goodness night's residue to start our trip on.
Sunday
After breakfast, our start attraction was to ride the London Eye. This
Wheelchair riders larn a discounted ticket together with ane individual gets to become on gratuitous every bit an attendant (or "carer"). The electrical current cost for adults is £
The Eye is completely accessible. The bicycle is stopped together with a ramp speedily deployed together with then you lot tin can curl correct in. The capsule is large plenty to roam the entire cabin inward your chair.
There is non a hint of a thrill ride at all. The half-hour journeying is silky polish together with gives riders a stunning persuasion of London. I recommend you lot exercise this start affair every bit you lot tin can easily reckon where everything is together with how far away the sights you lot desire to reckon are.
You tin can purchase a persuasion guide for £3.00 at the entrance that points out the major landmarks spell you're inward the air. Two souvenir photos of your political party on board cost £10.
American thespian Sam Wannamaker came over inward the 50's to discovery the Globe together with was dismayed that in that place was niggling to grade or commemorate it. He made it his life's go to heighten the funds, exercise the research, together with rebuild the Globe.
Today, it stands along the Thames together with soundless puts on performances from May through September. We popped inward to take away maintain the tour. The cost is £
Our Tourguide at the Globe
Even though it's an every bit exact replica every bit could be, the theater is soundless accessible. Our tour guide, John Sheppard, takes us into the yard where 3 balconies overlook the middle the world where the Groundlings would (and still) stand upward to take away maintain inward a inexpensive play. Standing inward the open-air middle the world alone costs £5 to reckon a play.
Being Easter, after the Globe nosotros caput over to Westminster Abbey. To larn in that place nosotros take away maintain the Jubilee Line Tube from London Bridge Station, close 2 blocks from the Globe, to Westminster Station. Both take away maintain lifts amongst niggling or no gaps betwixt platform together with train. Westminster Abbey is close 200 yards from the station exit.
Touring is strictly forbidden on Sundays here, but nosotros become inward for the Easter service. We larn to heed to the marvelous piping organ together with take away heed the beautiful singing of the men's and boys' choir. We were seated correct inward front, close 10 feet from the coronation spot where British royalty take away maintain been crowned for centuries. One wretched chap behind me happened to opened upward up a tour volume together with was reprimanded - that's how strict the Lord's Day tourism prohibition is.
I'm surprised that Tim constitute it really interesting, commonly teenagers aren't thrilled to take away maintain to sit down through a seventy infinitesimal church building service. We'll come upward dorsum afterward inward the calendar week for visiting.
For dinner, nosotros constitute a really dainty pub ane block away from the hotel, the Bar Room Bar (or BRB) at the Tankard, which serves delicious wood-fired pizzas along amongst their ales together with lagers. It also had a large, fully accessible bathroom.
Monday, Apr 12th
Today, nosotros take away maintain plans from morning time until night!
First, nosotros take away maintain a traditional English linguistic communication breakfast of fried eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, together with toast at the Waterloo Deli side past times side to Waterloo Station inward the Lower Marsh market. The nutrient is good- if a flake fried - together with the java is similar most English linguistic communication coffee…weak. The £3 cost is really reasonable considering our hotel charges £6 for the same thing.
We take away maintain the subway scheme from Waterloo to London Bridge Station. Cross London Bridge (just a basic span nowadays, zip to write abode about) together with after a flake of a walk, nosotros terminate upward at the Tower of London. Again, nosotros alone take away maintain to purchase 2 tickets because carers are free. I'm getting used to this! It saves us quite a flake of coin amongst this policy.
After beingness escorted onto the grounds, nosotros hold off within the gate for a Yeoman Warder led tour…better known every bit a Beefeater. The tour guide is really professional, knowledgeable, together with - best of all - has a keen feel of humor.
He is also sensitive to the wheelchair together with makes certain Tim is inward the front end at all times.
First halt is Traitor's Gate where prisoners would come upward inward from the river. We reckon the ravens together with the site of the chopping block where such high-profile prisoners every bit Anne Boleyn were beheaded…more mutual prisoners were executed off of the grounds on Tower Hill forthwith to the north. After explanations of all the buildings on the grounds, the tour ends inward the chapel together with we're sent off to the edifice next door to reckon the crown jewels.
There is quite a queue to larn through but the jewels are pretty spectacular.
Next, nosotros walk across the famous Tower Bridge (the ane most people mean value of every bit London Bridge) together with take away maintain tiffin at a hot domestic dog stand upward along the riverwalk. As amongst the burgers here, Londoners demand to become a long agency to brand hot dogs every bit goodness every bit the U.S.
The afternoon is spent resting off our jet lag together with inward the eve nosotros render to the tower. This fourth dimension nosotros take away maintain the Jubilee Line to Canada Water Station, transfer to the Docklands Light Railway, together with take away maintain that to Tower Hill Station. It's an accessible road but nosotros belike could take away maintain only taken an accessible autobus trace to larn hither quicker.
Dinner is at the Liberty Bounds pub across the street to the due north of the Tower of London. We take away maintain a steak pie together with fish and chips. Both are goodness but the pie is really heavy together with we're alone able to larn close one-half of it down.
Afterward, nosotros caput across the street to the go out of the Tower Hill Tube station. We come across upward amongst our Original London Walks tour guide, Donald Rumbelow. People come upward from all over the globe to take away maintain a walk amongst Don because he spent thirty years inward the City of London Police Force together with became the world's inaugural proficient on the London series killer commonly known every bit Jack the Ripper.
As the lite of hateful solar daytime fades, Don leads the pack of walkers (and ane wheelchair) off into the black streets of Whitechapel where the murders occurred inward the 19th century. Although much has changed, a goodness percentage of the surface area looks every bit it did at that fourth dimension including the Ten Bells pub where the prostitutes hung out. The Ten Bells is soundless inward trace organisation today.
Don tells of how the investigation was seriously botched past times departmental rivalry. The City of London together with Scotland Yard had competing jurisdictions. With the boundary trace running through Whitechapel, the killer worked both sides together with police pull didn't cooperate amongst each other…to the betoken where bear witness was destroyed or ignored.
He points out the locations where the v victims were constitute together with he dispels the myth of the happy, attractive London prostitutes every bit portayed inward the movies. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 vivid painting of 19th century London emerges during the 2 hr tour.
It's a lurid, graphically described tour through some haunting streets. It's also a lot of fun. I take away maintain to tell that, similar at the Tower, Mr. Rumbelow took keen tending inward seeing that Tim inward his chair had a front end row topographic point the entire tour.
When it's over, nosotros discovery an accessible autobus road that takes us dorsum to our hotel.
Stay tuned for Part 2 together with Paris!
-Darryl
Copyright 2004 - Darryl Musick
Comments
Post a Comment