A Million Buses, Bikes and People

We had just the right amount of time to catch our connecting flight after a brief stop at Newark's United Club. It was packed and I was so comfortable that I Iost track of time. If it wasn't for Rosemarie's constant check of the time, we would have been a tad late for boarding. As it was, our connecting gate was clear on the other side of the terminal.

There is nothing like business class - well, except maybe First class, but either way, we had the best flight across the Atlantic. Looking at the amount of room she had, my mother was as happy as a lttle kid on Christmas Day. She settled in and was laughing hysterically as I showed her the controls of the seat and moved her to the flat bed position. I kept messing with her and raising the foot rest up and down until I acquiesced and played nice. 

Amazed at how fast and personal the service was in business, my mom read through the dinner menu and I showed her all of the selections for the in-flight entertainment. And, what did she watch? Why, Frozen of course, since she's probably the only person who hasn't seen it. 

The most surprising aspect of the flight? She slept! She put the bed down, curled up with the blanket and as soon as the movie and dinner was over, my mother was asleep for a good four and a half hours. I would have snapped a picure to document the event, but I feared the flash would wake up the entire cabin.

Before that, prior to take off, the two late arrivals to our class of service were a young British couple, who really should have gotten a room or at least gone and been a part of the mile high club. Kissing, giggling, holding hands for what seemed an eternity, my mother, "was afraid he was going to attack her in the middle of the night." I couldn't help but agree.

Besides a few bumps, the flight couldn't have been more perfect and our flight attendant was one of the nicest I have ever had. She even gave us a whole bottle of champagne when we landed. Now, that could have been because she felt bad for us and thought my mom was a little strange when we asked if we flew through rain.

"I heard so much pelting on the plane in the middle of the night," Rosemarie told us.

"Oh, no, we are too far up," the lovely attendant explained. "There's no rain above the clouds at 34,000 feet."

My mom chalked it up to her first in-flight dream and went back to eating her snack. 

"All we've done is eat, drink, sleep and eat again on this flight."

I had to agree. From the second we sat down to minutes before we landed. The food and beverage service seemed never ending. And, as we descended, the two of us were slightly disappointed that our perfect flight was coming to end.

"Can we fly this way every time?" she asked.

Can we, sure - will we, is another story.

De-planing, she took a long look at the sea of travelers behind us.

"Forgot there was a plane full of people back there, didn't you?" I asked.

And, with that, we were off to clear border control. As we walked the endless bowels of Heathrow, I explained how because of the hike we were on just to get to passport check, this was one airport I constantly avoid for connections in Europe. 

She didn't ask "are we there yet," but when we did get there, the sickening sweet couple was right behind us. Thankfully, they moved to the UK checkpoint, because obviously, from being so in love they could not tell that they were British citizens and in the wrong queue.

And the fun just kept coming for Rosemarie. She's never had a driver waiting for her and she pointed out ours to me as if I could not see my brightly displayed name on his iPad as we exited the nothing to declare path.

"This really is an amazing way to travel," she told me as she adjusted to having the driver on the other side of the car. 

And adjusting was just what we had plenty of time to do as it took us two hours in morning traffic to get from the airport through London and onto our hotel in Marble Arch. Two. Hours. There was plenty to see, including the woman walking by the park in a dress too short and thighs too big to be thusly attired.

Since our room wasn't ready we headed out for more food and my first real English tea. It was at a cute little place around the corner from our hotel called The Grazing Goat. The choice was made even more perfect as we watched two gorgeous queens checking out the view of our waiter's extremely tight pants. Queens, and not the royal ones, the second we get to London  - this is going to be a great trip.

The bustling city was alive at every turn.

"I've never seen so many buses," she shouted over the roar of the traffic as we walked through Oxford Circus, her arm protectivly craddled in mine. I had to agree, for although I have been to London several times, I never really noticed the sheer volume of famous red transport that was on the roads. And, watching them turn the sharp corners while we either 'looked left' or 'looked right,' I wondered how many people they've clipped on the sidewalk.

As the time wore on, we were getting tired so I decided to take us back to the hotel to hopefully get our room.

"I don't think we've seen one ugly person," I joked on the walk home.

"Everyone is so dapper looking," she agreed. 

It's a little past two now and she's fast asleep on her bed as I watch Wimbledon without a clue as to who's playing but happy that I'm watching the match as it happens. We'll meet an old friend of mine for a drink and then find a place for dinner. It's not going to get dark until way after 10 pm, so I'm excited for what comes next.