London

We were staying at Jurys Inn Heathrow, a decent airport budget hotel. It was clean, convenient to the tube and only 1 subway stop from Heathrow terminals. I definitely recommend the place to anyone who needs to spend a night close to the airport. A night there cost me about $120 - which isn't bad for London at all.

The subway ride is normally 3 GBP from Heathrow to Hutton Cross where the hotel was, but we opted for a day pass for 6.70 GBP each, which covers unlimited tube rides on the date of issuance.

This was our first time in London - both for me and Olga. We only had 20 hours to spend there, and despite a sleepless night on the plane we decided to go into the city to explore. After about 40 minutes on the tube we were at Piccadilly Circus station in the heart of downtown London.

We didn't have much time, so we went with The Original Tour Bus. We only wish we had more time - 20 pounds covers 48 hours of the hop-on-hop-off experience as well as a river cruise. Definitely a good economical way to see London.

Now, food and service. Not surprisingly, the food is generally expensive and bad. It just doesn't taste right, you know. But that was something I expected anyway. What came as a surprise was a big brand, which is Starbucks. I felt like I only could function with enough caffeine in my bloodstream, and we headed towards the very first green-and-white sign we found. I asked for a double tall breve, and Olga wanted her usual "not too hot not too sweet raspberry latte". Well, they didn't know what breve was, and even when I explained that it's just a latte made with half and half - they said they couldn't make one for me. As to the raspberry request, they said it wasn't on the menu, and that they would try to make one. Unfortunately, with raspberry juice - as they didn't have such a syrup! We truly are spoiled in Seattle!

We both loved London. To me it was the experience of coming back to a place where one can breathe history, live in it, all without the museum exhibit aftertaste, if you know what I mean. It is just part of everyday commute if you will, something that we don't get much of in the young city of Seattle. We came back to the hotel exhausted but inspired.

London reminded me of Moscow, and now even more so of St. Petersburg. I have never been particularly excited about history, but it just seems to me that being surrounded by it just changes my disposition and perspectives on many things. Maybe I'm just getting older. Do you ever feel that way?