We woke to grey skies. Well hello London! Where is the blue sky of yesterday.
The man on the door assured me that there was just going to be a sprinkle.
I took his advice and left without an umbrella just a light jacket. Mmm
We walked to Hyde Park and strolled whilst others cycled and ran.
We passed the new Queens Gates.
We passed the Australian Memorial and walked toward Buckingham Palace. The crowds were out and so were the umbrellas! But not for us!
It started to rain. There were only trees to shelter under so on I went getting wet.
We headed for Guards’ Chapel for the Sunday morning service. It has beautiful singing and a band who look as good as they sound. Beautiful red uniforms!
I sat and dried out and shivered. Steve kindly gave me his jacket to warm me up.
By the time we left the sun was out so we made our way across to St James Park and wandered along in the sun looking left toward Buckingham Palace and right towards Horse Guards.
Coffee at the cafe in the park warmed us and gave plenty of opportunity to people watch. There are many tourists from all over the world all strolling peacefully through the beautiful gardens.
We then zig-zagged our way back to the hotel passing some familiar sights.
The sun was out but it was time to catch a train to the airport for our next adventure. A swim trek in Kas, Turkey.
The train was fine, the airport busy but our flight was something else.
I have never been on such a noisy flight. English families going on a beach holiday. Steve likened it to a school excursion! The noise!
Two rows in front of us were two big guys with more tattoos than teeth. They and another mate and children, the odd wife, and newly made friends stood in the aisles or knelt on their seats facing the rows behind telling jokes that only they thought were funny.
It went on and on for four hours. There was a wedding announcement which everyone applauded. There were multiple drinks and crisps purchased, a baby being passed around like a parcel and constant loud chatting! It was funny and awful all at once.
Four hours later we landed in Dalaman (to applause from the passengers!) and one of the men – Mr Yellow t-shirt – gets up while the plane is still taxiing in and starts handing out luggage from the lockers. The hostess asked him over the loudspeaker to sit down and put his belt on so he joked around and sat in the aisle!
When we finally were allowed off, he pushed and ran to immigration and then called all 12 members of the group to jump the queue to be with him. What happened next was just and fair!
He went up to the immigration window. Next thing the officer is on the phone. The last we saw he was standing on the side waiting for someone to let him into Turkey! . Hopefully they sent him home!
We met up with Lesley, another swimmer, and Betty our friend and found our driver and made it down the coast to Kas by 2am!
A big sleep-in is called for before swimming starts!
Now I have a clearer idea of how horrible your flight from London to Dalaman was Fran!
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What a mad flight that was, Fran. Air travel and immigration queues are varied, and sometimes unpleasant experiences. Now to swim! Bx🤩
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