London, the arrival
When we reached London as part of our guided tour, the first evening was to be free. Travel buffs as we were, we had been plotting to visit Windsor Castle as it was not part of our tour. Alas! we reached later then expected to our hotel and got that dream dashed. But we consoled ourselves. We discussed and laughed saying “we will come another time, just for Windsor Castle”. And then and only then my parents accepted they were tired after 12 hrs of flight journey. They went to rest, and I started unpacking the essentials for the next two days. Lo and behold! I had forgotten my toothbrush in last moments rush.
I was stricken to think I would be parted of my precious few pounds to buy a toothbrush. The conversion rate was raising a siren in my mind. But it was an essential, I could not have found myself twigs for the remaining tour. So it was decided. We would find a general store and buy the least expensive toothbrush. I studied google map for half hour and armed with my research went to find my parents, who were up and about. After a brief scold from them and a bristling from my side, we set out.
While it was toothbrush which got us out, we were still very happy to roam about. London is beautiful was all we could think. We were of course in the outskirts near Heathrow Airport, but still it was a beauty. On the way we met our co-travellers who had also set out to explore the area as well. After a few clicks around the place we finally reached the store we were looking for.
We went inside and I beelined to dental section, and thankfully found a fair priced set of 3 brush. Now a secret. I love aisle to aisle shopping. Drives people around me crazy but I do it. So here again I was checking out stuffs, discarding them on basic of price but ogling, nevertheless. At last I went to the fresh produce section. And, oh my! There were cherries, fresh juicy, oh so tempting. It had been 2 years since I had eaten them. I immediately picked them up, one box. My mom told me to take two, but I was not greedy. I told we will come by later once this one is finished. Did not work out.
Soon we had purchased what we wanted, and it was time to return. On the way back, we saw a side square full of pigeons across the road and crossed to reach them. While we were slowly approaching pigeons for few pics, a group of gangly boys came and scattered them away. We were disappointed. Nothing much to do we continued on the other side as our way back.
One our way back we saw an old building, it looked like a mini castle and we could not take our eyes off it. We went closer and saw the board of double tree hotel, which I realized later in time to be built upon an old road side inn on the way to bath. In our naivety we mistook a mere hotel for a castle. After being sufficiently awed, we receded back to hotel.
Our hotel, by this time was a blur of purple, the sign board was neon purple, the walls in the hall were purplish blue, and the sitting area had a retro style décor of vintage cars and guitars. Even the light in bar area was purple. There were cozy alcoves in the wall. the décor was very chic, more appropriate for a bunch of collage kids and we felt somewhat out of place.
After giggling madly and taking pics in the alcoves, we went in for dinner. Immediately we could sense an anger undercurrent from our tour manager. It seems one of the family had not come down for dinner and were not reciprocating on phones or doorbells. Since food consumed was Indian and hotel had provided the dine hall for a limited time, our tour manager was anxious to ensure everyone was fed. After getting rebuked for missing family’s carelessness, we all were subdued and silently filled our plates. Then, the family made an entrance and brazened the scold out. They were dozing off the tiredness it seems and missed the panic calls of their relatives. The dinner finished with a stern lecture to be on time for all activities for remaining of the tour, and we all went back to relax and prepare for the next day, which was to start at 7:30 AM the next day!