Day 3, May 26, 2007

This is where Matt lives. He is on the second floor and we can crawl out a big window and take a chair and sit on a little second floor balcony.

We went this morning to Portebello Rd. This is about 2 minutes walk from Matt's. This is where Notting Hill the movie was filmed. We walked the flower/antique market that is the opening scene in the show. Also saw the book store that was in the movie. I really wanted my 13 year old niece to be there with me. Lots of Londony retro clothes that while I would not wear now but cute little KC could.

We rode the double decker bus. Great to be up so high and see such fun stuff from there.

I am crazy about the cute cars here. I've been taking picures of them. We walked past this pizza place. Matt walks past here and always thinks of me when he see the window.

Off to get ready... we will stroll the Themes and see St. Paul and Big Ben...

The view from John

International travel really is odd and interesting especially for this Midwestern lad. Got up at 4am (you may have read this in Rae's account) and walk, carry, walk come more, eat some airport stuff, walk some more, one airport blends into another. Then a longish flight where the best you can do is watch a movie to pass the time, read and sleep if at all possible. It's just not a fishing trip to Minnesota for those that have that reference point. It's always a challenge to see how quickly you can set up your routine and have common places to lay your stuff. The overseas flight had a map feature on the TV screen at your seat showing the plane's progress and abunch of neat stats. Brother Jym would appreciate this. -76 degrees Farenheit! Traveling at 600mph or to put that another way, a mile every 6 seconds! Really cool!

But, we're here, tired, just had some fish and chips to quell our stomachs and now maybe a little nap before Matt joins us.

Love to all John

Day 2, May 25, 2007

We are here! It is 10AM and we are at Matt's very cute, very tiny apartment. It has very high ceilings. One of those places where the ceilings are higher than the foot print of the room. I hope this makes sense as I have slept maybe 2 hours since the last post. I can barely sleep at home after tricking myself to sleep so sleeping on a plane is next to impossible.

This was funny... we left all our electronics at home except for my tiny digital camera. John has his life in his BlackBerry. At some point yesterday he asks me if I know Matt's physical address. And I did as I printed maps and wrote that on there. Later it occured to me that since we only Skype or email that I don't know is apartment number. And since John isn't working he didn't bring his BlackBerry so no idea which apartment he lived in.

We now have met the young woman across the hall who did not know who Matt was. Luckily I pulled the key out of her lock as she was opening the door and she didn't notice.

And we met a priest in line going thru customs who is here to do a baptism and his nephew is 2 blocks from Matt's.

OK enought words that probably don't make any sense. I must get some sleep.

Rae