Finally getting to the TR -- Days 1 & 2

[pommfrites]

players

me -- 32 yo mommy - Kristen
DH -- 32 yo daddy - Hugh

setting -- BWI

reason for trip -- won it from Motorola (3 day trip to the David Beckham Academy that we extended to 8 days in order to see the sights and see DLP!)

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Ok, waited all day to leave. Couldn't sleep the night before and drove the 1 1/2 hrs to my aunt's so we could leave the car and she could drop us off. After hearing the horror stories of security waits, we got there 3 hours early to check in and get to the gate. BIG MISTAKE! Security, nonexistent. No wait whatsoever and had to spend a ridiculous amount of money for dinner in the airport. I had been sick with an ear infection for over a week and was on antibiotics, so I was not feeling well and wasn't that cheerful about sitting around. Flight leaves on time to Heathrow at 7:30pm. After a long and LONG flight, we arrived. Upside I got to watch 4 movies I had never seen. Downside, I never could fall asleep and when we got there it was 7:30am. Went through customs, exchanged money, found our car and driver waiting for us. He even had the cool, little sign with our names on it!

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After a what I felt was an EXTREMELY long drive to the Tower Hotel, we were HERE! Checked in and met with the Motorola people. Dropped off luggage and went gangbusters. Caught a cab to KnightsCross? near Harrod's. Got our London passes and were off. Quickly mastered the tube and went to Harrods. Bought some souveniers and gifts for the kids, who I already was crying about and went to Trafalgar Square. Went on to Westminster Abbey and toured it and the grounds. Walked by the Eye and said we got a whole week to see it. We'll come back. BIG MISTAKE #1. Went back later that week only to find it closed for annual cleaning. Returned to the Tower of London stop and went to the Tower. Gotta say I was a little disappointed. I was really looking forward to this site and felt that I was back at Williamsburg, VA and Busch Gardens. In fact, I think I rather enjoy Williamsburg more. I am a great fan of the Tower history, but maybe the way it was presented seemed a bit flat. Even with the tour.

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Was feeling tired, so got pictures in front of the Tower Bridge and headed back to the hotel. Wanted to see the Tower Bridge exhibit, but said we'll take a nap and go back out or see it later. MISTAKE #2. Got so busy seeing stuff, never got back to it .

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Went back to room and began watching tv while DH (who was being a brat) fell asleep. Was supposed to go to a dinner at 7:30pm. Fell asleep at 5:30. No food and no sleep makes Kristen an irritable and unwakable force. Wake up at 3am to order room service. For a 5 star hotel, food bites. Ordered sodas, burgers and fries..grand total? $48 pounds gulp! Burgers were nasty...I think they were ground horse and dog meat. Hubby agrees. We fall asleep around 5am and are up for an all day soccer fest at 7am.

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Ok, we are in poor shape. Both overweight, no sleep, and no real food. We are outfitted and catch the bus to the DBA. We are put on a team and made to run drills in the freezing tent like structure. Served a really good buffet for lunch and made to play in 5 on 5 world cup tournament. It's been 16 yrs since I have played competitive soccer and have my team hasn't played and doesn't speak english. Yeah, we're a good team. After playing hard for over 1 1/2 hours we get to meet Mr Beckham and have our pictures taken with him. Very good looking and nice man, although his hands were soooo soft. I have never felt anyone's hands (man or woman) so soft. Spoke to him briefly and he was very polite and nice. His "female handlers" however were very ***itchy. Tried to ask him for his autograph on my jersey and they practically bit my head off. We got signed copies of his book, which I had one dedicated to my son and the other to my brother who is a big sports fanatic. Was a great experience except for the women handlers for Beckham.

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Returned to hotel, showered, dressed amd was taked to some italian place for dinner. Hated the food and was resigned to room service as dinner ran late and we didn't get back to the hotel til 1am.

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Did I mention we had to catch a 8:30am train the next day to DLP? So packing a suitcase to take and putting the others in storage till we got back had to be done as well as eat before bed. Barely made the train and we're off.

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next time...checking in, learning the accents, and wandering aimlessly thru Paris all on approx 10 hours sleep in four days