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Hello 40

December 2019
A 18-day adventure by Nadine Read more
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  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 1

    Get this party started!!!

    December 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C

    Heading to London!

    While the food selection in the lounge is not that good they do have peanut butter and crackers. And wine! Lots of wine.

    Disclaimer: this is the first time using this blog so just checking it out with this random post.Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 1

    The Premium Life

    December 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ -8 °C

    Thanks to all the work travel I did earlier in the year I ended up with a few buddy passes. Which means my companion just has to pay for the taxes. My companion and I figured we should max out the value. We first attempted to get business class on the new Dreamliner. Turns out they don’t allow that, so Premium it was.

    Being on one of the very first WJ flights to London I must say they have improved a lot. Okay well I don’t know how they are doing in steerage (economy) but they are nailing Premium.

    Bubbles arrived as soon as we sat down. Rocky Mountain goodies in our seat pockets. And a foot rest! Maybe that is just in the bulkhead seat but OMG awesome. I have been crammed in a lot of seats in my almost 40 years and having a foot rest is a big deal. I will be able to sleep with ease. Well should...watch out for the next post.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 2

    What is this life?

    December 12, 2019 in England ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    I spent 50+ days at a Marriott this year. That was enough to get me a decent status, points and perks (like upgrade vouchers). I found a hotel close to the main train station where I only need to spend $250 for a few more points. I figured $250 Canadian for 3 nights in London was a steal of a deal. Then I put in a request for an upgrade. I did not expect to be upgraded but on Saturday I found out I was. All it said was king bed and a sofa. All I really require is a king bed, slippers and a robe. I am happy as a clam with that.

    We got the hotel at 1:30pm and I was a little annoyed that we did not get the early check in I asked for. As Ty reminded me we were getting an upgrade so I should be happy. After 2 lattes and meeting with with friends the room was done. It was cleaned for check in at 3. (Yes from 2-3:30 I had 2 coffees, trying to make it for a drink with friends tonight.

    OMG! The room (suite) was worth the wait. We have a sitting area and dining area in one room, a canopy bed in another room and a bathroom with a massive tub and a rain shower. It is a little much but I do feel like princess. Good thing I am staying at a Best Western at the end of the trip to bring me back to reality.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 2

    The Longest Day

    December 12, 2019 in England ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    Holy duck! Jet lag is a bitch. My beat jet lag rule is to stay about as late as you can so can get your body adjusted to the new time zone. That is what we did.

    After we checked in we showered and met up with our friends at a local pub at around 6pm. Luckily we both got a burst of energy. At 8pm we figured we needed to eat so we headed to Burger and Lobster for delightful lobster rolls and truffle fries. Then pure exhaustion hit but we figured we had done well. The lobster rolls were worth fighting off sleep for.Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 3

    Friday the 13th

    December 13, 2019 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Friday we woke up at 9:30 in our princess bed and got ready to meet Rob and Nat for lunch. We were meeting Kathleen and Bettina later that afternoon to go to Borough. Which is a market full of food. I thought I would have a light salad so I could eat at the market. However the Italians and I have different views on what a salad is. As you can see from the picture below arugula was just an accent colour. Sadly I was too full for the market.

    We went anyways and did all the touristy things. Took in a Christmas market and then went to Regent street to the biggest toy store I have seem, Hamley’s. We only spend 30 minutes in there but you could spend so much more. The LEGO displays were amazing!

    We also took in the lights at Regent street (which are spectacular) and after dinner we went to Harrods. If you have ever seen Mr. Bean’s Christmas episode you will understand. It is even more impressive in person. Sadly there was no manger scene to play with.

    We capped off the night with martinis at the hotel bar which is where Ian Fleming wrote some of the James Bond novels. Apparently Churchill also hung out in this bar.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 4

    Jet Lag Kicked Us in the Nuts

    December 14, 2019 in England ⋅ 🌬 6 °C

    Bettina found a cupcake place on Instagram that look amazing. Since I love cupcakes Ty and I tagged along with the Germans. Peggy Porschen did not disappoint. It was a small cafe that bled pink and the cupcakes were yummy. The best part of the cafe was not the cupcakes but the instagram influencers. Girls were dressed to the nines taking pictures at the entrance.

    After tea and a morning sugar rush is was time for a nap. Which was not in the plans. I hate being in a cool city and hanging at the hotel.

    We woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to tackle another afternoon in London! Before the theatre we took in all the amazing store fronts on Old Bond Street. We also stumbled along an area that had an under the sea light theme. We made the mistake of staying in the Regent area till 4:30. At this time people decide they need to shop and see the lights and the streets are wall to wall people. It is insane. I have never seen so many people.

    The evening was spent at the Old Vic watching a Christmas Carol. Which was the best take on the classic I have ever seen. It was dark yet funny, sad yet happy. Pretty much an emotional roller coaster that had a string section and dancing.

    Part 1 of the trip was capped off at a cider lodge in a Christmas market. If we did not feel Christmassy when we got to London we are now.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 5

    You are very late

    December 15, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Having a 11am flight we thought we had lots of time to get to Gatwick. What we did take into account was the train being on a Sunday schedule and delays.

    The train pulled into the south terminal at 9:45am. We pushed through the children and the elderly to arrive at the Royal Air Morc desk at 9:58. The one attendant was not happy and gave us sass about being very late and how we should have taken an earlier train. Yep. Noted. He was the one that determined if we got our ticket so we just smiled and nodded.

    The funny thing is that we are now checked in and have 45 minutes before boarding and they do even have a gate for our late. So are we really that late?? The board says that the gate will be announced at 10:50 but we are supposed to board at 10:45? I feel we are going to duck up and get sassed again.

    Update: It is 11:01 and we are not even on the plane. Now who is late Mr. Sassy pants.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 5

    Travel Days Suck

    December 15, 2019 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Our flight to Casablanca was over an hour late getting in. It turns out I had lots of time. Yes I am still miffed at being sassed.

    Anyways I always under estimate how long it takes to go through customs, get luggage, get the SIM cards, get cash (if needed) and then get to hotel. As it turns out we were also late to our first tour meeting. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Worst part was we had no day light hours to tour the city. Actually the worst part is being the late people to the group. I hate being that person.

    After our meeting we went on the hunt for bottle water since we can not drink the tap water. We are staying at a place a little bit lower than a Marriott so they do now give us free bottle water. We could not find a corner store but found a Sheraton. Where we proceeded to buy really expensive water, have tea and eat olives. It is a pretty low key night.

    Tomorrow we are off to Fes with 7 new friends, a guide and a driver! Hopefully the pictures will be better than tonight’s. Enjoy pictures of tea and unhappy Ty. Haha.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 6

    Poor Casablanca

    December 16, 2019 in Morocco ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    The movie Casablanca has really romanized the city. In reality the city has 7 million people, is polluted and no one really tours it but if is the start of many Moroccan tours.

    Our tour left at 8am and we headed to Volubilis a city that that the Romans created back in the day when they were trying to takeover the world. The French started excavating in 1912 and in 1997 it became an Unesco sight. (For those who care to learn more https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volubilis) It was cool but I really enjoyed the olive trees and the green lush fields. Not what I was expecting from Morocco but it makes sense as they have a lot of olives.

    Then it was off go to a G Adventure funded charity where we got a traditional lunch. Which is a 4 course event. First you start with “salad” which is not salad like we know it is different types of vegetables smashed up. Like eggplant in tapenade style. You put this on fresh yummy bread. Second course is the tagine dish which is some sort of meat cooked in a tagine with spices (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajine ) and couscous. Third course is fruit (oranges, bananas, apples) Fourth is a cookie and mint tea. It is all rather delightful.

    We made it to Fés at 5pm and checked into our massive room. While it is no St. Ermins it does have more seating areas than I know what to do with.    Read more

  • TravelerHello 40
    Day 6

    Fuck, I am being sold for goats

    December 16, 2019 in Morocco ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    On our first night in Fés we went to a traditional Moroccan feast with music and belly dancing. Only 6 out of the 9 group members went. I was the only girl. They sat us on the stage. At no time did I think ooohh better not sit on the edge because I will be pulled into the entertainment.

    The dinner was nice. We had non lettuce salad, tangines and couscous, fruit, mint tea, cookies all well listen to traditional music. Then the bloody band took a break and another group came up. The old man drummer kept throwing me kisses, wanting to dance with me and kept putting his head in my lap. At one point he pulled me to dance with him on the stage. I sat down and thought I was was safe.

    Nope.

    Next thing I know I am being pulled to dance with other girls and the other end of the restaurant. At which point I was like “oh no, this is it, Ty sold me for goats”. The madness stopped when performers got enough tips. Ty said he put in 100 MAD. He saved me for 13.70 CAD. That is love.

    Then the belly dance comes on. I am safe right? Fuck no. Next thing you know the belly dancer is pulling me up, wrapping my scarf around my waist and I am doing a bad version of a belly dance. 🤦🏻‍♀️

    I had 1 very light beer. This was no Ukrainian dance or River Dance off. I could nail those. Moroccan dancing is NOT on my resume.    Read more

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