Un voyage rapide Franglais

[kookaburra75]

I set off in search of the Broad Street Pump.
Not the typical London sight but I'm sure @drron and other AFF medics will remember its significance from their undergraduate days

And surveyors too - it was one of the first uses of a geographic information system to track disease transmission.

Good trip report too, and looking forward to more photos, especially of Lyon. Going via MUC is something I wouldn't have thought of, but will now.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is the Elizabeth Line fully operational yet?

 

[I love to travel]

Bcn And Mad are often cheap European gateway cities too.

 

[VPS]

Is the Elizabeth Line fully operational yet?

I don't think so - I saw recently one of the train nerds went on a press jaunt and took lots of photos and videos but still not open to the public. It looks pretty schmick

 

[andye]

From Parliament Square, up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and up Great Windmill Street.

The "empty plinth" has an ice-cream with a drone attached symbolising...something banal

 

[andye]

And then reach the (replica) pump in Soho where Dr John Snow performed one of the first scientific epidemiological studies that cholera was water-borne, removing the handle to stop the spread. A true pioneer

And who would have guessed that epidemiology would capture the imagination of the world in the 2020s

 

[kookaburra75]

From Parliament Square, up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and up Great Windmill Street.

The "empty plinth" has an ice-cream with a drone attached symbolising...something banal

View attachment 275654

I think by the look on that horse's face, it wants to bite or kick you too.

 

[tgh]

I think by the look on that horse's face, it wants to bite or kick you too

nah.. It is bored s**less…the ears tell the tale.. trust me..
It would probably really appreciate a nose rub

 

[SYD]

Is the Elizabeth Line fully operational yet?

No. “Mid May” was the word before I arrived. Now it’s “first half of 2022”. They were waiting on one station…

Elizabeth line

The Elizabeth line will run east from Reading and Heathrow to Abbey Wood and Shenfield

tfl.gov.uk

 

[andye]

Walk through Carnaby Street (which seems to have enough sports shoe shops for an Amex offers page )

onto Regent Street and catch a London bus back toward the Crowne Plaza.
A little late for dinner at sisters so order a taxi to Woodford. Time for a G&T at the POTUS (pics of US Presidents around the walls) hotel bar

Turns out would have been quicker and and much cheaper by tube (though bags would have been a pain). London traffic not good even on a Sunday

 

[andye]

Reach Woodford where there is a grand family-andye reunion. Brother-andye2 from Los Angeles also in London for work. Sister has procured a spectacular roast for dinner

With selection of accompaniments

A belated birthday cake for brother andye1

Followed by a pretty competitive quiz (won by the 3 brothers )

 

[andye]

Drop off my mum back in Camberwell and set off for Heathrow.
Staying in the Sofitel at T5-three brothers all with a different passport when we checked in at 0100
Last time I was here it was for an arrivals PCR which I'm glad is history

 

[andye]

Brother 1 is a dedicated Manchester City fan, from when they were languishing in the lower divisions and I had booked a Stadium tour for his birthday.

Our BA LHR-MAN was supposed to be at 8.30 but had been cancelled and rescheduled to 0645.

I had booked the Sofitel as a hotel redemption with Asia Miles (when I thought mine were going to expire).

Either $ and points pricey for 4 hours (very comfortable) sleep but the great advantage of the Sofitel is that you can walk out the back along a corridor straight into T5.

As we were NLAA (No luggage at all) it was an extra-smooth way into T5

I do have QR OWE so could have accessed the BA F but with 2 brothers along it's all in or nothing. Off to the Aspire lounge.

It does get a bad rap and it is quite narrow with limited seats but has views and for breakfast had quite reasonable food including a pancake machine.



I understand the Plaza Premium makes better use of a similar space but would have been at the wrong end of the terminal even if we all had access

 

[andye]

And the brothers are off to Manchester on a fairly empty A319

 

[SYD]

And the brothers are off to Manchester on a fairly empty A319

Is that the 175ml “splash” of water?

Had three of those LHR-BER//BER-LCY-EDI with accompanying packet of crisps….

 

[RB]

And the brothers are off to Manchester on a fairly empty A319

So we know which one is Brother 1

 

[OATEK]

And the brothers are off to Manchester on a fairly empty A319

We caught up with City at Selhurst Park in March - Pep not such a happy chappy that night!

 

[andye]

Early arrival in Manchester meant off to breakfast. A British Isles of English, Scottish and Irish versions all featuring Lancashire black pudding in The Koffee Pot. Ecky thump!

 

[andye]

The tour was well up to expectations. Starting in the club shop with an exhibition of memorabilia, through the hospitality (Chateau Lafitte available for the sheikhs and the prawn sandwich brigade at GBP2500), the stark differences between the bleak away and opulent home changing rooms and onto the pitch.
Some clever green screen meant you could have a press conference with Pep.
Scheduled for 90 minutes our guide had plenty of anecdotes and ended up 2 hours

 

[andye]

A smidgen thirsty we head back into town for some refreshment. Brother2 and I a bit disparaging of brother1's choice of berry cider but it went down quicker than the stout