If I Were Going...: Our Eras Tour #14: Easy Trip Home

At the Cardiff Train Station

The next two days were the most pleasant long-distance travel days I have ever had.

First, we took a train to London. The station was close to our hotel, so after getting all our bags down the steep WiseStay stairs, we just wheeled them to the Cardiff Train Station. I swear that was easier than taking a cab or Uber.

The Cardiff train station

We had first class tickets on a very nice train that arrived smoothly and on-time at Paddington Station in London.

Somewhere between Cardiff and London

After disembarking, we walked a short distance and got on the Heathrow Express, which took us straight the airport, where we changed to a local Tube for a short ride to Terminal 4, where we spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow.

The hotel was a little funky with an ultramodern design that was a bit clunky (the mirror was angled toward the wall!) and very dim.

Photo: Holiday Inn

We had a snack in the bar when we arrived. Against common sense, we ordered nachos, which would have been fine except the chips were room temperature and the cheese sauce (the kind that comes in cans) was cold! Yep, cold! Later, we had a nice dinner in the hotel.

Check the times!

The next morning, we headed back to the Tube stop where transport to other terminals is free (luckily, Caty had noticed that on a sign). What we didn't read was that service didn’t start until 5:30 a.m. I got a little antsy waiting, but we arrived at our terminal in plenty of time (but not too much) for our 8:00 a.m. flight to O’Hare.

Somehow, when we rebooked the trip, we were able to snap up business class coming home for less miles than our original coach tickets.

The first plus was that we were able to wait for our flight in the Admiral's Club at Heathrow, where we had first breakfast.

A quiet morning

Boarding was a piece of cake (or, maybe I should say a glass of champagne) because, did I mention it, WE WERE FLYING BUSINESS CLASS!!!!

I am spoiled for life, now; Right photo: Caty Stevens

It was a daytime flight, so, even though we got up insanely early, I never slept. I could have, though, because we had those seats that become beds.

But, with sore feet and legs from the concert, it was pleasant and comfy (even with a brutal leg cramp that I got mid-flight). They served us breakfast and lunch, so we were just fine!

And, the cabin wasn't even full!!!

Immigration in O’Hare was easy (unfortunately, we got no passport stamps either direction) and everything was cool getting back to Denver. I drove back to Caty’s and was pleasantly surprised that muscle memory kept me on the correct side of the road after eight days of driving in the UK.

I got back home the next morning and both Caty and I immediately got sick. I tested negative for COVID and Caty tested positive. Maybe I had COVID and maybe I didn’t, but I got well in about three days.

I am getting tired of getting sick every time I travel; at least this time it happened at home.

Final Analysis

London is fun.