Quick London Run

Didn’t think that I’d be updating this blog again so soon, but here goes. I was in London recently for a quick trip. I was invited to apply for a sponsored internship to attend an environmental planning workshop hosted by Nauru Ocean Minerals Inc (NORI). The original venue was Ghent, Belgium, however it was changed to London following the Paris attacks and ensuing raids in Belgium.

I was only told on the Monday that I had been selected to attend, which was really short notice considering I left the Wednesday of the following week.

So off to London I went armed with rum and sweet treats for my cousins, whom I’d be seeing at some point.  I don’t know if those trans-Atlantic fights (15hrs) earlier in the year between New York and South Africa (en route to Namibia) broke me in, but I felt like we reach London quick! 

Once I arrived in London I made my way over to and onto the Gatwick Express. This service takes you directly in to the centre of London in 30 mins. I was once again back in jolly old England; except that there’s not much that jolly about England in December! I then took one of those typical London black cabs to my hotel... And what a hotel it was. I was booked into the London Marriott County Hall, and all I can say is location, location, location!!! The entrance to the hotel is right off Westminster bridge. Step outside and I could see Big Ben and Westminster Palace across the bridge. Look out my window, and there was the London Eye!! The location really could not have been much better; right on the Thames. Easy access to all the action.

View from my hotel room window

My face when I see the view from my room window

I had gotten in early enough that I figured that I would be able to walk about and explore a great deal still that day, however jet lag had other ideas for me. I was only able to bestir myself when the pangs of hunger roused me. I was then finally able to get it together and hit the road. I really didn’t have to go far, as I mentioned before, just a couple steps and I was in front of the London Eye and all the Southbank activity.

Boom baby!!