We began our trip in fine fashion, arriving at MSP airport and successfully checking in by 7 pm. We breezed through security, boarded our plane early, and left only a few minutes late (due to the de-icing process). We arrived in London after a flight of just under 8 hours, at around 12:15 pm local time. Miraculously, everyone's luggage arrived, and to our delight, waiting on the other side of the baggage claim area was Kathy Reed, our co-leader. She had tube passes (for the London Underground, the famous subway train system) ready for us, so we were able to board a train after just a few minutes and were whisked into London, exiting at the Earl's Court station on the Piccadilly Line. After a brief welcome and fire safety talk from our host, Fabio, we were free to explore the neighborhood around 270 Earl's Court Road.
I decided to take a walk to Cromwell Road and down to the Victoria and Albert museum, a favorite haunt of mine. I should say that London figured prominently in my youth, as my father used to teach study abroad courses in London during the summer, so starting in 1984, I spent 6 or 7 summers here.
We gathered again as a group at 6:30 and headed to a pub around the corner, The Courtfield, where we enjoyed a delicious meal. Tomorrow we begin class at 9:30, and we're off and running!
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