The train felt a little like the Hogwarts Express, it had little 4 seat areas, and a cart came around with sundries to sell. I wanted to ask for some chocolate frogs, but I suppressed my temptation. The train was about a 45 minute ride - and then we got checked into RyanAir. They're a little strict with their bags - each checked bag can only be 16kg (Amy's was 16.6 and she had to take something out) - Patti and I were both under at 13 and 15kg (whatever that really means, we don't know) and we have small bags that would be check-in size. They also only allow one carry on bag, not like others that allow a bag and a "personal item" - everything has to be in one bag and they have specific dimensions and weight for those as well. We saw many people with open bags, trying to figure out what to leave behind.
The bathroom gets a special note because each sink area had its own soap dispenser and faucet of course - but they also had their own automatic hand dryer. It was supercool.
We changed some money to Euros and got our last opportunity to get British fare at the airport, and we were a bit rushed because we had to board in 45min. Patti got a pannini, Amy got a flatbread chicken sandwich, which had sausage in it of course, and I got a tomato, cheese and mushroom tart (slightly burnt, but still really tasty). We had to eat on the run - and of course our gate was at the furthest point possible, up and down escalators, moving sidewalks... Endless. And when we got there, we found a huge que. Turns out RyanAir is like Southwest, no assigned seats - and being that far back we were sure we would all have middle seats. But the attendants were overseeing the process and had people move in, so the available seats were actually on the aisle. Amy is sitting next to me, and she actually prefers the middle to the aisle. Go figure.
Right now the pilot just told us that we're flying over the Austrian Alps and Munich area... Every item on the plane is for sale, no free snack or beverage service, and they even sell "gift items" like perfumes and watches, a newspaper and "smokeless cigarettes" (which I'm not sure if they're allowed to be smoked or how smokeless they really are). I haven't ventured a trip to the toilet, but there was something in the news recently about Ryanair charging people to use it. Patti says they stopped doing that because of the uproar. Its just like any other 737, except no pockets behind the seats - so they come through and hand out their inflight magazines, and then collect them again at the end of the flight.
Things we'll miss about London: The pound (£) coin - great feel to it, good amount of "heft" (as Patti says); Meat pies; sausage and "mash" offered at every meal; little kids speaking with British accents (sooo cute) - we saw one commercial for a box chocolate cake mix, and he said he liked it because "then mum let's me lick the SPAT-ula"..; newspapers with the daily nudes (that you can even have sent to you daily); signs posted in English; signs posted in British English (polite note: mind the gap); the Tube; and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - made famous by royalty since they are perfect lap dogs, they're everywhere in London, like the national dog - and Meaby is half Cavalier, so it makes me miss her. :)
We've landed in Rome! Prego! Pronto! (I'll figure out what those mean, I've heard them a lot so far. :). We're on the bus heading to the new place and the new adventure! Ciao for now!
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