The Ultimate Football Excursion: Day 1 and 2

Text Only Post - Sorry. It amazes me why it is so hard to get mobile wi-fi in the UK even when you are prepared to pay for it.

Day 1. (Weather – Moderate to heavy showers all day)

Arrived London essentially on time (7AM - Local Time) after a total 25 hour flight. Feeling the full brunt of jet lag with sleeplessness, nausea, headache etc etc. Luckily we were able to check in early and got in a couple of hours of sleep before heading to White Hart Lane for the first of five (5) Premier league games - Tottenham V QPR.

The London public transport is impressive once you can get your head around terms like "Bakerloo line to Elephant and Castle". Getting to White Hart Lane looks complex on paper with a couple of train changes followed by a bus ride but wasn't too bad. Asking the bus driver to let me know the correct bus stop to alight earned a terse "Away Supporter I See". He was very friendly after I told I was from Australia and this was my first day in London. Should have followed his advice regarding post game buses but we followed the crowd and were worse off with delays and finally had to go the area where the driver had advised.

Although not feeling the best we still enjoyed a good game from excellent seats. The pitch looked immaculate even though it had been raining all day. If you read the net one would think that Tottenham home games rarely go to general sale however this year every game has gone on general sale and I was able to secure tickets in advance and requested pick up at the ticket office. This is not as easy as you might think as there are different ticket offices for home and away teams and these can be quite a distance away - the local police were able to provide directions.

White Hart Lane

The game itself saw QPR dominate the first half with Spurs very lacklustre - only Lennon and Bale seem to be putting in an effort. This showed with QPR going into the break 1-0. Should have been 3-0 if not for some fine saves by Friedal. The second half Spurs came out blazing earning an unfortunate own goal from a well-directed corner followed by a second by Defoe tapping in after the excellent shot from Bale was deflected by the keeper on to the crossbar.

We made it back to our hotel by 8pm (game finished 6pm) - could have been earlier - see above. Immediately to bed for a looooong catch up sleep.

Day 2 (Morning drizzle – fine afternoon)

After a leisurely breakfast we made our away to London Waterloo station (on the Bakerloo line to Elephant and Castle no less) for a late morning train to Salisbury followed by a short bus trip through some very nice country to Stonehenge. My personal impression was that the site was smaller than what I had in my mind’s eye. It was in a very exposed part and at all hidden. Major roads run right past the site and the structure is visible from over 1km away on the main road.

Stonehenge

Salisbury Plains

What we were more impressed with was the inner older part of Salisbury itself. The very narrow streets and mall with a variety of shops and cafes but still with the feeling a country town. Also amzing (to me at least) was the age of some of the buildings. There is pub built in the 1400's. Its amaxing how the city has tried to incorporate modern transport while keeping the street scape of yesteryears. On the return journey stopped off at St Marys Cathedral - built in the 1200! Quite an impressive structure!

St Marys Cathedral

Returned to London around dinner time for some fine Indian dining ay Covent Gardens.

Tomorrow - London Sightseeing in the morning with visit to the National Gallery and Greenwich (it’s not all football - some culture, history and scenery as well) followed by the League Cup game Chelsea V Wolves at Stamford Bridge in the evening.