London
Beer - You are in England, of course! Like me, if you are an avid fan of DCI Barnaby or Inspector Morse, you know that the Britons drink a lot of beer. And they really do! The saving grace being, most of it is of the ale or lager variety with alcohol levels of 4-5%. So, if you are planning a night out, visiting ye old pubs on the Strand, Covent Garden or Leicester Square, stick to half pints. You can taste all you want, get buzzed all you want and still come home with your senses and waistline, intact.
Traffic - The traffic in UK is left-handed. That means the cars drive on the left side of the road, people walk on the left side of the pavement and stand on the left side of the escalator. This is confusing for maybe a day, but if you follow the people in front of you, you will not go wrong.
Oyster card - If you are going to be in London for a week or less, get the 7 day travel card which is valid on all public transportation including the boat service on the Thames. If, like us, you plan to be in the area longer, it pays to get the Oyster Card, which is valid in all Zones and on all the transport systems. The iconic red double decker buses DO NOT take cash or credit cards that are not ‘contact-less’. Apple pay did not work for us either. So for the technologically slow tourists from US and the like, better get the Oyster card or the travel card. Children under the age of 11, travel free!
The Underground - Getting around London using the Tube is easy. Spend a few minutes looking over the Tube map, with your hotel or your station as a reference point. When you pick a point of interest, find out what station it is close to. Then, figure out which direction (N, S, E or W) you need to go. In each Underground station, the platforms are clearly marked with trains heading in only ONE direction. You just need to know which line to take. All lines are color coded. The poles and signs in the train carriages are painted the same color as the Line color eg. all Central line trains will have poles that are red in color. Makes it easy to find, doesn't it?
Rain - Whether you are a tourist or resident, carry with you AT ALL TIMES an umbrella and/or a rain jacket. It is always cloudy in London and sometimes it rains, too! This week, the rain was not heavy enough to make us want to stop and take shelter but factor that in during your day, if you have outdoor activities planned.
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