Semiserious Chefs

As some of you might know, Vanessa and I like to whip up something delicious from time to time. Don’t tell her, but I’m the better cook…

I’m just kidding of course, but we also enjoy traveling and learning about new cultures. Okay, to be fair Vanessa is more open than I am, but I still love experiencing new places and new things.

So we decided that on this trip we were going to head to the great city of London England, before heading to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and then further into France to explore what we can find.

Luckily, I have a few French friends I met online that are able to help us get to know and understand French culture much better. (They’re a huge help!)

Believe me, I’ll start posting about France and my feeble French speaking skills soon!

As for the flight, we couldn’t have asked for a better one. It was a nonstop flight directly from Boston’s Logan International Airport to London Heathrow International Airport.

Vanessa and Nathan were able to get some sleep during the flight, but I quite honestly stayed up all night (it was only a five and a half hour flight) watching the Orville. The best part is, I’m not even ashamed. It was awesome. Don’t judge me.

During the flight we were offered a meal and complimentary drinks. I have to say as far as airplane food goes, I really wasn’t disappointed. Of all things, I really liked the simple bread roll they served. It was quite tasty!

After we landed and grabbed our bags, we found an information area in Heathrow airport, where we got the rundown on what kind of travel options we had for getting around the city. In the end we settled on something called an Oyster card. Basically, you load it with as much money as you’d like, and then as you travel and swipe the card, your balance gets deducted appropriately.

So now that we’re here in London England, the plan is to visit Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. And of course various street vendors for food, because well…that’s just what one’s suppose to do is it not?

Before I go on though, if you haven’t been to London before and are planning on visiting, you need to know that it is NOT a cheap place to visit! Don’t let that scare you away, just keep it in mind if you’re planning on taking a trip here.

Right now, 1 British pound is worth something like $1.35 U.S. dollars.

 

 

Don’t Exchange Currency at the Airport!

I have to warn you that many exchange companies in airports offer horrible exchange rates so avoid them if at all possible. The problem is that these are the first places that most travelers to a new country have an opportunity to exchange money.

Airport exchange shops know that travelers need local currency to catch buses, taxis, or trains so they make their profit by offering terrible exchange rates.

Instead, try getting local currency in advance from a bank in your own area before your trip. Also think about using an ATM while abroad as they can be one of the cheapest ways to get local currency while overseas. However, some banks charge more than others.

In addition, many credit cards don’t charge an extra foreign exchange fee. For example, Vanessa and I each have an Alaska Airlines credit card that does not have foreign transactions fees.

If you plan on getting a credit card in the future, the Alaska Airlines credit card is one of the best credit cards in my opinion as you earn airline miles not only when you fly but also when you use it to purchase everyday items. The card also has a 30,000 mile bonus for those who qualify when signing up.

That may sound like some sort of affiliate pitch, but rest assured I’m no affiliate. I don’t even know if they have a program. I’m simply sharing helpful ideas if you’re looking to do some traveling.

Stores. Lots and Lots of Little Stores.

During your travels in London England, you’ll no doubt come across a store called Tesco. It’s more of a general merchandise retailer. You can find magazines, kitchenware, toiletries, food and much more.

It’s always interesting to walk around new grocery stores in new places to see what kind of things they have for sale and how they package their groceries. Today for instance, we found these…

We are located in close proximity to a number of small mom and pop stores. If you want to call them that. I don’t really know what the correct term would be here in England.

You can find Halal markets, Eastern European markets, fish markets, hair salons, Domino’s Pizza, Subway, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, and our host even recommended a great place that sells French fries…er I mean chips!

It’s very handy that all these places are within quick walking distance, and Vanessa loves the diversity that can be found here where we’re staying.

So there you have it. Our first couple days in London England. I believe we will be heading farther into London soon to check out all of the aforementioned tourist destinations.

I’ll keep posting new blog entries as we continue our journey through this part of Europe. We hope to hear from anyone and everyone that loves to travel and cook great food just as much as we do!