Monday morning, 7am, I stepped off the plane in London – not having slept at all on the 9 hour flight. I took a stroll 
around London Gatwick airport and quickly decided not to spend my layover sitting around watching stressful travelers chase down their next plane. I jumped on a train to Victoria, the heart of London, and there I strolled around and asked a few questions about what to see and do. The suggestions I got were great, some even humorous: 1)take a tour of the city via bus, 2)visit a local pub and drink warm beer (yuck!), 3)eat good fish and chips from a street vendor, 4)move to London because you’ll never be able to see the city in a few hours. I decided to start with #1, skip #2 and #4, and try to squeeze in #3. I met a nice man from Senegal who directed me to board the correct doubledecker bus and off I went with all the other tourists. For the next 4 hours we zipped through the city seeing all the major attractions. It was a whirlwind 
experience, but I’m glad I did it.
around London Gatwick airport and quickly decided not to spend my layover sitting around watching stressful travelers chase down their next plane. I jumped on a train to Victoria, the heart of London, and there I strolled around and asked a few questions about what to see and do. The suggestions I got were great, some even humorous: 1)take a tour of the city via bus, 2)visit a local pub and drink warm beer (yuck!), 3)eat good fish and chips from a street vendor, 4)move to London because you’ll never be able to see the city in a few hours. I decided to start with #1, skip #2 and #4, and try to squeeze in #3. I met a nice man from Senegal who directed me to board the correct doubledecker bus and off I went with all the other tourists. For the next 4 hours we zipped through the city seeing all the major attractions. It was a whirlwind experience, but I’m glad I did it.Here’s a snippet of what I saw:
– Big Ben
– Big Ben
– Buckingham Palace
– Westminster Abbey
– tons of red double decker buses and old fashion black taxis
– the Thames River
– Tower Bridge
– London Bridge – which is not falling down
– more cultures represented than 
I’ve ever seen in any one place
I’ve ever seen in any one place– political demonstrations protesting the situation in Sri Lanka – much more peaceful than any political demonstrations I’ve seen in Africa!
– London Eye
– Tower Bridge
– St. Paul’s Cathedral
– St. Paul’s Cathedral
– the Kenya embassy – randomly ran across this
– tons & tons of statues
My day in London flew by, it was a great way to spend my layover. I met some very interesting people, laughed a lot, made some fun memories, and I did get the chance to grab some fish & chips before I ran onto my train to return to the airport.
Next stop…Mijas, Spain. Tune in again soon to hear of my Spain adventures.
How cool that the man from Senegal helped you out. Even away from the motherland your peeps seek you out.
We miss you! Enjoy your tour.
Ken
Hi Kia!
Way to be so brave and adventurous 🙂 Glad you had fun and I hope the time in Spain goes really well.
love you,
lisa for the nelson’s 🙂
Hooray for also being able to get the fish and chips!
Sounds like a great fun layover, tho! Wahoooo!
Good Morning my dear niece,
Glad you are enjoying your travels. Take care of you!
Love you mostest,
Aunt Linda
What a fun adventure!!!! Glad you didn’t waste time with stressed out travellers… Take lots of pictures for us!!
Yeah for being adventurous!!!!! I love you friend and I’m totally jealous you saw all things things. I thought of rule #3… next time bring me! : )
Love ya!
I am so glad that you enjoyed your layover in London! And very impressed that you toured the city alone. I wouldn’t be surprised if you become a World Racer after your Europe adventure 😉 (but I doubt it would happen)
Ahhh Kayla, I always wanted to do that on a layover but I’ve been a chicken. This next trip I am flying to Amsterdam instead…I think I might do what you did..you have inspired me!!!! Enjoy your time in Europe, what a blessing! Take care my dear.
Love ya..mean it!
Amish
what a refreshing report!
enjoy the rest of your adventure.
i’ll be looking forward to hear about your next destination, Spain.
have all the fun you can!
Hey Kayla,
That is so neat! I am glad you are still traveling and having a grand ol’ time! I hope all is well. I will catch you up a bit…I am getting married to Kyle is 49 days and then a few weeks after that we are moving to Israel for 4 years since Kyle got into Medical school there! So…if you ever have time to adventure to Israel…Email me! It is so fun to read your updates! Miss you.
Jayla
Hey!
Great post! I’m about to do the same and this is what i needed! I’ll get the bus as well before my next flight! =)
Love ur Blog
V.Hart
What a day, Kayla! Happy to hear your adventures are going well! Can’t wait to hear about Spain.