Our last day in London was preoccupied with getting our “fit to fly” Covid test. A friend had given us the information for the “Private Harley Street Clinic,” which has the whole procedure down pat: £39 x 2, half hour wait. We chose to taxi over, rather than depend on mail and at home video, which turned out to be the best thing to do. After being swabbed, we wandered about the area (Marlebone-ish), checked out “Totally Swedish,” a shop for expats missing the candy and food of home, and otherwise amused ourselves before heading back to collect our tests.
Later, we had the inconvenience of downloading a worthless, intrusive app, “VeriFLY,” which required our photos and flight details, along with our negative test results.
Walking through our neighborhood, noted this tribute to the Queen in the window of a funeral home.
Flying home
Getting to the airport had its delays and hassles, as taxis were few around our hotel (construction problems mostly, but also there is a shortage because of Covid lock-downs, last year’s collapse of tourism, etc.), and at Paddington, a problem with our Heathrow Express ticket was resolved fairly quickly.
In thirty days everything changed regarding masks. Almost no one anywhere wears them. But we have donned ours for indoor crowds and now for the airport and the US leg of our flight home.
Annoying though taking the Covid test was, a least it meant that everyone else on our BA flight had also tested negative! However, the clerk issuing our boarding passes, etc. had zero interest in the VeriFLY app’s “pass,” though he did ask if we had our negative test reports, which he also did not look at.
Had settled into seats by our gate, when I was called out for a random security check. It was conducted by a nice lady in hijab who waved a wand over my carry on and my hands. We at least got to board first, so a small price, I suppose. The flight itself went smoothly, though BA is stingy with food for Premium Economy. It is regardless a comfortable section, even if you can’t stretch out on a “bed” (not needed flying west).
At DFW, The rigamarole of customs, which is at once simpler and more complicated than before, exhausted and annoyed us. The simpler part is that we have global entry, which puts us in the fast lane with a machine auto-check and a quick “anything to declare?” from the exit clerk. The complicated part is the whole collection and rechecking of checked luggage, walking through sniffing dogs, then having to go through security yet again, being barked at by security to hurry up folks keep it moving, and being sniffed by more dogs before finding the train for the connecting flight home. Took a moment for the most expensive beer, lemonade, and queso ever ($30!) before returning to our gate for boarding. As I write, we are on the descent path for Albuquerque. Praying we can find a taxi home at this time: supposed to land at 8:40, maybe earlier.
Home
Very weird, but competent Uber guy got us home safely. Everything looks good. Grateful to friends for checking the homestead regularly and to our helper who kept plants alive. It was a good trip. It is good to be home.
