London Diary - A Travelogue

Last month, I took a 5-day trip to London. Although the primary reason for the visit was to participate in the London marathon, my inclination towards maximizing returns prompted me to seek additional activities. Planning for the trip commenced more than two months in advance, with considerations about what else I could explore and engage in. This marked my third visit to London, following a brief work trip in 2000 and a more extensive vacation with my family in 2014, during which I had already experienced the typical tourist attractions, leading me to be clear about what I intended to avoid.

The drama of the trip unfolded even before its commencement, with ticket rebooking complications involving iXigo and Emirates, as previously elaborated here . Upon arrival in London, discussions with fellow runners who had chosen the Emirates route revealed their harrowing experiences, including airport delays and delayed baggage retrieval lasting up to 2-3 days. Despite paying nearly double the standard fare for my ticket, I managed to evade such inconveniences.

In terms of social engagements, meeting my cousin Sheerali and her daughter Amyra was a priority, with a scheduled lunch at the Davda family home on Saturday. Additionally, a planned reunion with school friends included Gireesh Sharma at the Iskon temple in 2000 and Gaurav Gaur in 2014, with whom I enjoyed a memorable trip to an amusement park. I also reconnected with old friends, such as Naresh Sethi from my Tokyo days, with whom I had not met in almost 15 years, thanks to social media keeping us updated on each other's lives.

Traveling with an active holiday group offered the advantage of pre-established connections through a WhatsApp group, leading to arrangements for a visit to Wembley Stadium to witness the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea. Although not fervent supporters of either team, the electrifying atmosphere during the match underscored the English fans' unparalleled passion for soccer.

Friday evening was dedicated to catching up with old school friends from Campion School, including Gaurav Gaur , Anup Urath , Vipin Agarwal, Lalit Premchandani , and Jhonson verghese. These friends, do not proactively meet themselves, but happily embrace the opportunity when they have a visitor from India like me!.

Following the marathon on Monday, I first met up with an old friend from Gurgaon, Madhu Nori , who has now settled in London since 2016. It was interesting that Madhu informed me about the London Classics, a combination of three events, which includes the London Marathon, followed by a 100 mile bike ride and a 2 mile swim later in the year. Now that's like a great excuse to plan my next trip here!!

After meeting Madhu, I visited Lords, famously known as the Mecca of Cricket, where I was fortunate to witness a match the day after it had concluded, allowing for a more immersive experience exploring the player's pavilion. The guided tour offered insights into the sport's history, accompanied by anecdotes and stories associated with the stadium, making it a must-visit for any cricket enthusiast.

The day extended into an overnight stay at Gaurav's residence, necessitated by the need to vacate my hotel room.

On Tuesday, a spontaneous realization of my proximity to an old friend, Ritesh Gandhi, prompted a delightful reunion and his gracious offer to drop me off at Heathrow Airport for my evening flight back to India.

Amidst finalizing logistics, I enjoyed a serene stroll in Gaurav's backyard, appreciating the vibrant flowers illuminated by the fleeting sunlight on a brisk day.

However, my trip wouldn't have been complete without fulfilling my passion for sports with a tour of Wimbledon. The meticulously curated 90-minute tour offered insights into the iconic tennis stadium, including Court No. 1, Henman Hill, and Center Court, enriched with anecdotes about legendary players and historic matches. The logistical challenges of navigating train travel and cab rides to facilitate this excursion added a cinematic flair to the adventure.

Reflecting on my journey as I boarded my return flight to India, I realised the physical toll of extensive walking and running post-marathon, evidenced by lingering leg discomfort until the following Sunday's 13k recovery run. Yet, the enduring memories forged during this brief sojourn will undoubtedly remain cherished for a lifetime.