Solo travel – and then something went right.

Me with Tower Bridge in the Background.

Some days, as I travel solo, nothing goes as planned. And then, something goes very right.

On the last leg of my recent UK trip, I set out from Bath to London. Simple. One train. But no. Repairs to the tracks meant that we took a one hour coach ride from Bath to Swindon before getting on the train. Fortunately, on the coach I met a really interesting woman who works for the Homeless World Cup, an organization that uses sport to create opportunity and meaning for people around the world in need of both. In the end, it was a minor inconvenience with a huge benefit.

I picked up the train in Swindon and arrived in Paddington Station, London a couple of hours later. My hotel is near Kings Cross but, instead of taking the tube, I decided to walk because I would get to pass through Hyde Park, along Oxford Street and through Bloomsbury. It was great except that it took much longer than expected — especially since my hotel was on Argyle Square not Argyle Street. Another a small glitch.

Checking in at the Montana Excel I learned that my room with ensuite was actually a room with shower – toilet down the hall. Hrmph. But it was clean and, well, ok. I could deal with that.

Next I went to Kings Cross to find my way to a few sites — my top priority was a tour of the Globe Theatre. I bought my Oyster Card and received tube directions to the Millennium Bridge across from the Globe. The woman’s directions included 17 stops and one train change. By the time I got there, walked down to the embankment and along to the bridge it was too late to take in a a tour. Ok, maybe I could fit it in on Wednesday. (By the way, I could have walked to the Globe  in less time! I found my way back to my hotel in just 3 stops!)

I did make it to the Globe Theatre on Wednesday.

So I tried to take a picture. The batteries died in my camera. Well, I would be coming back and could take pictures then.

Then, so that the day wouldn’t be a total loss I walked up to Saint Paul’s Cathedral. It was Remembrance Sunday and a view of this magnificent structure and a visit to it’s solemn interior would be appropriate. Then, something went right.

I wasn’t in for two minutes when they started letting people in for an organ recital. The music, the acoustics, the ambiance… everything was perfect.

I am indeed a fortunate traveler.

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