Day 1 London/Scotland with our Grandson Mason

 We’re heading out to pick up Mason at the airport. He’ll be joining us for a trip to London and Scotland with the Trafalgar Tour Company.

Mason has three days with us in Florida before the trip. Mark and Marcia offered him some spending money if he cleaned and mopped their garage, and he jumped at the chance. He was surprised when Marcia actually handed him the cash. We’re packed and ready for our 6 a.m. pickup. A private service will take us to a larger bus, which will take us to the Orlando airport. Our flight isn’t until 3 p.m., but we wanted extra time to relax, eat, and shop. We’re boarding now. We got bigger seats — not the lay‑flat kind — but still an upgrade. Eight hours ahead of us.

We boarded Virgin Atlantic, and I could tell the plane was a bit older; the seats looked worn. Even though we paid for larger, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better—maybe they would be if they had more padding. 

I lost track of how many times I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable and drift off to sleep. I might have gotten a little rest, but everyone on the plane looks worn out. I just wish the business‑class lay‑flat seats weren’t $4,000 each — that’s a steep upgrade for three people. The food was surprisingly good, and they did serve free drinks, but the movie selection was a letdown since they didn’t have many of the newer releases that other airlines offer. At least the skies were stunning this morning as we flew into Heathrow.

Time to prepare; we are landing in Heathrow, England, now. I can’t believe that I am finally here!

We were told to find a Trafalgar representative holding a sign with our name, and sure enough, he was right there, ready to pick us up and take us to the Hilton. It was just 5:30 in the morning, so we were crossing our fingers for an early check-in.

The hotel was fantastic — they even gave us breakfast vouchers. After eating, we were ready to crash for a couple of hours. Still a bit tired, we got up and kicked off the day. Marlon had already bought our tickets for the London Eye. I’d been on it before, but Mason hadn’t, and I wanted him to take in that incredible view of London. We set off to find our way to the Eye, with Marlon mapping out the route to the Tube. On the ride, Mason even tried to sneak in a quick catnap. 🤣

 The view was absolutely breathtaking, just as I’d imagined. With the sun shining brightly, the entire city unfolds before you from the London Eye. It was the perfect ride.

Next up was tracking down the iconic big red London tour bus — luckily, Marlon had already taken care of our tickets. The commentary was fantastic, really bringing the city to life. Mason, Marlon, and I grabbed seats on the open‑air top deck, perfect for snapping photos without any glass in the way. We spent about an hour and a half sightseeing before hopping off. 🚍

We decided to grab dinner before heading back to the hotel. Westfield Mall, just a short walk away and the largest mall in England, was the perfect spot. Marlon and I enjoyed some delicious Indian food, while Mason went for a steak and fries. We even looked for a jacket for him, but at $90 for the cheapest one, we passed. Now we’re back at the hotel—after a shower, I headed to bed, and Mason got a workout in before doing the same. A great start to our London adventure.