London with brotherdearest
Day 1: The Knightbus
(Okay, fine *sighs* ... the nightbus from Amsterdam to London, still quite adventurous;)

Friday, April 6: from Zwolle to Amsterdam to London

My late lunch on the 15.16 train to Amsterdam:)


Weird warning on train/metro/trainstation: apparently you can't even use your mobile phone without it getting nicked? So glad I don't have one.


Arrived at my brother's appartment around five, we had dinner before getting on the metro to Amsterdam Amstel station to catch the nightbus to London. This is the Eurolines busstation.


The awesome traveltreats machine at the busstation includes postcards with stamps and a helpful message from the kind people at the Eurolines office. Ahw.

Bus left the station half an hour before the official departure time, around 9 p.m. There was a stop in Eindhoven to pick up more passengers before driving South to France. We were supposed to cross the Channel in Calais, but were told it was too busy there and drove to Dunkirk instead (this takes longer, hence the earlier departure from Amsterdam). Passport control by French and English bordersecurity was swift and without problems. Our busdriver was pleasantly surprised.


Around 3.15 a.m.: Duinkerken (Dunkerque/Dunkirk) next to the bus with the lights of the ferry behind us, we're ready to board. :-)

Bus was quite comfortable, but not a good night's sleep with the break on the boat (ship?). Although we did manage to find a bench and chairs to put our feet up, it wasn't really suited for more than a power nap. From Dunkirk to Dover took about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Then it was back on the bus for the final stretch to London...


Day 2: London!
Saturday, April 7: from Zwolle to Amsterdam
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Around 7 a.m. local time I startle awake: is that a double decker? Are we in London already?


Hey, look, a familiar sight: the houses of Parliament! WE HAVE ARRIVED IN LONDON, woohoo \o/


Still sleepy, but very excited, we get off the bus and walk from the Victoria Coach Station to the Tube (or the "Tsjoop", as our busdriver called it;)


I love this add on the subway. Alas, there was no Mr or Ms Right sitting beneith it. Oh well.

We left our luggage at the hotel and went into town for breakfast. (We couldn't check in a room yet, but could leave our bags without charge until rooms got available around 2 p.m.)

First stop: Covent Garden! We wanted to look for food, but were distracted by a massive display of Easter Eggs! Excuse me while I go a little egg-crazy...


As it turns out all the eggs made for The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt were on display for a final time.


From painted eggs to egg-shaped installations, it was an art-project similar to 2009's Elephant parade (which I saw in Amsterdam back then with S.


Some of the eggs were too fragile to be out in the open, so there were quite a few 'hidden' in shop windows as well as outside:)


The British Alphabet egg:)


So many eggs. \o/


I couldn't stop taking pictures:)


Front and back of one of my favorites.


Yes, more eggs. But look: it has Covent Garden in the background, it's totally atouristy photo!


LOOK HOW AWESOME! A My Generation Egg! A mailbox Egg!


So pretty and fun.


One last look and then we're going for breakfast.


No, really, this is the last egg, there is more to see in Covent Garden ("He's behind you!") but now we're really hungry, so food it is.


Oh, come on, how could I not? Delicious and perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs at Le Pain Quotidien. Omnomnom.

To be continued...