The night before my flight I wasn't able to sleep at all. I just kept checking weight and measurements of my bags over and over again. I also kept repeating a checklist out loud and inside my head so that I had everything with me, especially the essentials. I kept repeating the list even when I was walking to a cab.
In London Heathrow when I was following the signs to Heathrow express I learned that it was a really bad decision to take my thicker coat since it is really warm in England. It's almost 20°C every day! So when I finally had found my way to Heathrow Express and tried to purchase a ticket to Paddington from a ticket machine, I couldn't find the ticket I saw online for a bit over £9. All the tickets I saw in machine were closer to £50! Next to the machine was information desk so I asked the lady about the tickets I saw online and apparently those were some different tickets than what I saw from the machine and fortunately I was able to buy it from her. She even was kind enough to write the time and platform too behind the ticket.
On the platform after a while waiting some employee came to guide people to move further away since train's stop had changed. But everything went fine and I even got to Paddington earlier than planned.
In Paddington I just checked the platform from where the train would leave and went straight to the ticket machine. This time I found the right ticket but my payment was declined. Then I was guided to ticket office and tried purchasing the ticket with my card, but it was again declined. Luckily I was prepared for something like this to happen so before the trip I had had raised money in pounds just in case. After I bought the ticked I called my mom about it and apparently I had crossed my spending limit which is why I wasn't able to use it. So for everyone else who will be traveling in the future: check that you have rights to use your card everywhere and increase that spending and raising limit of your accounts. It's also good to keep money in two different places if someone happens to steal your wallet.
During the travel to Plymouth there were astonishing landscapes! I really regret that I wasn't able to take photos of it or film it. But there was also something that surprised me: at one point water was red. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it was from red tiles or something.
I managed to arrive in Plymouth 2 hours early and in station a representative from Almond gave me a welcoming package that included map, bus pass, and some basic info and of course all the contacts that I will be needing. Rest of the day was very peaceful. I just settled in and talked with my hostess and went to bed early.
In London Heathrow when I was following the signs to Heathrow express I learned that it was a really bad decision to take my thicker coat since it is really warm in England. It's almost 20°C every day! So when I finally had found my way to Heathrow Express and tried to purchase a ticket to Paddington from a ticket machine, I couldn't find the ticket I saw online for a bit over £9. All the tickets I saw in machine were closer to £50! Next to the machine was information desk so I asked the lady about the tickets I saw online and apparently those were some different tickets than what I saw from the machine and fortunately I was able to buy it from her. She even was kind enough to write the time and platform too behind the ticket.
On the platform after a while waiting some employee came to guide people to move further away since train's stop had changed. But everything went fine and I even got to Paddington earlier than planned.
In Paddington I just checked the platform from where the train would leave and went straight to the ticket machine. This time I found the right ticket but my payment was declined. Then I was guided to ticket office and tried purchasing the ticket with my card, but it was again declined. Luckily I was prepared for something like this to happen so before the trip I had had raised money in pounds just in case. After I bought the ticked I called my mom about it and apparently I had crossed my spending limit which is why I wasn't able to use it. So for everyone else who will be traveling in the future: check that you have rights to use your card everywhere and increase that spending and raising limit of your accounts. It's also good to keep money in two different places if someone happens to steal your wallet.
During the travel to Plymouth there were astonishing landscapes! I really regret that I wasn't able to take photos of it or film it. But there was also something that surprised me: at one point water was red. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it was from red tiles or something.
I managed to arrive in Plymouth 2 hours early and in station a representative from Almond gave me a welcoming package that included map, bus pass, and some basic info and of course all the contacts that I will be needing. Rest of the day was very peaceful. I just settled in and talked with my hostess and went to bed early.
