London Trip 2022
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Phase IV
"Day 3"
Date: November 25, 2022 - November 26, 2022
Participants: Ms. Christine, Ms. Fani, Ms. Francis, Ms. Helen, Mr. Leo, Ms. Natalia, Apostolos Sig, XBGamerX, +32 others
Period I – The Last Morning
A new day began and the trip saw even more consistency that morning. Everyone woke up earlier than before as they had to pack their bags up to get ready to check out. It was something that started coming to an end. Some had everything ready the day before and some others simply did not know it.
It was November 25, at 9:30 am UTC+0 that everyone met in the ground floor with Ms. Francis again. They were ready and got out of their rooms for the last time. They had to check out by 11:00 am but they did it earlier as they would have to visit the British Museum. All of the class came with their handbags, where they settled in the reception at 9:36 am. They sat down, just like the first day, waiting to get their bags into the storage room of the hotel. That was until 9:47 am, notified to form a line and put them into the storage, they stood up and took about 15 minutes to get it done.
Picture taken at 10:23 am UTC+0 near Russell Square.
Period II – The Last Walk
Then, at 10:01 am, everyone got out with Ms. Francis. She started giving instructions that they would go to the airport by a bus. She began chatting with the students until everyone was ready to set off for the British Museum.
After waiting for too much, everyone sat down early in this time. They were tired all along from the previous days. Despite this, Ms. Francis ordered to start walking at 10:21 am. They shortly after arrived in the British Museum at 10:30 am, walking 1,791 ft. There, everyone got checked in order to enter, after that, they took some photos in the entrance.
Picture taken at 10:35 am UTC+0 in the entrance of British Museum.
Pictures taken at 10:41 am and 10:42 am UTC+0.
They got down to the 1st floor using the same stairs from before, at 10:45 am. Shortly after, they went into room 4. That was where it was more crowded, so they entered rooms 8 and 23 in just a span of seconds, at 10:48 am. Finally, after surpassing room 17, they found themselves into the intersection between rooms 17 and 18 at 10:49 am. They stopped there to take pictures of the temple behind. Continuing further into room 18, almost all of the class sat on one of the benches. They spent some time there sitting until 11:04 am.
As they stood up, they decided to go into the Great Court, getting there no later than 11:06 am. Then, everyone went into a shop which had collections, at 11:08 am. As everyone had little money left, hardly anyone was seen buying something from there. They got out at 11:17 am, waiting there for a few minutes where they finally exited the building at 11:23 am.
Picture taken at 10:54 am UTC+0.
Period III – The British Museum
At 10:34 am, they all got into British Museum. They started off in room 24, seeing the African artifacts. Going left, to room 26, at 10:37 am, did not bring them anywhere as the elevators were out of service. Instead, they went to rooms 29b and 29a at 10:38 am where they picked the staircase to go to the 4th floor.
The class was in the room 61 by 10:39 am. Wanting to see the Greek artifacts, they realized they made a mistake. After seeing a map, they knew where to go so they crossed room 59 and got into room 73 at 10:41 am. Shortly after, they got into rooms 72 and 71. They soon after entered room 70 at 10:42 am. The class kept walking until they got into the end of the supposed hallway, into room 69, at 10:43 am. There, Ms. Francis asked the staff where the Greek marbles were and soon turned back.
Picture taken at 10:44 am UTC+0.
Picture taken at 10:54 am UTC+0 showing the Greek marbles inside the museum.
Period IV – The Last Souvenirs
They shortly after stopped in Starbucks to get some coffee but all went to the souvenir shop next to it at 11:28 am. The shop was not that interesting however, so they all got out at 11:34 am. Later, at 11:35 am, they went to another shop nearby where they stayed for a couple minutes until 11:42 am. This time, they purchased some items. They returned to Starbucks after they were ready. Despite this, they had to leave at 11:50 am.
Picture taken at 11:24 am UTC+0 at the back of British Museum.
Picture taken at 11:53 am UTC+0.
Pictures taken at 12:20 pm and 12:52 pm in the same location during lunch.
Period V – The Last Shopping
With XBGamerX being the leader, they went into Montague St at 11:52 am. Everyone followed him until they reached the shop just next to the hotel, going there for the third time. They reached it at 12:03 pm, making a distance of 3,103 ft. Everyone mostly bought water bottles to drink and sat down. It already got tiring and everyone wanted to return, forgetting the fun they would later miss however.
Period VI – The Failed Lunch
As the time was passing, they all decided to have lunch. They started going forward at 12:20 pm. They soon after got into a restaurant called Pret A Manger at 12:22 pm. It seemed that as soon as they sat down, the teachers told them to go to a pizzeria just next to it called Franco Manca at 12:23 pm.
After everyone sat down to order pizza however, some disagreed with the prices and left a few minutes later, at 12:27 pm. In spite of that, Ms. Francis still took a photo of the group sitting there. They went to a Mexican restaurant just next to it called “Tortilla”, only to realize they accepted credit cards and that no one was allowed to sit down before ordering. So, everyone left soon after at 12:28 pm. XBGamerX and Apostolos Sig sat down in Pret A Manger, this time outside, ordering nothing. They also realized that Makis Lip was gone but was found later, at 12:34 pm. Ms. Francis called both XBGamerX and Apostolos Sig to the other side of the road. Some decided to order from a Japanese shop next to it. At last, they all sat down outside the pizzeria.
Picture taken at 1:21 pm UTC+0 outside of the hotel. It was the last picture.
Period VII – The Preparation
Everyone finally settled down and started chatting with each other to pass the time. The time was only closing in so they had to get ready to go to the airport. They decided to leave at 1:17 pm. The class shortly after arrived outside of the hotel, at 1:21 pm.
There, they had been waiting outside in the cold to get their bags and start finishing this trip, all exhausted but fulfilled with yet many memories.
Period VIII – The Journey to the Airport
That was until 1:38 pm, where they were finally called to do so. Ms. Francis called 6 minivan taxis to pick everyone up. Then, they got everyone to pick their backpacks and they waited in the reception at 1:50 pm. During this time, Ms. Francis put everyone into 6 groups to get into the cabs. Everyone paid Ms. Francis £2.00.
Then, the cabs arrived at 1:57 pm and started picking up everyone. XBGamerX was with Ms. Fani and the group of Makis Lip. They got into the cab at 2:04 pm and left shortly after. Others departed at around the same time.
Diagram showing the taxi path.
All the cabs took the same way. It was a smooth ride which lasted about an hour. The first to arrive was Mr. Leo, at 3:10 pm. The cab Ms. Fani was arrived shortly after at 3:14 pm, outside of terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport and met with Mr. Leo. Others arrived later however, at around 3:30 pm the most.
Picture taken at 3:15 pm UTC+0 in Heathrow Airport outside of terminal 5 with the sun setting early.
Pictures taken at 3:17 pm and 3:18 pm UTC+0 outside of terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport.
Period IX – The Check-in in London
By the time everyone arrived in the airport, the sun was setting. It was the last time they saw light in London and that began marking the dusk of the trip. Arriving fairly early, everyone sat on the benches between zones D and E, gradually watching the sun go down. Everyone was all tired.
After hours of waiting, at 4:50 pm, it was time to check-in. Ms. Francis asked for the boarding passes but they already had them so that helped them. They started giving them one by one to everyone, starting at 4:52 pm.
As soon as everyone got their boarding pass, they waited in the line to put their bags into the plane. It was 5:00 pm when everyone finished so they headed back off. During this time, Ms. Francis took a group photo of everyone who wore the same white hoodie. But it did not end here. At 5:12 pm, they went to get checked in security, passing the gates at 5:17 pm. Makis Lip thought he lost his phone at this point and could not find it but he later remembered he accidentally put it in the bag he gave for luggage, with some of the teachers yelling for this.
It seemed that some of them picked a different path at that point. At 5:22 pm, the class soon began getting checked. Everyone except the teachers only passed through the metal detector and skipped the full security check. However, those who failed had to pass through the rest of the check as well. It took until 5:29 pm to get everyone checked and they met outside of worlddutyfree by the escalators. Ms. Francis along with some others went to Harrods and returned quickly at 5:37 pm. Then, they went to some of the stores in the left-hand side until she returned at 5:48 pm. Everyone was sitting down with the time getting less and less.
Picture taken at 7:13 pm UTC+0 just about to board the buses.
Period X – The Departure from London
Despite this, they all got down at 5:50 pm. At this point Ms. Francis started being stricter and more restrictive as inconsistency started going around. Most of them went into worlddutyfree shop but refused to buy anything due to how expensive everything was. Regardless, no one went any further and had to return at around 6:10 pm.
They sat by the escalators for a few minutes, until 6:16 pm. After that, they walked all the way to gate A9 seats where they also settled there at 6:19 pm. Shortly after, everyone went to Starbucks, in order to spend their remaining coins as it would be impossible to exchange them later. It was about 6:28 pm when everyone returned. Some got water but others bought some snacks to eat as well. Ms. Francis additionally took the temperatures of everyone to ensure they were not sick which thankfully turned to be true.
Later, at 6:37 pm, Ms. Francis offered to give her last coins to Apostolos Sig but refused, so she gave them to XBGamerX instead who was not sure about getting them. In the final, he went with Apostolos Sig to Starbucks for one last time to get chips. They returned shortly after at 6:42 pm. Not a few minutes that it was finally announced which gate they would have to go to, that being gate A10d, at 6:50 pm.
Everyone then stood up until Ms. Christina saw the mess some of the students made in the seats. She shouted to throw the trash away but it was her who collected it in the final run. Nevertheless, everyone went downstairs to the gate A10d. It was 6:53 pm and everyone sat down, waiting for the gate to open. It did not take too much that at 7:04 pm, they started checking the passports. Among the first who passed through the check was no surprise XBGamerX and some girls, at 7:12 pm. The check was complete by 7:16 pm with Ms. Francis counting everyone to ensure no one stayed behind. Then, all had to get out to board the buses. Multiple buses were used but all of the class fitted into the same bus so it started moving to the platform at 7:20 pm. It did not take too long to arrive there, it was 7:24 pm.
Pictures taken at 7:31 pm and 8:00 pm UTC+0. The first shows the plane in the airport, while the second shows a wide view of London as it was turning.
Period XI – The Flight and the Landing in Athens
All entered the aircraft at 7:27 pm. It was an Airbus A321 this time, a different airplane. It was also about time to depart, last time the class took step in London. The plane started moving at 7:40 pm and reached the runway at 7:56 pm.
That was the intense moment and it shortly after took off at 7:57 pm. It was a long flight, thankfully shorter than the first and over-exhausting as well. Indeed, everyone was tired. Most of them slept including some of teachers but others stayed awake, making noise. XBGamerX was some seats in the front again, so he was not really affected, but he did not sleep anyway.
This time however, unlike last time, GPS and the slightest cellular connection was possible, hence XBGamerX was able to see where the airplane was at times. At 10:28 pm, the plane started losing height, getting ready to land. By 10:42 pm, it got even well below 10,000 ft and the lights were visible.
And it was 10:51 pm, when it finally landed. An applause shortly followed after. It reached the terminal at approximately 10:58 pm, arriving there at least 20 minutes earlier.
Picture adapted from the video on November 26, at 12:52 am UTC+2, with the plane about to land in Elefterios Venizelos Airport.
Period XII – The True End
Like before, the class waited for everyone to get off the plane so they could get out easier. XBGamerX, in the front again with Ms. Natalie led everyone out of the plane at 11:07 pm. It was official that everyone arrived back in Athens safely. At 11:09 pm, they got inside the terminal. Waiting for everyone, they walked across the hallway, at 11:10 pm. Then, they went down using the escalators to get their passports checked at 11:12 pm. It did not take too long as the airport was mostly empty. They all got out by 11:17 pm. Then, waiting for the luggage to arrive, it took some minutes until everyone received their bags. It was 11:31 pm.
Then, everyone passed the arrivals gate at 11:34 pm. They met their parents and confronted them after all this challenging trip. It was an emotional moment. This was the point where it marked the official and true end of the trip, thus, everyone returned to their homes by 12:00 am and slept well. It was an adventurous but worthwhile, successful and decent trip that will be remembered forever by everyone, every single moment in those 4 days.
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