Heathrow, the beginning of my drinking tour

It’s a fact. I don’t like Bass Ale. I find it to be bitter and a tad dry. Give me a fine, predictable Mille Lite, Shipyard or a Wachusette Blueberry any day. I would, however, accept a Bass over a Coors any day (damn shampoo beer).

Here I sit, at Huxley’s Bar and Kitchen in Heathrow Airport, London. I order a Bass because as the old adage goes, “When in England…”. The Bass was divine! I don’t know if it’s because all beers taste better on their home turf or if it’s due to the fact I just walked off of a 6.5 hour flight for a 1.75 hour rest before an 11.5 hour flight. Either way, the Bass was inhaled, yet savored, at Eric-like speed and another followed in it’s wake. Am I a Bass convert? We’ll have to wait and see…

2 quick observations: 1) Heathrow has a lack of rubbish bins. I only saw them in the restaurants and in the bathroom. Yet, ever 15 feet there are recycle bins. Eco-concious or annoying, you decide. 2) The adorable bartender who talked about how wonderful it was that he was finally “of smoking age” so he could go to Amsterdam every weekend and walk around high actually ran from gate A to gate B (this route includes a tram ride) to return a bright Pepto-Bismol pink carry on to a woman who somehow managed to forget that atrocity in the bar. What a nice young man.

My Drinking Tour, Rating 1-5 Xs, 1X being the worst

2/27/10 Heathrow Airport Bass Ale XXXXX

2/27/10 Heathrow Airport Sailor Jerry is served! XXXXX (2.45 British pound booo)

2/27/10 British Air Prieur Des Jacobins, “Les Jalles” 2008 Bordeaux. Worst wine ever! Tasted corky but it’s a twist top, hmm…

3/1/10 Mitchell’s Ale House, Cape Town Mild & Honey Brew 6.7% XXX

What an amazing flight!

The airport itself was of course, uneventful. I walked laps in preparation for a long sit. Bought a yogurt parfait from Starbucks which set me back $5.18 (bastards). Boarded the plane when instructed. Once aboard, I fell in love with British Airways, figuratively of course. The cabin colors were bright and inviting, satellite TV in every headrest with 200 movies options as well as popular TV shows, the ability to track your flight and the fact that I had the row to myself definitely upped the happiness meter!

I was able to read in comfort (Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster…hilarious by the way) then watch TV during my hot breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, has browns, blueberry crumb cake, fruit and a roll with butter! I sat with my legs either crossed out in front of me or tucked to my side without kicking anybody or bothering anyone. Then out the window I spied frozen islands. I was excited by the beauty of the land! A frozen landscape of desolate rock stretched out as far as the eye could see. Breath taking. Beautiful. Giddy, I grabbed my phone, in airplane mode, and HAD to snap some photos.

"The approach to the south-east portion of Newfoundland"

I was flying over Newfoundland. I use the word, “I”, because those around me were either sleeping or consumed by the screen in front of them. It was as if the marvelous view was for me alone. Stay tuned…pictures will be posted once I arrive back in the states.

"The flight over Newfoundland"

"Namibia"