October 15, 2005, the arrival

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3rd time I landed at Luton Airport, 1st time it was going to be to stay.
Carrying my 20kg suitcase to the bus, I felt nothing. It was a normal day, I had just arrived in London and would make my way to the city, get a cab at Marble Arch and go to the Hotel Prince William near Paddington Station.
I don't remember a single thing about the bus ride, was it different in any way? No memory!

I do remember how heavy 20kg of luggage without any wheels are though, especially if you have to carry it through Marble Arch while trying to get a cab at 6pm on a rainy day. There I was, dripping wet, exhausted, fighting with other people for one free cab. It took about 20 minutes until one lovely guy stopped and offered to get me to the hotel, even though he had finished his shift and was about to go home.

First night at the hotel, they had to give me a different room, as the one I was supposed to get had been double booked... it was tiny, a bit filthy with toilet on the floor. Not what I had booked, not what I wanted but I decided not to make a fuss for one night - I wasn't going to start my adventure this way.

Having unpacked, I decided to go for dinner. The Angus Steak House right up the street seemed like a good option, I was starving and what's better to start a new life than a juicy rare steak with fries!

I now realise how often I dined in this steak house, usually sitting at the same table, watching the people rushing by. I also remember the Cafe Nero right around the corner where I consumed countless Espressos and latte Macchiattos, the Italian Restaurant with the awesome Spaghetti Carbonara and the charming italian waiters. Even after I had a flat in Sheperd's Bush I went to Paddington a lot, mainly for the Internet Cafe, where I spent ours looking for jobs and emailing friends and family back home.

Paddington, the first step in my London adventure, an important one, as everything that came later started from there...