Tia's European Adventure 2009 Saturday May 9, 2009 - Ottawa, ON

Saturday May 9, 2009 - Ottawa, ON

Today begins my European Adventure!

I am going on a 39-Day tour with Contiki :) My first big Europe trip - Solo.

I am currently all packed and ready to go. I am excited but also very nervous.

Not about travelling, because travel is a way of life for me, but just a little insecure about meeting all these new people for the first time!

I've met some of them on facebook, but its different in real life.

Once I'm in Europe, I'll be A-OK.

I'm just acting a little wonky "pre-flight jitters" Flying has always made me feel a little insecure. Probably all those years where I could get sick on the plane. Oh the embarassing years I will never live down from my sister and parents! Truthfully; it's been years since I've been sick on planes, BUT its always going to be a fear, I fear... but its one I refuse to claim me...

I leave at 6:30pm on Air Canada.

First stop - London, England.

I land in Heathrow Airport in London!

This is my parents house in the hallway! Saying good-bye to my house for over 2 months!

I'm on my way to the airport...

Here is me and my mom at the airport, just waiting. I'm going to miss my mom. I love travelling with her. She encouraged me from the very beginning to take this trip. She knows I love to travel. So this will be excellent opportunity for me :)

I am currently waiting at Gate 15 for my flight to Heathrow Airport in London, England.

Nervous but also getting very, very excited!

Weather in Ottawa is not great today... It's cold, wet, freezing rain, and no sun :(

I hope the flight will run smoothly. I hate turbulance...

There are drug dogs sniffing everyones carry-on package. Such cute dogs, but the concept is a little scary. Not that I would EVER bring drugs on a plane, but still drug dogs is a little intense.

6:20pm

I am currently on the plane! It is a HUGE International Charter Plane with Air Canada.

For some reason, I was not expecting my flight to be packed. Its not especially high season for travel destinations. Yet, the flight is full. Wierd...

I am always so envious when I see First Class/Business Class seats!

<< check out these seats!

They are placed in a diagonal position and they have full ability to lie on back like a bed, with feet rests and pretty big sized TV screens and lots of leg room :)

I'll never forget one of my big travel trips was with one of my very good friends, Vicky, she is over 6 feet tall! We went on a high school trip to Europe. On one of our flights home, Vicky and I scored seats where the emergency doors are places. Therefore; a ton of leg room. Vicky was in heaven!

These seats are wicked!

I landed a window seat :)

So I was able to take some pretty cool pictures :)

Good-Bye Ottawa, Ontario!

Ariel View of Ottawa from the plane!

<= I watched the sunset and sunrise... very pretty!

I have no idea what time it was here....

I tried to sleep... I don't sleep on planes. No matter how tired I am...

I did watch several movies though :) Wrote in my travel journal and just tried to stay excited instead of nervous :)

I watched Yes Man!, Bolt and Inkheart.

The flight dinner was very typical dinner. Beef and Veggies - wasn't overly awful. Ever since I was little, I was always a little apprehensive about eating dinner on planes, but I had a little. So no worries.

The flight went alright, not a lot of turbulance! which is a +10 in my books :)

For the remainder of the flight, I made sure I had all travel documents for my travels, doubled checked everything I had with me...

I had to take this picture - Sunrise on the plane, very cool cloud picture!

Welcome to London, England.

Sunday May 10, 2009

This was the view I saw before we landed...

6:00am.