Flying to Heathrow - Dallas to London flight - Flying to UK Summer 2022

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Check out those 8 British accents in 4 minutes in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKDOh4Wlib2GbZI

[@FunandBudget]

Awww - I love when the universe delights like that - no plans needed, just show up and turns up your friends will be there at the same time...love it!

[@britainonabudget]

This video gave me alllll the feels! I’m smiling thinking about all the fun you’re having and all the delicious meals (love that halloumi tea! 🙂) you’re enjoying!

[@evancortez2]

Wow! 4 months in the UK! I can't even begin to think about the logistics of how I may be able to do that! But I wish I could - 4 months in the UK would be like a dream for me :)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I’m SO SPOILT!

[@ruthgoebel723]

I hear ya! Same here. That would be my dream!!!

[@lisakisseebain7628]

Have a wonderful time. Can't wait to see your adventures!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment💕 I hope you are well! So sorry to miss seeing everyone in person at the reunion this summer! Love, Dara

[@f3aok]

Good to have you back guys look forward to your upcoming vids.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Awww, thanks so much, Stuart! XX

[@RetirementTravelers]

You guys haven’t aged a bit in 8 years!!!! 😳😉 Thanks for sharing your journey. John and Bev

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Ian looked even more handsome! He’s not getting older, he’s just getting better 💕

[@bobbyxhilone9224]

This was SO MUCH FUN to watch, Dara!! Wow, I truly feel like a Brit Traveler with you guys, sitting here in Illinois, sipping my Diet Coke. Just the right way for me to travel. 😉Thank you for simply EVERYTHING in this video: The flight, underground, architecture, fountains, meeting up with friends, old pics of your sons, hotel room, food -- I always thoroughly enjoy how you put things together. And I so greatly appreciate all your hard work. Have a wonderful summer, and keep these videos coming!! 🥰👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks, Bobby! I was just going to do a quick video about the flight, but it then started to grow in length and content and scope! 😂 Trent wanted me to find the photo of our selfie from eight years ago, and I’m glad I did! That was kind of fun. 💕 And honestly, I hope the video helps our American friends who are coming over in a couple weeks, as they will need to be taking those same escalators and tram and Heathrow express!🇺🇸❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@glastonbury4304]

I'm a Brit and she knows more about my country than I do...amazing couple 👍💕

[@davidcoan4899]

Have a great time here

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! Excited to be here! XX Dara

[@potdog1000]

lovely post

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, John! XX

[@TravelingTramps]

We're so happy to hear the restrictions on air travel or travel as a whole are easing. Many times we've been offered "a bump" while we we're working but always declined too. However, now that we're retired we can be bought. There going to have to make it worth while though! So many escalators and trains upon your arrival but it looked like a lovely hotel with stunning views. Wonderful coincidence on your meeting friends. Beautiful London sights and even a magenta ferry! Thanks so much for bringing us along.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Dave, I agree. When it was a business trip I never could take the bribe and change my flight. I wish we could have been more flexible this time, but we had a narrow window of time to visit with the Russells and stay in London. If we had just been going directly to our flat on our own, we might’ve considered it! $400 is a lot of money! Thanks for watching!

[@ernestknoxknox7075]

Great 👍 you're back x

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Woohoo! Happy to be here!

[@openmindedwonderer]

Brilliant video, look forward to Seeing what you get up to in the UK

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, friend! XX

[@AidanEyewitness]

Glad to hear you're back over here again. I would have loved the flight, I love travelling long haul!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I don’t understand that, Aiden! Are you good at sleeping on planes? Or do you like watching four movies in a row?

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I love travelling by plane and I sleep better in my economy class window seat than in expensive hotel rooms. I love the views and I've had many wonderful and memorable flights to and from Japan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and the States. I wish I had an unlimited season ticket for all airlines and flights!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@AidanEyewitness well, you are an ideal passenger! I think British Airways should give you an unlimited pass! 😂

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Until then I'll keep flying on Ryanair for £9.99! 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@AidanEyewitness cheap as chips!🍟

[@PlanetImo]

What a great vlog. I'm a vlog fan, as you know. I really enjoyed this. Had to watch in two halves as I didn;t have time to watch it all, earlier.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I do that so often! I start watching a video and then get interrupted. Thanks for watching, Imo! I do so many different kinds of videos on my channel. It probably is not a good thing for the algorithm, but I just have so many ideas of things I want to do, and it’s more interesting for me to do a variety of things. I’m glad you enjoyed this one. 💕 When I FINALY publish the video of us together in Cardiff on 10 June, it is more of a vlog 😉

[@huguenotgirl6432]

Welcome back to the UK. I’m just like you and Ian - I can never sleep on transatlantic flights and spend the whole time watching several films!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I remember the days when we didn’t have our own personal screens on the back of the seat in front of us. That was much more difficult! While it’s still is not super fun to be on a 10 hour flight, I’m just grateful I’m able to do nonstop flights, and have my choice of films and programmes to watch! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Cheers! XX Dara

[@PinnedonPlaces]

Such a great travel vlog, really enjoyed watching your journey to over here!! Love it! Cant wait to see what you've got in store for us, thanks again for sharing! :D

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, Alessa!

[@PinnedonPlaces]

@@MagentaOtterTravels 👌🙌💕

[@TheBuddFiles]

Very interesting video. Lovely blog. Can't wait to see more

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, love!💕

[@The_Brit_Girls]

The fish and chip advertising worked then! 👍😄 The food looked very interesting at Fortnum & Mason. It's always best to try and stay awake until bedtime, to get over the jet-lag quicker.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I took that crazy pine bark supplement this time to also help with jet lag. I think it did help me feel more energetic and awake during the day. Although, I didn’t do a great job falling asleep or staying asleep first three nights… 🙄

[@NBNatureTrailvan]

Ha this is great Dara. 👍👍👍 You’ve had so many issues getting backwards and forwards!! But good that you’re back now at least. Amazing room at Canary Wharf - stunning views and that amazing desk!! Plus a Fortnum and Mason lunch - how cool is that. Hope you will have a brilliant time over here again 👍👍👍👍

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Great views of the Tower of London and Canary Wharf. Good to see the gardeners working on setting the flowers for the Jubilee!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We go back to London in a couple weeks, and I’m hoping to see some flowers!

[@The_Brit_Girls]

What a fabulous hotel room, with wonderful views. It would definitely make a great Magenta Otter Studio!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I would’ve enjoyed video editing with the floor to ceiling view of Canary wharf in front of me❤️

[@gerrymccartney3561]

Welcome back and thank you for the excellent film of your first day in London on this trip. I was able to spot two places I worked during your aerial shot.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for the welcome! We are so excited to be here! We have spent a lovely day wandering about sunny Cheltenham buying lots of whatnot. How fun that you spotted familiar places! Care to tell me where? I probably won't know the places, but Ian might. He knows a fair amount about London buildings.

[@gerrymccartney3561]

@@MagentaOtterTravels One is a boring office block, the other floats near Tower Bridge, weighs 11,553 tons and helped sink the Scharnhorst off the North Cape in December 1943.

[@ians3586]

Gerry is referring to the Belfast.

[@gerrymccartney3561]

@@ians3586 Correct HMS Belfast.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gerrymccartney3561 I am glad that Ian made that comment! For some reason KZbin has stop notifying me of replies to questions I ask people! Most annoying…

[@john_smith1471]

Good to see you returning, Crossrail is great, not fully joined with Heathrow yet and no Sunday working, I used the Elizabeth line on the second day of service, travelled Paddington to Canary Wharf in 17minutes on a spacious train with a/c mood lighting and specially designed moquette seat covering, even some transverse seating available which is better when speaking to a travel companion.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Exciting times! I'm returning to London Paddington today for a 4 day stay in London. Looking forward to my first ride on the Elizabeth line... and the purple seats ;-) Thanks so much for your support, and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Cheers! Dara

[@britainonabudget]

Oooh you really lucked out with those seats! I’m with you, Ian, I like the aisle.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I like the aisle if I"m travelling alone... but if I'm with Ian and he will let me by, I like the window so I can film. Although my footage from the plane was rubbish!!

[@evancortez2]

I went to the sky garden at the top of the walkie talkie last time I was in London and it was awesome up there! I remember getting to London at 7 in the morning, checking in to the hotel and then heading straight to the sky garden and since I didn't get any sleep on the plane, I was so sleepy, but also very excited!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We always have the same experience, Evan! We are so excited to be there, it helps keep us awake! And walking around in the sunshine helps a lot too!!

[@terencewilliams789]

Great travel video. So exciting. Wow what a room. xx

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I was chuffed to get another amazing room like that! What a treat! 🤩

[@transientland9932]

Congrats on mastering the ways of the selfie!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I still prefer when you take the photo with your built-in selfie stick arm 📸

[@glastonbury4304]

oh wow such a lovely video, you teach me so much about the UK...on a completely random point you ever thought of doing Audio books for kids , your voice is so clear and warm it's so suited to reading books like Tarka the Otter and the Incredible Journey it's kind of hypnotic and calming just listening to you ...there's no bias here, I'm sure many of your followers would agree with me 👍📚💕

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is SO kind of you to say. I grew up absolutely HATING my voice.... so that fact that anyone finds it pleasant is somewhat shocking to me! haha

[@glastonbury4304]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I think without bias many parents would agree you have a beautiful voice for story telling ... I'm sure there are a few that wouldn't take to Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, Stephen Fry , or Julia Whelan and Davina Porter...but the majority would, just a perfect voice for narrating 👍💕

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@glastonbury4304 thanks so much! ☺️

[@catherinehaywood7092]

So glad you arrived safely and had a good journey. Hope you enjoy your stay and I look forward to your videos.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, love! 💕

[@atravellersjourney]

such a fantastic video, thanks for sharing this, stay safe always

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers!

[@petersymonds4975]

Hello and Welcome Dara & Ian. The sluice is a disposal point for contaminated water, usually body fluids. Not seen the term used anywhere other than in hospital when I go to the Diabetes Clinic with my little bottle! I don’t know what the Tower display will be but if it is as spectacular as the moat of poppies from a few years ago then it will be a good place to visit. Looking forward to your adventures this year.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I LOVED seeing the poppies in the Tower moat! So moving. I think this year it will be a display of real flowers... wildflowers! There is such an emphasis on wilding and encouraging pollinators these days ;-) Thanks for the explanation about sluice... although I think it might have been better to stay ignorant about that, haha!

[@ians3586]

Yes, that poppy display was one of the most visually meaningful and stunning things I have seen. I’m hoping that by the time we return in late May, they’ll have completed the wildflower display though I’m guessing it will be at its prime in mid to late June.

[@colinrenfrew48]

Just discovered you on KZbin. Really charming and personal video. Good job, and now subscribed.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Colin! Welcome to the Magenta Otter Tribe 💕🦦… A fun bunch of Britain loving people ❤️🇬🇧! Cheers! XX Dara

[@88KeystoCure]

So happy to that you got there safely!!! Hoping you have an amazing 4 months!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Don't say that like you don't plan to talk to me for 4 whole months!!!

[@88KeystoCure]

@@MagentaOtterTravels lol. Of course not!!! I miss you so much!!!

[@RoyCousins]

A Sluice in this case would probably be a large industrial sink, where the cleaners could dispose of dirty water and wash down or refill buckets.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Ah, good to know! Cheers!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We watched this on the big TV last night. Thanks for bringing us along on your travels, yay, we’re now in the same time zone!! It was lovely you got to meet up with friends in London. That hotel room was something else! I was reading about the flower display they’re doing at the Tower of London for the jubilee, so it was great to see it! Thanks for sharing this video and welcome back to the U.K. 🍻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you very much for our warm welcome! It is lovely to be here!! We are headed back to London to meet up with our 3rd set of American friends in a couple weeks... hopefully there will be some blooming flowers then! WATCH THIS SPACE! haha

[@MillsyLM]

Welcome back Dara and Ian

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, Lee! Great to be here!

[@emilynaylor2304]

Other than the hour delay, glad you guys had safe travels and were able to wiz through customs! This video makes me so excited and makes me feel like I'm right there seeing the sights with you! You guys really did have such an amazing room in London! Thanks for sharing!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Now we just need to get YOU over here!!!!

[@JennandLeon]

Enjoy England! It's such a beautiful country. We will be there on May 30th!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh, that is marvelous! Just in time for all the Jubliee festivities! Our neighbourhood is having a street party and I'm so excited!

[@jfergs.3302]

A fine travelogue for London this. Reminds me it's too long since I was last there. Also looks like a great start to your epic trip, glad your both having a lovely time.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! It started out to be a helpful video giving my friends instructions as they come from the US to visit us… but then it just kept growing in scope! 🤣 Next thing you know, there were magenta flowers and food I had to include as well!

[@Brillbrits]

Love this video & sharing Jetlag with you! Was a great 1st day in London! 🇬🇧

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I had no idea you were photo bombing behind me in Jubilee park until I was editing the video! That was so funny to see!

[@TravelswithTanya]

Your fan from Georgia here. Since January of 2022...I have flown twice to England. Once in Jan. to drop daughter off at University and then to visit her again March. Flights have been great. In Oct. of 2021 an Jan. this year, I had an entire row of seats on flight to myself. March was a littel different. I was sharing a three seat with a passenger...then he moved, so I then had the row to myself. I fly again in June with my younger daughter and 2 nieces . Can't wait.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hi Tanya! I’m excited for your trip in June. I think it will be wonderful! I expect you will have better weather than you did in March 😉. However, I expect your flight will be much more full. Let me know! Cheers! XX Dara

[@pvlifestylefitness]

Nice my friend👌Thank you for sharing👍

[@evancortez2]

That is an amazing hotel room! What a view! Last time I was in London I stayed in a small hotel in Paddington, and the room was literally very tiny, but since I was travelling alone I didn't really need a huge hotel room, I just needed a simple place to crash at the end of the day :)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I just wish we had been able to stay there more than one night! Although I would’ve only had one night for free, and I’m sure I couldn’t afford it any more nights there! 😬

[@Mark_Dyer1]

Looking cool Dara! And we're looking forward to seeing you here in the West Country during the Summer. God bless you!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yay! We are so excited to get back to Somerset and spend time with you two!

[@Mark_Dyer1]

@@MagentaOtterTravels So sorry we both use "Received Pronunciation" rather than a local dialect: although - having been raised on Anglesey (Mam Cymru: 'Mother of Wales') I am able to pronounce Welsh well; and was fluent in the language when only four. I can even cope with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerauchwirrndrobwllllantisiliogogogoch! (Hope I've spelt it correctly). Most people just say LlanfairPG.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Mark_Dyer1 did you see me trying to say it in my learning Welsh video a couple weeks ago? It was an absolute disaster. It sounded like I was speaking whale not Welsh 🐳!!

[@Mark_Dyer1]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Har, Har! Jonah, eat your heart out.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Mark_Dyer1 😂😂

[@john_smith1471]

Canary Wharf is often overlooked as a location to stay, there are big name hotels there and they have superb views as you’ve shown us, the Jubilee line was always fast, now there is the super swift Elizabeth line, old maritime Greenwich is very near as well.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I agree! I had never heard of Canary Wharf, but when we stayed there in 2014 I fell in love with the area. Such pretty views! And like Threadneedles, it's a more financial/business area, so you can get some GREAT hotel deals at lovely properties at the right time of week!

[@john_smith1471]

@@MagentaOtterTravels welcome back to a pretty much normal-ish looking London, public transport is busy, most people showing their natural faces & expressions, Dipped into a recent Canary Wharf Question on Rick Steves forum, the American poster was advised to ignore CW and pass on by, nothing to see, which is wrong, the new Crossrail Place station at CW is spacious with yellow lit escalators and a new Mall.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@john_smith1471 we just rode on the Elizabeth line, and talked about you! 💜

[@john_smith1471]

@@MagentaOtterTravelsGood to know, hope there were no immigration/passport control queues, and the E gates worked, Americans use the combo word customs but we have the separate red/green walk through for customs spot checks.

[@RhubarbAndCod]

Haha... we're like Ian... actually thankful for our height when it comes to that tight flight seating. That price difference for advanced tickets on the Heathrow express is crazy!! Thanks for this Dara!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We have so many American visitors coming to see us... one reason I had to make this video is to show them how to navigate the airport ;-)

[@StephenandAndie]

wow! I couldn’t even begin to remember my first family selfie. that’s really cool!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It was so memorable to me because my son knew how to get all four of us into one picture, which I thought was amazing! He’s the tallest in the family, and his long arms are like a natural selfie stick 🤣

[@StephenandAndie]

@@MagentaOtterTravels 😂 I bet he loves being known as a human selfie stick.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@StephenandAndie I bet he doesn’t mind! He enjoys being the tallest 😉

[@StephenandAndie]

we’ve been to that sky garden! what do they call the building? the walkie talkie? something funny like that.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, the sky garden is in the walkie-talkie! I’m so glad that you have experienced it as well 💕

[@fredflintstone8569]

I'm used to seeing your new videos on a Friday, this is a nice mid-week surprise. I think the 'Cleaners Sluice' is a fancy way to describe the closet where they keep the mops, buckets etc. Nice to see you both back in the UK.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for the explanation! I figured that's what the closet was since it was near the toilet, but I wasn't sure! Yes, back in the day I used to do a video every Tuesday AND Friday... but then I got too busy. And then I moved to just Fridays and got SO behind in posting. I hope to squeeze in a few extra videos this summer... don't tell Ian ;-) haha

[@robertwilson738]

@@MagentaOtterTravels A sluice is where the cleaners pour away the dirty water from their cleaning work and probably fill up with clean water to continue. Not sure why it needs to be labelled. Fascinating video, enjoyed it very much. Sleep well.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@robertwilson738 Thanks for watching! I guess they labeled that door so that tourists like me wouldn’t try going into it! It was in the hallway leading to the public toilet. Cheers! Dara

[@GENerationXplorers]

Wow you have been through all sorts of experiences to get to the UK over the last two years! Your Canary Wharf room looks absolutely incredible, well done with those CC points! That desk in the apartment in front of those floor to ceiling windows? Wow! 😱 lovely Thames views! Have an awesome tour! 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers! I wish that I had been able to sit at that giant executive desk and edit videos with that floor to ceiling window view in front of me!💕

[@GENerationXplorers]

@@MagentaOtterTravels we just need a short video of you pretending too, that would be awesome. Boss that editing in that room! ♥️

[@RichardWells1]

Welcome to your four month sojourn in England! Profuse apologies that they hadn't got Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) ready for your arrival. Her Majesty turned up unexpectedly to officially open it, but it doesn't open to the public until the 24th...a little too late to get you comfortably to the Marriott in Docklands. Here's hoping you have a fantastic time!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Good news! We go BACK to London on Friday and I shall have another chance ;-)

[@RichardWells1]

@@MagentaOtterTravels 👍

[@ruthgoebel723]

Your flight comments brought back some memories….we had a night flight also and had empty seats to stretch out and sleep. I did sleep for a few hours, thankfully, but my travel buddy didn’t. She’s not fond of flying. I LOVE it! We were right over the wing, so watching movies was impossible. Fond memories!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I am so glad I was able to watch movies! Really made the flight so much easier to manage.

[@ruthgoebel723]

@@MagentaOtterTravels How did you find the food? We were inundated with food all the way over and all the way back. We actually had the same plane and flight crew on both crossings, the flight attendant said, “I remember you two! How was your trip? Let me get you better seats……!” He was very nice; his name was Tomas.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@ruthgoebel723 I love that you made friends with the flight attendant! How sweet! To be honest, the food on international flights is not as good as it used to be. I don’t even eat the breakfast anymore because it just is not very good. And I only eat part of the dinner. I’m getting to be pretty vegetarian these days, so I don’t really fancy eating any meat served on an airplane 😬 But once I get off the plane, I’m very good at finding tasty food to eat! Lol

[@suburbia2050]

By Autumn 2022 you should be able to take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow all the way to Canary Wharf direct at normal tube fares (although the Heathrow connection parts adds a small surcharge) but cheaper than Heathrow Express + Tube.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That will be SO NICE!!!

[@misolgit69]

Way back in the days before everything in Hospitals was disposable, The Sluice was the room where bed pans men's 'bottles' etc were A flushed away B cleaned and sterilised for best reference check out the disaster moments from various Carry On Doctor/Nurse movies or the Dr Simon Sparrow movies

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh my, those disaster moments sound pretty unpleasant! Lol Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment! XX Dara

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Hope you have a good holiday, do watch the Trooping of the Colour.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I hope to! Sandra and Ian, the couple that appeared in this video, have tickets to go to the tripping of that colour! ❤️🇬🇧

[@stevelknievel4183]

The Elizabeth Line opens on 24th May. You should have plenty of time to check it out before you leave the UK if you're here for 4 months.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We aren’t going to be in London that much, but we are headed back on the 28th! So I’m excited to see the Elizabeth line 👍 Thanks for your comment XX Dara

[@FunandBudget]

I love that you two do an entire season abroad. I so want that to be my life one day.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You can definitely do it! Once you are an old lady like me ;-)

[@PlanetImo]

I think a sluice is where you can wash things down. Probably there's a big utiliarian sink in there? I'm kind of guessing a bit.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I think I'd best avoid the sluice ;-) haha

[@PlanetImo]

@@MagentaOtterTravels It might save you from having to take a shower. :)

[@FunandBudget]

Awwww - I love exceptional hotel rooms!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It was WAY fancy! But it didn't have a bathroom like your friend's room in Vegas... did that have magenta walls? I meant to ask that in my comments.

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. Welcome home! Dunno where you are this evening, but if you're crashing on a sofa your fave food is on BBC2 at 8 p.m.. Yes, it's the Mexican Food round of the Britain's Top Takeaways competition. Yes way! Stay safe. All the best to you.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That sounds like a fun show to watch! At 6pm we are going to help paint rooms for a Ukrainian refugee family that is arriving in a week or so. But if they don't need our help and we come home early... I'll check it out! Cheers, Andy!

[@Andy_U]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - Slava Ukraini

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Andy_U there were too many helpers, so the job was all done before we got there! So now we are headed back home. To eat leftover rhubarb crumble and watch people eat Mexican food on the telly! 😂 If we can figure out how to watch live TV, that is. We are still trying to work out our streaming services!🙄

[@Andy_U]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - If you did get everything sorted, I think the moral of the story is don't come to Lincolnshire for Mexican food. I'm gutted.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Andy_U we watched the show! I felt bad for the couple with the blue corn tortillas. They really took a beating! We actually will be going to Manchester later this summer, but I think there’s a lot of other good food to eat there. I’m not really planning to seek out Mexican food 😉

[@MadameMinima]

Next time when Philippe and I go to London (maybe this year???) we will have to get to these rooftop gardens because last time we only did Londen Eye.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The London Eye is expensive and crowded... we love the free option ;-) Also taking the Emirates Air Line is very fun! Hey are you coming to the UK while we are here?

[@MadameMinima]

@@MagentaOtterTravels We love the free options too, but the boys absolutely wanted to go on the "big wheel". And regarding our current family situation, I don't regret that we made this experience with the boys. And to answer your question about coming to the UK: we are thinking about it as I absolutely want to see all those things in London the boys had not been interested in (like the IWM, go back to the British Museum, last time we only made 2 sections......) 😉 And to finally go and "see" some vintage shops 🤩

[@MadameMinima]

I think the Elizabeth Line will open by the end of May....around the 24th I think. And the Queen made a surprise visit to it yesterday.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh wow! Too bad I wasn't in London yesterday! I think it will be open when we are next in London to meet up with our next round of American visitors.

[@KingOuf1er]

Correct - opens at 6.30am on Tuesday 24th. I’ve already had the pleasure of a ride from Paddington to Woolwich and back, as I took part in one of their mass testing exercises in March, but I’ll be returning on opening day to take my dog for a ride on it!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@KingOuf1er really? You’re allowed to take dogs on the tube? Too bad QE2 didn’t board a train with a corgi today!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Poliss95 that’s your birthday?!

[@ernestknoxknox7075]

A sluice is a large sink with a large plughole, used for cleaning mops and getting rid of the dirty water from their buckets 🪣

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hopefully I won't have to visit one of those! 😬

[@NewCastleIndiana]

You’re gonna make your own bread and with your peanut butter mix and some red food coloring so that you have magenta bread and magenta peanut butter. I mean if you’re going to go go big, right? And yeah that Dr. Patibear he’s at TARDIS 9 and 57ths, right. Sky Garden is the number one place I tell people to visit outside of the normal things. And like the Heathrow express which is expensive normally, One must book in advance online for sky garden. Few slots are available on a first come first serve bases. Found a great little Greek place in Greenfield Indiana and the owner overheard me talking about how much we like halloumi grilled. And he brought out a sampler of grilled halloumi that he made up for us.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Wow, I am impressed with you eating halloumi in Indiana! I never saw the stuff when I was growing up in Illinois! Except maybe if I went to Greektown in Chicago. Yes, I really should make magenta bread sometime. Are used to make homemade Loganberry freezer jam… it was a hue we could probably called “deep magenta“💕

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Excellent video!!!!! You two look fabulous even with overnight flying! Thanks for the money saving tip on purchasing train ticket ahead of time. Love love you were able to meet your friends too! That was a fun video! Great job Dara!!! 💕💖💕💖💕~Cara

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I hope it met your expectations ... because YOU are the reason I made this dang video! haha

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

@@MagentaOtterTravels bravo bravo!!! Thanks for showing us how to maneuver Heathrow (we haven’t had the best experiences 😆). Love travel day videos, it was good to see no testing was required too!! Great job Thank you thank you 💕

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers glad you liked it 😘

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Watching! I can’t believe it’s been almost 2 years since you guys were quarantined in the flat!!! On to rest of video 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Time flies! And so do magenta otters 💕🦦

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Poliss95 I can’t speak for all otters, but magenta otters fly on airplanes ✈️

[@markjones9693]

Well produced as ever. Just a aside have you ever seen the movie Ring Of Bright Water about a otter ?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes! I got the DVD for Christmas 😉

[@evancortez2]

Heathrow Express is awesome! 15 minutes to get to Central London - can't beat that!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It really is so fast and convenient... and comfortable. When you can get it for 5 pounds instead of 25 it's a deal!

[@MeansToTravel]

Yay!!! So fun to see you guys' journey! I loved following along on this video. And I must say, you both looked amazingly well rested for not sleeping on the plane! No red-eye at all! I gotta learn your jetlag tricks! Also, are you going to be in London at all for the Jubilee?!?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hi Eliz! Thanks for watching and your kind words. I actually did try a new jetlag remedy this time... I took French Maritime Pine Bark once a day for a few days before and after the trip. I think it helped me be more awake and in less exhausted pain this time... during the day. But I still had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep all night for the first 3 nights. But I'm good now! As for Jubilee, we will not be in London, but I have a few fun things planned here locally. Our neighbourhood is having a street party! And the Saturday of Jubilee weekend, I want to go to a village fete in Cradley... the village in Herefordshire where Ian's ancestors lived in the 1600 and 1700's!!!

[@MeansToTravel]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Oooo I've never heard of maritime pine bark before so I'm gonna look this up! Thanks so much for the tip, and I'm glad you thought it helped a little! I always looks sooooo tired after a red eye haha. How fun that your neighborhood is doing a Jubilee street party! Love that idea! And you get to celebrate your own family ancestry that weekend, too! Can't wait to see the vlogs haha 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@MeansToTravel pycnogenol is the actual name of the supplement. Look it up, studies have shown it reduces swelling from long-haul flights. I ordered capsules on Amazon that were 300 mg, But I’m not sure you’re really supposed to take that much per day! Lol

[@MeansToTravel]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Haha yeah I looked it up right after my last comment because I always love learning about natural remedies for things. Did you take them in hopes to regulate your sleep patterns, or more for preventing inflammation? It sounds like folks have tried it for both.

[@WITYTRAVELS]

If there is a product with an otter on it, we know you will find it! Watching your videos puts us in jubilee. What a view from the top! The river boat needs to let you on free!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes indeed, I should be able to ride the magenta river cruise for free! And I really think T-Mobile needs to give me free iPhones and phone service as well 💕

[@christy3122]

Okay, Dara, I'm surprised with all those air miles, you don't upgrade your seats on your flight. Haha!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No way! We are way too cheap for that! I’d rather have two free trips than comfortable seats on one trip 😂

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Before I forget: Romanesco is the name of your 'unusual' broccoli. Now that was some mammoth journey. You did well covering all the stages and enjoying your first London experiences for 2022. Have a wonderful summer. Looking forward to the videos. 💖 🍷 🇳🇿 🙋‍♀️ 🇳🇱

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers love! I thought Romanesco was some type of breading or sauce or something! 😂

[@evancortez2]

This brings back memories of my last flight to London - I can't sleep on planes either so like you I watch a lot of movies! But unfortunately I've forgotten most of the movies I watched on the flight, except for one, the one movie I remember watching on the flight to London was "Bohemian Rhapsody" :)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh yeah, that was an appropriate movie! It really helps me pass the time. I rarely watch movies at home.

[@StephenandAndie]

so smart taking your food! I have so much food waste anxiety.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We ate every last little bit! But we had some VERY interesting meals there near the end, LOL!

[@StephenandAndie]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I bet - gotta get creative as the ingredients get more limited, right?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@StephenandAndie yes, VERY creative! 🤣

[@wencireone]

It's not like I'm following you around, but I just drove through the Blackwall tunnel today, a couple of days earlier and I could have waved to you

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

#Stalker

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels far as I know, we have no jobs over your way, so your safe 🤪

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@wencireone well, we won’t be staying in Cheltenham all four months. You never know, we might cross paths again!

[@Tuffydipstick]

The tune at the end of the video was called London Bridge. You showed pictures of Tower Bridge! 😂😂😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Ha ha, well spotted! I couldn't find a tower bridge song 😉

[@andrewfitzgerald2327]

I think the hike around Heathrow could be down a terminal been closed. Covid had a big effect on the Airport not my favourite because of it's size. Hope you enjoy your stay in the UK enjoy the sticky toffee pudding. We are now the dry cleaners best friend getting our clothes ready for packing. Chocolate, buscuits Mr kippling cakes boxed and ready for export but no Marmite, can't think why.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh, you are headed off on your American adventure soon? Please give me a report upon your return! Yes, good idea to skip the Marmite ;-)

[@MaulinAgrawal1217]

I have family in South Kensington soooo… I’m stuck with the Tube when I visit my aunt 😅 no Heathrow express

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The Tube is pretty handy, though ;-)

[@joyce58932]

Newbie here support all the way from Norway, stay connected.. full pack

[@jeanlongsden1696]

a Cleaners Sluice is like a Butlers Sink, but with a grill over it for emptying buckets of dirty mop water into, as well as refilling with fresh water. so you went for a "Bubble" on your first night in London. "Bubble" is Cockney rhyming slang ... Bubble and Squeak = Greek.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I am no good at guessing rhyming slang. That is a funny one! But it reminds me that I need to get a good Bubble & Squeak this trip!

[@christabuchanan5889]

I would sleep in a cupboard any day ala Harry, ala Ian if it meant being in Britain! 🇬🇧 Also that view of canary wharf 😍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha … Actually, one of our guest bedrooms IS under the stairs! But thankfully it’s much more spacious than Harry’s cupboard 😉

[@christabuchanan5889]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I'll take it!

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Nice matching magenta top and suitcase! Haha, there's no way it's going to be 93F in England! I can never sleep on a flight. Read a lot and watch a lot of movies instead!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You are correct about the temperature! It’s a bit cooler than Texas, but we are enjoying it. In fact, inside are flat it’s downright chilly! I’ve been wearing fleece jackets while I’m home! 🥶

[@amandeepv]

Where are the rooftop garden platforms?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The most popular sky garden is in the walkie-talkie building, which is 20 Fenchurch Street. You do need an advance booking for that one. The newer sky Garden which is not busy at all is at 120 Fenchurch St.

[@loripenzato9219]

Love the video!!! We are traveling there in a few weeks. Were you able to get covid tests pretty quickly and close to your hotel before the return trip?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Well, we are not returning home until late September, and we are flying home from Paris. So we will have to see what the regulations are then! However, we have American friends staying with us who are returning later this week. They are going to Heathrow airport the day before they fly home to get tested. Thanks for watching my video! I hope you can check out some of the other vlogs on my channel 🙏 Cheers! XX Dara

[@srfurley]

I’ve lived in London for 65 years and I have never seen Tower Bridge open.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Was that a special thing I happened to see and capture? I certainly hadn't seen it before, but I assumed it was a regular occurrence!

[@thomaslowdon5510]

Sluce is a water waste disposal But you can throw almost anything in it.. its like an oversized toilet bowl Hospitals have them for all the unpleasant things that need disposal. I think you get the idea

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Eeew! I think I will stay away 😉

[@revbenf6870]

Y'know, having very recently flown to Australia and back, and not getting a lot of sleep either direction, I noticed that the jet lag, both ways, was not too bad, but timing of flights was more significant. So I'm going to replicate that in future....and you can get both pb and j in the UK, maybe not in Tesco. As a Brit I love that combo. (And pb and golden syrup...😋😋). :)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Timing is a big factor, I agree! When we fly back to the US it's not as bad. We board in the morning, fly 10 hours and then get home in early afternoon. We race around for a few hours unpacking, starting laundry and buying critical groceries... and then CRASH into bed for a long night sleep. It's easier to overcome than the Eastward trip.

[@lizbignell7813]

Not only has your jacket not changed but neither have the two of you between the two photos!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Very sweet of you to say, Liz! Though Ian did have a shave since 2014 :-)

[@lizbignell7813]

I hope he has, otherwise imagine the length of his beard!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lizbignell7813 😂🧔🏻

[@chrisaskin6144]

You don't have to go without PB&J sandwiches for five months surely? We sell peanut butter both crunchy and smooth, and jam (jelly). And numerous types of sliced bread, so your delectation for the next five months will be catered for - provided you make it yourself, I can't think I've heard of it being routinely sold anywhere in Britain. But I could be wrong.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No I’m skipping PB&J … I don’t love British peanut butter. I do eat toast and jam regularly. And I eat CHEESE & PICKLE sandwiches with glee. Just had one for lunch today! My favourite ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🧀

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

Have you ever been to Northumberland and the North East of England?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, and we absolutely fell in love with it! We went last summer and had a fabulous time. I hope you check out my blogs. Five short videos which overview our favourite garden, towns, and seven castles! kzbin.info/aero/PLOedWVhYewAUqvRDVs5VqbfCr3TJgfB_w Thanks for asking! Cheers! Dara

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

@@MagentaOtterTravels oh great and as for peanut butter please try not to tar all UK peanut butter with the awful Sun Pat. It's more like a peanut spread rather than a proper peanut butter. I would keep an eye out in farm shops for locally made peanut butters or if you need a supermarket brand the Meridian brand is good

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@what_im_eatin_uk oh yes, we love farm shops! There are many near where we live in Gloucestershire 💕… I have seen meridian brand 👍

[@timdaugherty5921]

Heavens! Four months in a hotel is over $8,000. How did you manage that?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We have a flat in Cheltenham that we own. We live in it during the summers and during the rest of the year we rent it out to tenants. This summer, we just stayed in London that one night, at that fancy hotel for free! Lol

[@peterwimsey5904]

romanesco broccoli is an amazing plant. Very mathematical in its construction.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I had never heard of it before! It looks like it came from another planet, but it is quite fascinating. Now I’ve seen it on menus a few times. I guess it’s all the rage these days here in Britain 😉. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Cheers! Dara

[@MadameMinima]

Oh, Dara....even in London you are able to find magenta flowers 😂😂😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

ALWAYS!!!

[@MadameMinima]

"Everyone is sleeping, but not me"....looking into the camera like a zombie. Oh poor dear 😢

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

EVERY.DANG.FLIGHT!

[@MadameMinima]

@@MagentaOtterTravels This must be horrible.

[@sugarandspice2136]

I wanna go! 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Do you have a trip planned?

[@timdaugherty5921]

You must have a very good job

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I was fortunate to have very good jobs for 35 years. Now, after saving money for decades and living frugally, we are semi retired 👍

[@jamesbeeching6138]

Hi Dara...As Ian is a dual Citizen does he go through the British nationals immigration channel?? Does he have a British passport??😊😊😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

He has a British passport, but he has not used it at border control for years. We usually go together through immigration and both use our American passports. Since he is an American citizen now, he's technically supposed to use his American passport when travelling. He mostly just uses his British passport when we are in England and he needs to prove citizenship/identity.

[@lennies_mindful_life]

Real Greek does great food

[@wencireone]

I hope you got to watch a Disney film 😉👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No, but I watched the remake of fresh prince of Belair and thought of you! I had no idea it was so different! Not at all family friendly. Full of bad language!