Chester Zoo in Chester, England is one of the largest zoos in the United Kingdom.
Chester Zoo is massive enough to spend a full day.
We bought our tickets online to save time from the long queues and that was the best decision.
Island memories
It felt like I was back home in the tropics.
A nature girl like me hates seeing animals in an enclosed space and away from their natural habitat.
Chester zoo was created in a way to look like the animals’ natural habitat, so I was at ease the whole time.
I felt like a child as I was excited to see the animals, especially the peacock when it opened its wings.
There are many animals and plants to see.
I thought, “wow, so much I don’t know. There is a whole world out there, with so much to see, learn, do and experience.”
Diverse
There are designated areas to chill and have a picnic.
Food cravings? Picky eater?
Dine at the various cafes and restaurants or get a snack along the way. Many food options to satisfy your taste buds.
We spent about four hours walking around and watching the animals. Boy were my feet sore when we were done.
Thankfully, there were maps throughout so we did not go in circles.
Fun
The good company made the journey fun, worth it and shorter than it really was.
Chester Zoo is a good place to enjoy a family or friends’ day.
I loved seeing people relax and wave from the boat whilst doing the Lazy River Boat Trip.
If you love plants, animals and botanical gardens, you will enjoy touring Chester Zoo.
Bravery
I am easily frightened but felt safe in what seemed like being in the wilderness.
There are proper enclosures to protect you from the animals so you can relax and have fun.
Reems Sonson
Our Tropical Living
Come live and love island life
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What better to do than explore the city of London when you have a free day.
Walk around, enjoy the weather, scenery and local cuisine.
London is the capital of England and largest city in England and the United Kingdom.
London is full of history, architecture and iconic landmarks.
Walking the streets made me feel like I was in a movie, so many picture-perfect moments.
I love how the bright, beautiful flowers on the sidewalks brought back memories of my hometown.
London is costly compared to the other areas I visited.
Places to visit in London
River ThamesBeautiful
River Thames
River Thames flows through central London and is said to be the longest river in England.
Being on The River Thames is perfect to see some of London’s famous attractions such as London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and The London Eye.
Dine at a restaurant along the riverside, watch the speed boats, take a boat tour or an Uber and sightsee.
LondonStanding on London Bridge with The Shard watching from behind me
London Bridge
London Bridge overlooks River Thames and offers exquisite views of the surrounding area.
London Bridge was crowded with lots of diverse cultures, people enjoying the view, taking pictures and speaking their different languages.
Tower BridgeTower Bridge
Tower Bridge
London Bridge and Tower Bridge are next to each other and are both easily accessible.
Tower Bridge has high level walkways, so you get a better view of the city.
Tower Bridge is more stunning than London Bridge plus it opens and closes to let tall boats pass through.
Moving into Tower of London
Tower of London
Explore beyond the ancient walls of this castle.
London EyeView of London Eye from London BridgeWowLovelyEye love LondonPerfectStunningLovingOh yes
London Eye
You capture a 360-degree view of London as you look through the glass pods whilst on The London Eye.
Talk about a spectacular view of London from the top as you circle over River Thames.
Take a seat or stand and enjoy the slow 30-minute rotation.
Snap billion dollars’ worth photos as you capture the unobstructed, mesmerizing background at every angle.
I was bickering about the height and how scary entering the pod looked whilst in queue.
My relative pushed me in the pod since I was afraid of entering. I was flabbergasted.
Talk about needing a little push in life to get things done.
We would have missed our rotation and had to wait another 30 minutes along with everyone else on the line had it not been for that push.
Yea… I’m a scaredy cat!
Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)
Houses of Parliament serves as a meeting place for the two houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom- House of Common and House of Lords.
I said “wow” when I saw the building because of the fancy structure. I thought it was made of gold.
Meet Big Ben
Big Ben(Elizabeth Tower)
Big Ben is a giant clock that rises above the Houses of Parliament.
It is hard to miss even from a distance.
Big Ben rings hourly.
Dining with a viewThe Shard
The Shard
The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom.
The view from the top of this skyscraper must be magnificent.
Muhammed AliNew buddySharing a jokeSpace friendsBob Marley loved it
Madame Tussauds
Get up close and personal with your favorite celebrities.
Be face to face with the most famous people. Hug them, confess your love or simply take a picture.
Sea Life
I felt like a child because I was thrilled to see so many sea creatures.
It felt like being in a glass submarine deep in the ocean.
London tip!
Don’t know where to go or what to do! Stick to Westminster, Central London next to River Thames and enjoy the famous sites.
This review is based on my subjective opinion.
Reems Sonson
Our Tropical Living
Come live and love island life
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Royal Albert Dock is a tourist attraction in Liverpool with lots of beautiful scenery, culture and history.
The dock was crowded and people filled the restaurants, gift shops, pubs and dance clubs.
Read the love locks on the rails, attach your love lock on the rail and throw your key in the river or take a seat and enjoy the view overlooking the Mersey River.
“Docking it”Feeling festive
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Liverpool Mountain
I stared at the artwork and wondered what it meant.
Liverpool Mountain is a high and colorful sculpture on the Liverpool waterfront.
Radio City Tower
I felt tiny as I looked at Radio City Tower.
This radio station and observation tower is hard to miss because it is a free-standing building. It can be seen from miles away.
The view from the top must be fantastic.
Giant above
The Wheel of Liverpool
The Wheel of Liverpool is a Ferris wheel which overlooks the city and Mersey River.
Pay a fee, wait in line and you are all set!
Adrenaline rush kicked in! My heart palpitated when the Wheel stopped at the very top for a few seconds.
I felt like I was on top of the world and despite the fear, marveled at the city’s night lights.
It was raining and windy so the capsule shook. I was terrified and said this might be my last time on earth, but I would die doing something fun.
Descending was just as scary until I saw the ground close by. Overall, it was a frightening but thrilling experience.
Should I or shouldn’t I?Yay!
View from the top
Liverpool One
Liverpool One is an open-air complex with a variety of shopping malls, restaurants, apartments and other amenities.
It is also home to two hotels. There is so much to do!
CheeseEarthly angelOutdoor diningThe Lucian in me
Nando’s
Dine at Nando’s and enjoy the lemon and herb chicken burger. It was tasty till the last bite.
I enjoyed the upbeat music, cozy environment and friendly staff.
Nando’s is ideal for a date night, afterwork lime or chill time with family and friends.
Oh yea!Dinner it is
Anfield Stadium
Liverpool is central to football and is home to the Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club.
Not visiting the stadiums whilst in Liverpool would be an incomplete trip.
Both stadiums are close to each other! Unfortunately, I was too cold to take a tour of both stadiums.
I started shivering and stammering as soon as I got out of the car because of the weather. Blame my outfit!
When you’re from the Caribbean but visit a cold country and want to dress like you’re back home!
Seeing the bright sunshine in Liverpool is deceiving!
Windy, cold day!
Sainsbury
Sainsbury is a supermarket that offers an extensive range of products.
The cold section was my favorite because I always got magnum and snickers ice cream bar!
Ready!
St John’s Gardens
St John’s Gardens was fully decorated for the Christmas market.
The place was crowded with visitors going to the different stalls being showcased.
The different attractions made me feel like I was in Coney Island.
Steble FountainLet’s get that puppyDelish
Costco
Costco is a membership warehouse club selling basically anything you need in bulk.
The friendly and helpful staff had no problem directing me to the macaroons. I loved the freshly baked cookies!
You can lose track of time whenever you visit Costco because it is an all-in-one shopping area with variety.
There is also an indoor restaurant. Eat then shop or vice versa!
At last, macaroons!
Chill downtown
City strollAim high“Eye” shoppingDowntownPrimark experience!KFC
Reems Sonson
Our Tropical Living
Come live and love island life
Ever visited Liverpool? Leave a comment!
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I was so excited that my heart skipped multiple beats when I heard the British Airways (BA) boarding announcement at the Hewanorra International Airport.
It was time for my “Our Tropical Living” adventure in a new country. I smiled when I saw the plane and thought, “oh my gosh, I am doing this!”
I could not believe that this island girl was going to a big city she had dreamt of visiting many years ago.
Ready for take offBA2158
Seat 37 E
It was a packed flight to England. All I can say is, the setup of BA is “spectacularly beautiful!”
The plane had been to Trinidad prior to arriving in Saint Lucia so the overhead compartments close to my seat were packed.
It was difficult for me to get an ideal overhead bin to put my hand luggage in.
During check in, an announcement was made to check hand luggage at no extra cost due to possible limited spacing.
Had I known better, I would have done just that!
Bye-bye
Up in the air
The plane left Saint Lucia at minutes to 10 p.m. It was an overnight flight so there was nothing to see outside except darkness.
Since I was not hungry, I refused all meals offered.
I had a long night ahead, so I tried to sleep.
A comfy blanket and pillow were provided!
I wondered how I would be able to stay on the plane for 8 hours and 20 minutes.
Economy
I flew economy and it was an uneasy experience. I was in the middle seat and felt like a filling in a sandwich.
I had no access to the armrest and felt like I was being squeezed due to the passenger’s body mass.
The poor legroom made it even more uncomfortable.
I kept telling myself that I was okay and I would arrive shortly.
I constantly checked my watch. I was desperate to get to my destination.
The plane got really cold but the seat warmers came on at intervals.
Professional flight attendants
As I watched the flight attendants do the safety briefing, I wondered why they chose that career.
I cannot imagine being in the air for so many hours at a time.
I used to think that being a flight attendant entailed traveling expeditions, wearing red lipstick, putting your hair in a bun and rocking a nice, neat uniform.
Really, it is a job in the sky. The flight attendants worked throughout the flight.
They pushed the food carts, served passengers, collected garbage, ensured everyone was okay, had their seatbelts on at the required times and attended to passengers with questions.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is massive with many terminals. This is a first-class shopping area. The floor is filled with glitter!
I was mesmerized by the beauty of the World Duty Free shopping area.
The gate to catch my flight closed at 9:15 a.m. and it was 9:12 a.m. when I hurriedly passed through the shopping area.
I wanted to “eye shop” but I knew I would miss my flight if I did.
I had no idea where I was going but I kept following the signs.
I was pleased that I could read and write because I would have been lost. Many signs, many gates, many flights and lots of people!
I was worried that I would go to the wrong gate. I wanted to run like some people but after almost 10 minutes of walking quickly, I was already out of breath.
I was happy to see the queue when I arrived at the gate.
33 J
The plane was packed by the time I got to my seat. I looked at the overhead bin to see if my bag would fit, I knew it would not and I did not want to hunt for a compartment.
Thank God for a good Samaritan named Sherwin- “Frosty!”
He assisted me as soon as he saw me looking for a spot. He took my bag and searched for a place.
I was so thankful for the assistance because searching for space and trying to fit a heavy bag when there are others can be tiring.
Take off
The plane was scheduled to leave Gatwick Airport at 10 a.m. so it was a daytime experience.
Headphones were provided but I did not feel like watching a movie.
I felt cramped as the person in front me reclined their seat and the person behind pushed their bag closer towards the back of my feet.
My bag between my legs did not make the small space any better. I wish to travel first class the next time I travel on BA.
I understand why people travel first class. Why not pay for comfort, especially for a long flight.
I got leg cramps so took bathroom breaks to stretch my legs. Some people stood for parts of the flight to ease off on the cramps.
I appreciated that there were multiple washrooms to use.
All the way up
Despite the mild turbulence which made me feel like I would die, I was ready to enjoy the complimentary meal and complimentary beverages and wines this time around.
Eats and treats
You do not go hungry on BA. There was an open bar. I felt like I was at a hotel in the air.
Dettol antibacterial hygiene wipeStarter pack: water, apple juice and baked pretzelsChicken and basmati rice. Chickpeas. Chocolate and salted caramel. Butter. Cheese. Bread. Semi skimmed milk. Nairns original oatcakesDelicious breakfast!Chicken wrap for lunch
Travel tips
Check in online to save you time once you get to the airport.
Book your seat early, at least 24 hours in advance to get a seat of your choice.
Travel with a book to read or hold a puzzle book for entertainment.
Travel light!
Reems Sonson
Our Tropical Living
Come live and love island life
Thank you for taking time to stop by and choosing to read my blog! Remember to leave a comment and share!
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