LAX to LHR - LOS ANGELES TO LONDON, HEATHROW

-Transport from London, Heathrow via train
-THE BEDS AT THE Sofitel Hotel St. James, London

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We departed from LAX to LHR at 7:45pm on American Airlines. Upon arrival in London, (2:00pm their time, March 18th), we caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and then the Underground (Tube) to Picadilly Circus station. Picadilly was conveniently located 2 blocks from our hotel, the Sofitel at St. James. For anyone travelling to London and is startled by the high cost of transportation to and from Heathrow into the city, about $150 US one way, the train is doable and extremely cost effective. However a word of caution, when you have been travelling for over 10 hours and aren't sure of what you are doing and exactly where you are going make certain you do a little homework before you leave home. Stations are hectic with people coming and going at all times of the day and it is important to remember that you will be exhausted and easily disoriented.
 If you are carrying a super heavy suitcase (wheels or not) know that there will be at least one or two flights of stairs where you will be required to heft that giant albatross up or down poorly lit stairs particularly when you are exiting the Tube Station. Thankfully, there are escalators in some areas of the station. Don't expect assistance. This is a big city and people are in a hurry. So get the heck out of the way and keep moving! (Try to stay on the left...Londoners walk on the right, the same way they drive, generally speaking.)
After we got checked into the hotel (they upgraded us) we decided to have some very light appetizers at our hotel in the Balcon restaurant so that we wouldn't ruin our appetite for dinner at one of our favorite London restaurants. The waitstaff at the Balcon couldn't have been nicer and the food was extraordinary. What a nice surprise!
After eating and finally having a chance to relax we were feeling a might groggy. Even though your inclination might be to take a nap the rule of thumb is to keep moving and try and go to bed at the time of day (regardless of your time zone) that you normally go to bed. It's generally your best bet for getting you on their time schedule as soon as possible. Time to tough it out!
In the evening we booked dinner reservations through opentable.com at one of our favorite Indian restaurants in London called Tamarind. It's a  Michelin rated restaurant and we stumbled upon it in the Mayfair District about 4 years earlier. At that time there was a large Indian wedding party and just us in the restaurant on a very rainy late summer evening. We were in absolute heaven the food was so good. (We went back there a day or so later!)
We decided to walk to the restaurant down Pall Mall and through St. James Square to reach the Mayfair District. It was a wonderful walk, albeit chilly for us at about 40 degrees F. There was also a heavy mist in the air...perhaps it was a light fog? But it didn't keep the locals from getting out and about. The area was bustling with people meeting up for drinks after work at some of the cool little pubs we passed.
 

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Ye Grapes, Indeed!

Finally we arrived at the restaurant and were seated immediately. Being Friday night, it was quite busy. We were excited to see if the food was still as good as we had remembered from 4 years earlier. Michael ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and I had the Lamb Biryani. We were served delicious fresh, warm pappadums and a tray of spicy dips just after ordering. Michael loved his entrée but I have to admit I was disappointed in the Lamb Biryani. The rice was a tad mushy and the lamb was practically non-existent. The overall effect was tasteless. The highlight of the meal for me were the pappadums and the delicious Pinotage wine from South Africa.
At the end of the evening we walked slowly through the Mayfair District and marveled at the elaborate clothing designs in the shop windows. This is a "spare no expense" shopping area in London!