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Orlando, Florida to London, England
I got in early Wednesday June
13th 2001 and took the train from Gatwick airport to Victoria station,
on the train I talked to a group of guys who were from Newcastle, I
think they were on some kind of sports team cause there were a bunch of
them and they fit the rugby type profile. I took the underground AKA
"the tube" to Kensington station and couldn't find my hostel for about
45 minutes. Two nice ladies were picking their kids up from school and
saw me looking my map and offered me directions after a few more
minutes of walking I found it. The hostel is right behind this very old
church. 18 pounds a night for a room shared with 3 other it has a
bathtub and a sink but I opted to take my shower upstairs. The hostel
is called the Curzon house hotel and seems to be run by 3 or 4 young
girls in their late teens or early 20's, there is a kitchen with a
fridge downstairs on the first floor, and a TV/Game room.
I took a nap to offset the effects of Jet lag and then
went out to the underground and took it to Big Ben and Parliament which
are right on the river Thames. Parliament is an amazing building and
has lots of little sculptures and gargoyles on it. Saw the horse guards
they were very young, 18 I would guess. Walked around that area for a
bit and ate some pizza.
Took the underground to Notting hill.
Notting hill is nice but not very interesting, found a grocery store
and bought some chocolate and 5 tallboy beers, never heard of any of
them. Went back to the hostel and slept till midnight then went out
looking for an Internet cafe, but none were open that late, bought some
cheese and bread went back to the hostel and watched TV with some dudes
who were sleeping on the couch, the kitchen was closed so I couldn't
get the beer that I had put in the fridge earlier. Went to bed about 2
A.M..
The Big Ben in London
London, England Curzon House Hotel
Woke up about 9:45 Am, Still have not met 2 of my 3 roommates and the
other roommate whom I did meet wasn't very nice, he came in at midnight
and work me up by turning on the room light and fumbling around with
his plastic noisy bags for 15 minutes. Got up, had some cereal &
toast for free, then took a shower. Went out found an Internet cafe
& uploaded my pics from my digital camera. 1 pound per hour is the
student rate and they have USB ports!
Got my head shaved & mustache trimmed for 15 pounds. Took the
underground to Green garden and walked through the park to Buckingham
Palace, the parks here are beautiful. I wish we had more like this at
home. The sun is burning my freshly shaved head. London is much nicer
than I expected and the people are somewhat friendly. I'm glad to have
finally cut my hair, after I did it, I was walking and when to pull my
hair into a ponytail out of habit when it got windy, it took me a
minute to realize my hair wasn't there any more. Trips going well so
far but beer is too expensive here in the pubs.
From Buckingham palace I
walked along the south side of the street next to the palace and looked
at the Royal Mews souvenir shop, but didn't pay the 4 pound fee to get
in bought a beer and drank it in St. James park, very nice place lots
of ducks and birds to feed. Walked up to Trafalgar Square, which just
looked like a regular road with a couple statues, maybe I missed it.
Walked up to Piccadilly circus and I think Soho but didn't realize I
was in Soho till later lots of 3 story building, tons of stores, ate at
a little deli on Oxford Street for cheap. 8" sub, Samosa and a huge
bottle of water were 3 pound 40. While eating I watched a security
office chase a girl who I assume shoplifted something, he jumped on her
and then she started screaming "my leg" likely ploy, but maybe she can
sue, don't think they are sue happy here in Europe like we are in
America. Took the underground up to Baker Street to see old Sherlock
Holmes place, but it was a hotel, which had nothing to do with Holmes.
Bought a Backpackers towel for 4 pound 99 which I needed as I didn't
have room for a towel in my bag over here. I'm on the subway
(underground) to the hostel now.
After Baker Street took the tube to the Thames and paid 6 pounds for a
ride up the river one-way to Greenwich. Met a couple and their mother
who were from Argentina I think maybe they said Venezuela, their names
were Mary, Fabio and not sure what the mothers was. I got to practice
my Spanish with them and learned a new word. Devinar, which is to guess
(which is exactly what I was doing speaking Spanish). Saw the Tower
Bridge and London Bridge, passed under both in the boat. Walked through
Greenwich, it seemed like an old town where Sailors used to Dock.
Walked up through this park to the observatory, where Greenwich Mean
Time is tracked. The park around is very nice lots of huge trees and
very green. I think their clock was wrong. Took the train back to
Gloucester Station, actually 3 trains. Made some pasta, drunk some beer
and chatted with the desk clerk, she's from Finland, is 17 likes 70's
glam rock, Hanoi Rocks, Iggy Pop, etc. Walked around outside sipping my
beers didn't find anything interesting and went back to the hostel and
watched fear and loathing with a kid from Norway, then they desk clerk
girl showed up and talked to her, then went to bed.
Day 3 London, England
I'm still not over the time
difference so I wake up about 11:30 am and missed breakfast which cost
me 3 pound 50. Right now I am on the train to tower hill to see the
Tower Bridge and Tower of London. I am pretty used to my short
hair/bald head now. Still want to see the Tate modern, London Eye,
British Library and St. James Cathedral which I can go the top of...
well here is my stop, Tower Hill.
I made it to the
Tower of London and after taking the guided tour and listening to the
Beefeater, I met a nice girl from Australia via Italy, her name is Ania
which is polish, in English her name would be Anna. She was very nice
and we helped each other take pictures, We went to see Parliament and
Big Ben and got walk in this inner courtyard of the Westminster abbey,
lots of graves and very nice. Ania is staying with an older lady in
Redfield and was going to try to meet up with me on Day 4 at the
changing of the guard, Buckingham Palace.
Day 4 London, England
Woke up somewhat early about
8ish and caught the tail end of breakfast got all my bag packed and
checked out. Tried to find a raincoat and withdrew 140 pounds which I
estimate to be 200$. Went to the changing of the guard and got rained
on quite a bit, didn't find Ania, I didn't think she would make it as
she had other commitments in Kent. Walked to the London eye and they
had a Dali museum next to it. There were some pretty cool Sculptures
outside, I meant to take a picture of them, but forgot when I found out
about the London Eye ferris wheel not having any tickets until 9 pm.
Went to waterloo station and took the train to Paddington and found out
that I could have taken the train to Salisbury direct from waterloo. It
all worked out fine in the end cause in Paddington I found a camera
shop to buy my memory cartridge for the camera since my 8 meg that came
with the camera never worked. Also bought some batteries, which I am
going to need.
Took 3 trains
to Salisbury and now I am here, its a nice cool little town, very old,
tons of shops and old buildings, the youth hostel is only 11 pounds for
a bad, I'm waiting in front of a different place called Matt and
Tiggy's cause its a little closer to town and looks a bit cooler Stayed
at Matt & Tiggy's for 10 pounds, plus 20 pence for shower, shared
the room with 2 girls from California. Woke up early 9 am which is 4 am
in Florida and searched till I found breakfast, a cheese and mushroom
croissant and the best hot chocolate I have had in a long time, also
had an apple figgy "to take away". Found the bus, which is 5 pound 25,
for an all day pass to Stonehenge, Avesbury and anywhere else they go.
Tonight I am going to Bath, I need to call from here to make a
reservation. Last night after checking in I ate a pretty good but
expensive dinner it was 11 pound 40 with mushroom appetizer and
dessert. Then I took a tour of the town for 2 pound 50, which was
great, the tour guide lady shows us all the old building and told us
the history of the town. The original town was up the road a couple
miles but the church and the military didn't "get on" so they bishop
decided to move it. The story goes that they shot an arrow and where it
landed they would build the new town, but the arrow landed in a deer
and then deer ran south to what is now Salisbury. The old town was
called Sarum.
After the tour I wandered around a bit and spied what looked like a
castle tower I walked to it and found it was and old church, inside a
beer fest was going on. I was surprised they were having it in an old
church, but they consider this church a guildhall. So 10 pounds later
and 4 flat beers of various quality, I went to my bed and chatted with
the ladies from California for a few minutes. I am hoping to see Stings
house tomorrow.
Quick American to British dictionary
See you later/Goodbye - Cheers!
Are you hungry? - Feeling peckish?
Vacation - holiday
Drink a few beers - Drink a few pints
Bucks/Dollars - Quid/pounds
Bathroom - Lieu/Toilet
Exit - Way out (it says this on signs)
(food) to go - to take away
Resume - CV
Truck - Lorrie
Some words have S instead of Z
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