It's been a week, and I still haven't written anything about London! How pathetic is that. So I'm going to buckle down and at least share the highlights with you. A Reader's Digest version if you will.
My flight to London was Wednesday night from Friedrishafen (about an hour away by train) so I got home from work finished packing, talked to Michael one last time (he's with the army now, and I haven't talked to him in a week! I'm dying!) and left for the train station. The train ride and the flight were uneventfull and I arrived in London safe and sound. Or so I thought. After getting my bag I made my way to the buses. I had already bought a ticket on the plane so I thought I would have no troubles. I get to the bus to find out that I bought the wrong ticket, even though I was assured on the plane that it was the right one! The bus I needed was leaving in 5mins! So I try to trade my ticket, of course it's not the same company so I have to buy a new ticket (I now have to email the other company which is based in Rome and try to get my 20pounds back). I made it on the bus and settle down for what I then realized was an hour ride to Golders Green. This posed a little bit of a problem seeing as it was already like 10:40 and I was supose to be at the hostel at 11:00. I got to the tube station and was left to try and figure out how to buy a ticket. This took a good 20mins but I finaly got my ticket (with the help of some friendly Canadians!) and made my way to the right track. There I met an operator who told me 'Sorry love, you just missed the last train!' So he told me to go back outside and take the bus. By this time it's past midnight, I'm lost and have no idea where I'm going. I found the bus stop and the bus driver told me when to get off, but after that, I was lost again! I then realized that the map I printed from the hostel's website didn't actually show the hostel, but central London, as does the map I bought at the airport! CRAP! I worked up the nerve to ask a bunch of construction guys where I was and how to get to my hostel. One of them said he had a map in his car. I thought great, now what. 2 things can happen here, either he really does have a map in his car and he'll tell me where to go, or he'll rape and kill me. But seeing as it was almost 1am by now I figured if I stayed on the street someone else would rape and kill me so I followed him to his car. As you can see, he was a nice guy and helped me figure out where I was. I would like to say that I got to my hostel and everything was fine and that's the end of my drama, but of course that's not what happend! I did find the hostel (getting lost one last time) but when I got there they told me that they had no record of me, and so no space for me! One of the guys left to see if he could find something for me. He came back and stuck me in what can only be discribed as a storrage closet! But I didn't care, it was a bed! And so with that ends my hectic first night in London.
The next day I went back to the desk to talk to the manager. He said they no more room in the dorms, but would put me in a single room at no extra charge! yay! On that happy note I left to explore London!
Day 1. I decided to walk since a pass for the tube is insanely expensive. It was a long walk but I'm glad I did it. Gave me a chance to see actual London, not just the main tourist things. I started with a walk through Regent's park. wow! The parks in London are amazing! You almost forget that you're in the city! While in the park, I found and open-air theater. I decided that I would have to come back to see a play. After Regent's park I continued towards downtown, getting lost a few times, but nothing as drastic as the night before. My first big tourist stop was of course Buckingham Palace. To get there I walked through Hyde Park. Again wow! The palace is beautiful and very impressive, although not as grandiose as I was expecting. I also almost got to see the Queen! She had gone out earlier and was not back yet. There were a bunch of people waiting for her, so I sat down with a book and lunch and waited a bit. But she didn't show within the hour and I got impatient so left. I continued with a wirlwind tour of London, all on foot. Went to Westminister Cathedral (Catholic) and Westminister Abby (Anglican). Unfortunatly W. Abby was closing but I did manage to sneak in and take a peak. HOLY CRAP! More impressive then Notre Dame in Paris if that's at all possible! But of course, no pictures allowed. Next was the House of Parliment, which was also closing so I couldn't go inside, and Big Ben. I then walked along the River Thames past the London Eye, The Temple (think Da Vinci Code) towards St Paul's Cathedral. I sat in on a mass and got to hear the organ and the choir. Very nice. And the church itself was of course breathtaking (again no pictures). My plan was to walk all the way to The Tower of London to check out prices, but by the end of mass it was 6pm and I was exhausted. And really didn't want to walk back! So I caved and bought a pass for the tube and the bus. Got back to the hostel, ate and went to bed!
Day 2! After my insane day the day before, I took it a little more relaxed. I took the tube downtown and walked through Hyde Park again towards Kensington Palace, where the Queen lives! You could go visit the state apartments, but it was a little pricy, so I stuck to just walking around outside. I also saw, in the park, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain (very nice and simple, peaceful) and the Albert Memorial (the excact oposite, the bigest monstrosity of a statue that I've ever seen). I then walked past The Royal Albert Hall to the Science Museum. The museum was very cool, except that it was feildtrip day I think and over run with kids! The best exhibt was the History of Medicine, really interesting. After that I went to find a small pub and had supper (the food at the hostel was disgusting) before heading back up to Regent's Park open-air theater to see The Tamming of the Shrew. Great play and very cool atmosphere.
Day 3, Shakespeare day! I spent the morning at Shakespeare's Globe theater. They also have an exhibition set up wich was nice, and they take you on a tour of the theater. Very cool. Then I saw a play! In the Globe! EEEEEEEEEEE I saw Titus Andronicus. Very bloody, but very good. I had a groudling ticket and got there early so I was right up at the stage. What en experience. If you go to Lodon, and like theater, you have to do this! The play ended at 5:00 and so after dinner, I went to the Tate Modern museum... And discovered that I don't like modern art. :s It was still a nice museum though. And thus ends day 3.
Day 4, The Tower of London. I spent most of the day there. I went on a tour in the morning, given by the most commical Yeoman Warder. These guys are not just tour guides, but actual guards. You have to be part of the Birtish mitlitary for 20 years before applying for the job. They are all part of the Queen's bodyguard and live in the Tower. Now that is a cool job. After the tour I went off exploring on my own, and seeing the different exhibits, including the Crown Jewls! NICE! After the Tower adventure I wanted to go back to the Temple to go inside Temple Church. Unfortunatly it was closed, and I didn't have time to go back before I left. They were even having a talk about the Da Vinci Code the next day, but I couldn't go. So I headed back to my hostel, but it was too early to go to bed just yet. I discovered about a block away was a small movie theater, and they were showing 'Thank you for Smoking'. Good movie, not great, but good.
Day 5, last day :( And so my London adventure comes to an end. I woke up early and headed off to the British Museum, my last stop. You could spend days in that place and still not see everything. I only had a few hours though, so I went through the main exhibts quickly. Obiviously I saw the mummies (the collection is world famous) and the other big exhibit was the Parthenon sculptures. Great exhibit and amazing artwork! And to top it off, a scandel! You might wonder why these great sculptures are not still at the Parthenon. Well that's because a British Lord, Lord Elgin, basicly highjacked them! Read about it
here, it's really quite interesting.
And that my friends was my London adventure! I guess it wasn't really Reader's Digest version! The trip back to Biberach was uneventfull and it was back to work as usual on Tuesday. I'm half way done my placement! I can't belive it! It's gone by so fast, and at the same time, it seem like it's been forever. I miss home so much! I can't wait to see you all! And of course I miss Michael like crazy! 49 days till he's here! I can't wait!
