So, to keep you from boredom I'm going to summarize. You may be able to trace our steps by looking online at a London map:
Friday 18th Sept
- Kerry, I got a free ride at Singapore airport :p
- the longest day of my life, we gained 8 hours so Dan tried his best, and succeeded, in keeping me awake until about 9pm when I crashed
- we walked around Highbury and Islington (like Angel Islington in Monopoly) which is pronounced with a 's'
- first ride on a double-decker bus - too cool
- met up with Peta (Dan's sis) near the city centre. We were on our way to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace when we squeezed our way into an open house tour of The Reform Club - random! Pretty impressive but I didn't get it - politics. The membership is 1,100 pounds a year (at today's $ rate that's $2,200). Don't quite know what you get for it - you still gotta pay for meals and drinks. They do have a massive and OLD collection of books. Maybe it's to belong? Who knows.
- we saw Buckingham Palace
- visited the HUGE Camden Markets
- saw a giant chess game being played in front of The National Gallery. The pieces were made out of ceramic.
- Peta came up to Highbury where we went to a small Baptist Church and met a guy named Adrian who is studying close by our YWAM school, so we may catch up for dinner at some point
- Went into Piccadilly Circus and visited the British Museum - lots of old stuff
- St Paul's Cathedral was pretty cool. Though I don't get why only the people of the New Testament times are all called saints. For all who believe and are being changed into His likeness, are all Saints, Paul himself addressed the people of the churches he was writing to as saints... ...anywho, another one of those "I don't get it"s. This is a door to the Cathedral:
- walked along the river Thames - very dirty and lots of rubbish. Saw a cool floating thing that catches 40 tonnes of rubbish a year, but they need a few of them I reckon
- walked over the London Bridge and saw the London Tower Bridge
- watched a performance at The Scoop by some students - really random but quite a show, when you could make sense of it
- Moved to a friends place near Wimbledon (Jen and Ken). Walked down and saw the Wimbledon tennis courts and stuff.
- Went back into Piccadilly Circus where Peta, Dan and I watched Les Miserables after a big feed of Indian - yummy! The show was pretty good, though I had to try and stay awake - it was a long day! I haven't seen too many performances in my time, Peta and Dan had more to talk about it as they've seen a few and know music - me, I'm along for the ride and to add some more theatre experience to my portfolio. I was told that this production has been played every night (except Sundays) for like 23 years, crazy!
- Met Peta in South Kensington and checked out the Science Museum. Coolest thing - Dan's phone wasn't charging so he left it at home (basically anywhere we're staying at the time is home) and I only had mine, I didn't have Peta's number. We were half an hour late in meeting her and we hadn't set a specific place to meet, first one there texts a spot. We walked to the Museum, being the next obvious to meet, when I asked God to get Peta to call my phone. Within 5 minutes, I received a call - thank you! He listens and answers :o) So the coolest thing in the Science Museum (I thought) was the dry ice in water. There is a dude that builds coffee tables like it - I want one. Basically an "esky" on the side is timed to open and dry ice is released on the conveyor belt into the water. Then it turns from a solid to a gas when it hits the water and melts - too cool.
- took some lunch to the Kensington Gardens and walked past Kensignton Palace - Princess Diana's residence. Of course, it costs to get into these touristy places and I like Dan's style of travelling where he doesn't do that kinda stuff. It is hard to justify most of these prices, especially when I convert it to $$$ - basically doubling.
- Met Peta in Westminster and checked out the clock the Big Ben (a bell) is sitting inside of. Dan with a Big Ben clock hat.
- The London Eye. These pods seat 25 people - take that "Perth Eye"
- Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
- Watched a 3D movie called "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" at Britain's largest 3D screen. Novel movie, quite funny.
Today is rest day. Dan and I went for a "jog" and it hurt cause we haven't done much other than walking...which I guess counts for something. And I thought I'd take some time out to update the blog.
I can totally understand the frustration of many who move from the UK to Australia regarding transport - it's GREAT! Though I've only experienced the Tube (underground electric train) and a few bus rides. The tube travels 2 million people a day! It is phenomenal, and so down underground. This is a photo of some stairs, so steep. In fact, all the stairs in London are pretty much steep - in houses, in the stations. These guys want to get high fast. The house we're in now is like 5m wide and 3 stories high, so they stairs are steep. Not that I'm complaining cause I'm adding that to my daily exercise :o) Dan and I (well mostly me) have decided that if there are stairs, I'ma climbing. These are some stairs for an underground station:
A cool set up with the escalators - when you're on them you stand on the right so people can walk up the left - helpful for when you want to climb up fast. People are so obedient and courteous - on escalators at least.
Oh, and the squirrels - sooo cute! I want one for a pet! This is my fave pic, spread-legged on the tree facing down:
Oh and for all you KFC lovers - what is different about this picture?
So, give me feedback about the blog and if there's any Q's.
Til next time.
Saint Elizabeth
:o)
