Regardless, we ventured out of the underground station, wrapping sweaters across our chest and me using my first real adult girl purse as some sort of shield and we began our first tourist afternoon since arriving here in London.
The destination: Tower Bridge and the Tower of London of course! Featured on every British poster card, the visual cue for the London Bridge nursery rhyme (even though it isn’t the bridge from that rhyme at all) and the site of more history than Canada could even imagine. We strolled along the cobbled streets, some of the stones boasting a history of hundreds of years, gazing up at the Tower of London that once held traitors, criminals, infamous whispers of war strategies and I am sure bore witness to some of the most indescribable public tortures. For someone who has a minor in British History, this was like waking up to a storm day and turning 19 all in one!
We then strolled along the Thames, which isn’t as scenic or as glamorous as one might think. In fact, as we walked the two of us commented how we finally understood why this city, and the River Thames, was the setting for so many crime and suspense novels. I even found myself glancing into the river wondering if a body wrapped in tarp would suddenly spring free from the underbellies of the mysterious waters and bob along until one of the boats discovered it. Regardless, it was very neat to say we walked along the river’s edge, watching boats cruise back and forth with endless streams of camera happy tourists most of whom pointed and gibbered in languages I couldn’t even recall.
Then, the Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge that adorns stamps, letters, tv shows and commercial advertisements to come visit London. It was as every bit as impressive as I thought it would be; perhaps even more so. One discovery though, the steel that holds the towers and helps to create it into a bridge is painted bright freaking blue! Who takes centuries old awe inspiring art and then tackies it up with royal blue? Insane these British, absolutely insane.
Of course no day would be complete without lunch along the Thames, and so what better way to do it up than with Sausage Whirl and a plate of Britain’s own Fish & Chips. Of course we added in a pint of London Pride to make it all complete. Must say, I finally understand what all the fuss about it.
Some new discoveries along the way:
Discovery # 11: London too likes to tacky up their historical attractions just like Niagra Falls. Parts of London, especially around the London Bridge area is a cheese fest travelling carnival complete with dressed up goons trying to play zombies and convince you to take a trip to the Tombs. Why do we sink so low? Because it makes 30pounds a person and the line ups were around the block. Which leads me to...
Discovery # 12: There are stupid tourists everyone willing and ready to spend money on any cheap thrill as long as it looks like a version of a Disney ride. Save me please.
Discovery # 13: There is no actual table service in London that we can find. One week in, more than seven restaurants, and we are still wandering around the pubs and delis trying to figure out how to order, where to sit, where to pay, how to pay. We are becoming more and more irritated with every passing minute. Today, I read a book to keep myself from screaming at a passing waiter who yet again did not even pass us a glance even though it was obvious by our excuse me’s and gawking around aimlessly that we needed assistance. I finished the book today; I think Lenny is worried.
Discovery # 14: Underground stations in the world’s busiest city can actually close for 48 hours leaving you scrambling to find a new way to get home. Supposedly no explanation is needed, and not only is it just one particular station; it can be entire underground lines. Yes, how peeved was I to discover this weekend’s line to close is the line that takes us directly to every tourist attraction I want to see. Awesome!
Discovery # 15: Theatre tickets are cheaper then movie tickets. We should probably tell this to the Confederation Center of the Arts who seem driven to price up tickets every year causing a subtle but still evident shift in the crowd who attends these shows. We are on our way to Wicked in the next few weeks, unbelievable that it will cost us less to see an award winning stage musical than it will to go see Angelina Jole make me puke by pretending she’s some sort of noteworthy actress.
Discovery # 16: You don’t have to have a shower that actually works in order to rent a flat in London. We are all so desperate for accommodations we will settle for a tap. Yep, we have a shower that you have to hold in your hand, two doors that are broken so badly you have to hold them together to keep the bathroom from flooding. You can just imagine how hard it is to wash your hair then when you are trying to hold the two doors with one hand and the water with the other. Tonight I was cold and feeling claustrophobic and thought for a moment of how relaxing and calming it would be to take a shower. It only took a second for that thought to pass.
Alas, another day is winding down. Tomorrow is church and Buckingham Palace with an evening possibility of checking off another of Nicole’s Do Before You Die items: The Jack The Ripper walking tour which allows walkers to relive all of the murders in the actual sites they took place. Oh my! Lenny is equally pumped, so weather dependent if you are looking for us tomorrow evening that is where we will be! And yes my BB I can sense your jealousy from all the way across the seas but I promise I will take pictures and will use them to blackmail you into coming over here and joining me!
Check back tomorrow, I am sure our adventures will continue. Prayers again: Second interview call backs are sent out Monday night, would love to get one!
Cheers Mates (our attempt to sound British!)
Discovery #17 - Plastic grocery bags here are primarily decorative. I'm pretty sure they're not intended to actually carry anything heavier than a loaf of bread. Thus, our first grocery run ended with me walking in the rain cradling PepsiMax and pasta salad in my arms hoping that nothing else would break before making it to the door.
ReplyDeleteDiscovery #18 Having a minor in history is not necessary for appreciating London. An 800 year old castle is cool even if you don't know anything about it.