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| Bad coffee at Leicester Sq. |
I stepped off the plain and cleared Immigration and Customs with relative ease. I guess they like Australians, because despite the fact that the guy behind the desk looked clinically depressed, I made it through with relative ease.
Today's Lesson: Border security officers aren't especially chatty.
Then Mel's beautiful smiling face was waiting for me at the arrival gate and we took a tube (YES, I TOOK A TUBE) to Westminster. Incidentally, the Underground trains aren't anywhere near the size of the Sydney trains. They're cute. Like little red, white and blue caterpillars.
Off at Westminster, we step out of the station and Mel asks me the time. Of course, I go to look at my phone but there's BIG BEN staring me in the face, proudly declaring that it's 10.10pm. A couple of photos of Benny, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, then a short (FREEZING) stroll to Tower Bridge, past tower of London, and we had back to Mel's. What an exhilarating night! Seeing all these things in real life, and even all the regular buildings, some of which are so old and beautiful. This is bliss.
Waking up on my first day in London, I'd planned to take it easy (it was my jet-lag recovery day but I wasn't feeling jet-lagged at all! - thank you lorazepam and melatonin) and just go for a wander to a nearby cafe, drink a coffee (perfect because it was raining).
Alas, I had a bit of a freak out at the idea of being in this big, scary city all alone (Mel was at work) so I used my 'recovery day' and the rain as an excuse to stay home. Ah well.
Fortunately, Mel convinced me to come with her to her Bible Study group's social that night (curry and board games - so good). It was a mixed bunch to say the least! Mel and I, two other Aussies (from Perth), two from Northern Ireland, two from South Africa and even a young lady from Tajikistan! All the accents in the room were wonderful, and suffice it to say, it made playing 'Articulate' a bit of a challenge.
The most memorable character of the evening was the South African named Wik. Having worked as an interpreter previously, his English (not to mention his vocab) was astounding. I thought he was English for a while, because his accent was so thorough and proper (think of Hugh Grant in nearly any movie he's ever been in, except with confidence and having lived in SA for twelve months).
All gorgeous people; hoping to see them again at church on Sunday.
Oh, and on the way home we stopped at an ATM and I made my first cash withdrawal and put my hands on a twenty-pound note. How 'bout that!
Anyway, today is Day 2, and I left the house with Mel so that I would actually get out. We parted at the train station and now I have stranded myself in Leicester - nothing for it now but to explore for the rest of the day. Oh, and tonight we are going to see Cirque du Soleil's 'Quidam', which is being performed at the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Albert Hall!!! Bam!
Let's do this.
SG
1 comment:
I had that "GAH! THIS IS REAL?" feeling most of my time in London but especially around the London Bridge area. Leah and Andre took me for a walk down the river and it was just so exciting. Even now sometimes I'm just walking down the street and I'll remember I'm in Scotland and then start grinning like a crazy person. Hope you enjoy your day adventuring.
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