Day two-London

One important lesson I learned today, when in London crossing the street remembering what your mother taught you about looking both ways somehow takes on a whole new meaning! when crossing today and after the third near miss (and British 4letter words flying) I think I may have the hang of it!! 

I'm still a bit "sketchy" on the whole 'mind the gap' thing, however! "Lovely and bloody" have now become my new favorite words! 

I started the day on the public bus, near my friends flat in Kennington, England. Just across from the cricket stadium. Then I went to Vauxhall station and got on the 'tube' aka subway in the USA to Victoria station. Then I took a bus tour of London. It was wonderful and I saw all the bridges, but not a one appeared to be falling down. I think all those years we have been lied to in that song......however I did hear today that the parliament is sinking. The tubes has caused it, or so it is thought. The government is broke (sound familuar?) so they are not sure what will be done b/c fixing it will be 'blood' expensive.

         

I now know what the London Eye is....a big farris wheel that is enclosed on the river. It was beautiful and if it is not foggy it is a great view, if it's foggy you can't see much of anything......really?, it's London-I don't think they named the coats London Fog for nothin'....just sayin'

Harrod's is over the top. google it. The most expensive department store I've been in. A lot like the original Macy in New York City back in the day-of course I've not been there for over 20 yrs. This is much bigger. I believe Harrod's is the family business of Princess Diana's boyfriend that was killed with her. 

I walked around the Westminister Abby, but it was closed. I plan to tour there tomorrow as well as the London Tower. 

They use oyster cards for payment on the public busses and the tube. I misread the amount I had left and didn't know where to recharge the card, so I ended up walking a long way back to Victoria station to catch the bus to my friends house. It got dark and cold and I tripped on the cobble stone and about broke my neck! This was my 'duh' for the day. This way I only had to use one bus fare and not change buses to get back and use two fares. (the fares are 1.40 pounds). I actually had over 17 pounds on the oyster card. BUT I made it home in time for lamb chops-they were fantastic! I didn't know they were lamb until after we had finished! 

Oh and for lunch I had squash soup and a meat pie. How bloody British---

I'm literally still working out details for the end of my trip, however it is coming a long nicely and I think I have a good plan in place. A friend of mine that travels internationally and is a big part of how I got to take this trip emailed and said they know ppl for bail should I run into trouble. And yes, it could be a possibility, even though the consulate assured me I was 'worring way too much' and when I discussed with my kids, they reassured me they would answer all these type calls " hello, Stollar orphans" ..... Nice, they love me.....no, I won't give you any details on where/why. I'm not sure myself yet! Yes, it is crazy...but it's really cheap! LOL But those of you that know me, already have figured that part out! 

Cheers!

Day one, London

Today was the first day in London. I'm jet lagged.

I found the Heathrow Express, it is a subway. 20 pounds for a one way ticket to Paddington. This is where I was instructed to go to meet David. A man I had never seen before, but my friend had emailed me a cowboy picture of him. He looked nothing like the picture. I don't think I looked much like the picture she sent him of me either. But he was standing at the end of the platform (I actually had no clue what or where that was). As David predicted, he was the only person standing still. All of the others were in a hurry, or now that I'm in London shall I say "rush to be onward with their day".

We traveled by tube using the oyster card. (yeah, again no clue) which is a different subway system and the 'oyster' card is a preloaded transportation card for most of the subways and bus systems for London. You just hold the card up to the yellow 4" button and it deducts the fare from the card.

I arrived at David's town house apartment (built in late 1800) on the cobble stone street about 1 in the afternoon London time. I met his wife Jillian, a wonderful British woman and Poppy and Molly their wire hair dachshund hound dogs and Pud and Stormy the cats who tolerate the dogs. Tolerate being the key word here. Of course we had tea and biscuits (no lie)

Showered and napped. David made dinner which was seafood pasta and wonderful with delightful white wine and french bread. Not much exploring today, but as expected after the marathon to get ready, my nerves about the trip -- I'm BEAT!

Tomorrow is a bus tour of London on my own.....standby...hopefully the pic of me and Kate will turn out good!