|
|
I got in early Wednesday June 13th 2001 and took the train from Gatwick airport to Victoria station, on the train I talked to a group of guys who were from Newcastle, I think they were on some kind of sports team cause there were a bunch of them and they fit the rugby type profile. I took the underground AKA "the tube" to Kensington station and couldn't find my hostel for about 45 minutes. Two nice ladies were picking their kids up from school and saw me looking my map and offered me directions after a few more minutes of walking I found it. The hostel is right behind this very old church. 18 pounds a night for a room shared with 3 other it has a bathtub and a sink but I opted to take my shower upstairs. The hostel is called the Curzon house hotel and seems to be run by 3 or 4 young girls in their late teens or early 20's, there is a kitchen with a fridge downstairs on the first floor, and a TV/Game room. I took a nap to offset the effects of Jet lag and then went out to the underground and took it to Big Ben and Parliament which are right on the river Thames. Parliament is an amazing building and has lots of little sculptures and gargoyles on it. Saw the horse guards they were very young, 18 I would guess. Walked around that area for a bit and ate some pizza. Took the underground to Notting hill. Notting hill is nice but not very interesting, found a grocery store and bought some chocolate and 5 tallboy beers, never heard of any of them. Went back to the hostel and slept till midnight then went out looking for an Internet cafe, but none were open that late, bought some cheese and bread went back to the hostel and watched TV with some dudes who were sleeping on the couch, the kitchen was closed so I couldn't get the beer that I had put in the fridge earlier. Went to bed about 2 A.M.. |
|
|
|
| Woke up about 9:45 Am, Still have not met 2
of my 3 roommates and the other roommate whom I did meet wasn't very nice,
he came in at midnight and work me up by turning on the room light and fumbling
around with his plastic noisy bags for 15 minutes. Got up, had some cereal
& toast for free, then took a shower. Went out found an Internet cafe
& uploaded my pics from my digital camera. 1 pound per hour is the student
rate and they have USB ports! Got my head shaved & mustache trimmed for 15 pounds. Took the underground to Green garden and walked through the park to Buckingham Palace, the parks here are beautiful. I wish we had more like this at home. The sun is burning my freshly shaved head. London is much nicer than I expected and the people are somewhat friendly. I'm glad to have finally cut my hair, after I did it, I was walking and when to pull my hair into a ponytail out of habit when it got windy, it took me a minute to realize my hair wasn't there any more. Trips going well so far but beer is too expensive here in the pubs. |
|
| From Buckingham palace I
walked along the south side of the street next to the palace and looked
at the Royal Mews souvenir shop, but didn't pay the 4 pound fee to get in
bought a beer and drank it in St. James park, very nice place lots of ducks
and birds to feed. Walked up to Trafalgar Square, which just looked like
a regular road with a couple statues, maybe I missed it. Walked up to Piccadilly
circus and I think Soho but didn't realize I was in Soho till later lots
of 3 story building, tons of stores, ate at a little deli on Oxford Street
for cheap. 8" sub, Samosa and a huge bottle of water were 3 pound 40. While
eating I watched a security office chase a girl who I assume shoplifted something,
he jumped on her and then she started screaming "my leg" likely ploy, but
maybe she can sue, don't think they are sue happy here in Europe like we
are in America. Took the underground up to Baker Street to see old Sherlock
Holmes place, but it was a hotel, which had nothing to do with Holmes. Bought
a Backpackers towel for 4 pound 99 which I needed as I didn't have room for
a towel in my bag over here. I'm on the subway (underground) to the hostel
now. |
|
| After Baker Street took the
tube to the Thames and paid 6 pounds for a ride up the river one-way to
Greenwich. Met a couple and their mother who were from Argentina I think
maybe they said Venezuela, their names were Mary, Fabio and not sure what
the mothers was. I got to practice my Spanish with them and learned a new
word. Devinar, which is to guess (which is exactly what I was doing speaking
Spanish). Saw the Tower Bridge and London Bridge, passed under both in the
boat. Walked through Greenwich, it seemed like an old town where Sailors used
to Dock. Walked up through this park to the observatory, where Greenwich Mean
Time is tracked. The park around is very nice lots of huge trees and very
green. I think their clock was wrong. Took the train back to Gloucester Station,
actually 3 trains. Made some pasta, drunk some beer and chatted with the
desk clerk, she's from Finland, is 17 likes 70's glam rock, Hanoi Rocks,
Iggy Pop, etc. Walked around outside sipping my beers didn't find anything
interesting and went back to the hostel and watched fear and loathing with
a kid from Norway, then they desk clerk girl showed up and talked to her,
then went to bed. |
|
| I'm still not over the time
difference so I wake up about 11:30 am and missed breakfast which cost me
3 pound 50. Right now I am on the train to tower hill to see the Tower Bridge
and Tower of London. I am pretty used to my short hair/bald head now. Still
want to see the Tate modern, London Eye, British Library and St. James
Cathedral which I can go the top of... well here is my stop, Tower Hill. |
|
| I made it to the Tower of
London and after taking the guided tour and listening to the Beefeater,
I met a nice girl from Australia via Italy, her name is Ania which is polish,
in English her name would be Anna. She was very nice and we helped each other
take pictures, We went to see Parliament and Big Ben and got walk in this
inner courtyard of the Westminster abbey, lots of graves and very nice. Ania
is staying with an older lady in Redfield and was going to try to meet up
with me on Day 4 at the changing of the guard, Buckingham Palace. |
|
| Woke up somewhat early about 8ish and
caught the tail end of breakfast got all my bag packed and checked out.
Tried to find a raincoat and withdrew 140 pounds which I estimate to be
200$. Went to the changing of the guard and got rained on quite a bit,
didn’t find Ania, I didn’t think she would make it as she had other commitments
in Kent. Walked to the London eye and they had a Dali museum next
to it. There were some pretty cool Sculptures outside, I meant to take a
picture of them, but forgot when I found out about the London Eye ferris
wheel not having any tickets until 9 pm. Went to waterloo station and took
the train to Paddington and found out that I could have taken the train to
Salisbury direct from waterloo. It all worked out fine in the end cause in
Paddington I found a camera shop to buy my memory cartridge for the camera
since my 8 meg that came with the camera never worked. Also bought some batteries,
which I am going to need. |
|
| Took 3 trains to Salisbury
and now I am here, its a nice cool little town, very old, tons of shops
and old buildings, the youth hostel is only 11 pounds for a bad, I'm waiting
in front of a different place called Matt and Tiggy’s cause its a little
closer to town and looks a bit cooler Stayed at Matt & Tiggy’s for 10 pounds, plus 20 pence for shower, shared the room with 2 girls from California. Woke up early 9 am which is 4 am in Florida and searched till I found breakfast, a cheese and mushroom croissant and the best hot chocolate I have had in a long time, also had an apple figgy "to take away". Found the bus, which is 5 pound 25, for an all day pass to Stonehenge, Avesbury and anywhere else they go. Tonight I am going to Bath, I need to call from here to make a reservation. Last night after checking in I ate a pretty good but expensive dinner it was 11 pound 40 with mushroom appetizer and dessert. Then I took a tour of the town for 2 pound 50, which was great, the tour guide lady shows us all the old building and told us the history of the town. The original town was up the road a couple miles but the church and the military didn't "get on" so they bishop decided to move it. The story goes that they shot an arrow and where it landed they would build the new town, but the arrow landed in a deer and then deer ran south to what is now Salisbury. The old town was called Sarum. |
|
| After the tour I wandered around a bit and spied
what looked like a castle tower I walked to it and found it was and old
church, inside a beer fest was going on. I was surprised they were having
it in an old church, but they consider this church a guildhall. So 10 pounds
later and 4 flat beers of various quality, I went to my bed and chatted
with the ladies from California for a few minutes. I am hoping to see Stings
house tomorrow. |
|
| Quick American to British dictionary: see you later/goodbye - Cheers! Are you hungry? - Feeling peckish? Vacation - holiday Drink a few beers - Drink a few pints Bucks/Dollars - Quid/pounds Bathroom - lieu/toilet exit - way out (it says this on signs) (food) to go - to take away Resume - CV truck - lorrie some words have S instead of Z |
| Took the bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge
which was neat to see but rather anti-climactic. Afterwards took the bus
to someplace north of Marlborough through Avesbury, passed by Silbury Hill,
Woodhenge and Stone Circle. I then took the train to Bath. |
|
| Bath was very pretty lots of old buildings with
sort of a Roman theme. The buildings were mostly this old stone that was
a white color but has turned a little yellow or orange. Very pretty river
right in the center of town the hostel is the first one you come to from
the station the rooms had 8 beds each and each bed had a name based on the
musical style of the room, my room was Country & Western style.
|
|
| Next morning I woke up early for once and caught
the train to Bristol-Temple-Meads changed there for the train to Nottingham.
Finally reached Nottingham and looked around, not a very interesting or
nice city. Sherwood forest is mile away so I didn't have time to go. I'm
still way over budget. In Nottingham I went to the castle there, it was very
historical but I really didn't care cause I came to see Robin Hood and the
statue of old Robin outside of the castle was no consolation. |
|
| Took the train from Nottingham
to Manchester and transferred to the train to Preston then the one to Oxenholme/Lake
District then the train to Windermere. Called first and got here to the Lake
District about 8:30-9 pm found my room and went out to find dinner. Dinner
was a dish called Ratatouille on chips (French Fries), it was real tasty
from a place called Chippy, in Windermere. |
|
| Woke up real late and went out to get
some breakfast at a place called Daryl's. Watched some silly post pubescent
teen drama. Ate some very good Walnut chocolate cake. Then I took the bus
to Rydal and after a few false stars finally found a trial that was open
it was on the west side of the road about 2-300 meters back the way the bus
had come from, over a little bridge. There was a footbath to disinfect for
foot and mouth disease; the girl working it was quite nice. The views on this
trail were spectacular, there are a couple caves which the biggest of was
easily accessible, it used to be an old slate mine and was huge but it didn't
go back very far walked along the hill to Grasmere, lots of good shots (pictures),
|
|
| Took the bus back to Windermere and another
to Bowness pier, which was nice (pretty) but not very interesting. Got back
to the hostel and went to the grocery store then returned to the hostel
and made dinner, after dinner I walked up a dark and scary path real close
to the train station just to the left of the Windermere hotel. After a tough
climb I reached the top and the views were some of the best ever, met a
guy from new castle up there and talked with him on the easier path down most
of which was paved, the guy looked a little whacked out, his eyes were crazy
cross-eyed but he was cool. |
|
Woke up early 5:30 am & caught the train to
Oxenholme. I am carrying some beers with me cause I didn't drink them in
Windermere. It's common to have a beer on the train here just like having
a soda. I'm going to spend the day in Edinburgh and take the train to Loch
Ness/Inverness afterwards.
|
|
|
I went to Edinburgh and saw/toured the castle
which was interesting, they have lots of old weapons & the Stone of
Destiny where the kings of Scotland are crowned. At the castle they shot
off this huge howitzer type cannon at 1 pm, it was louder than a bomb and
kids started crying. Next I walked down the royal mile, which has lots
of old buildings and lots of tourist shops too. There is a ghost tour there
of the tunnels which I really wanted to see but alas time wouldn’t let
me. |
| Next I took the train to
Inverness but when I arrived the last bus had left so after thinking about
thumbing a ride the 15 miles I took a taxi for 15 or 18 pounds. The hostel
is very close to the loch and the people there were nice. I walked through
this small forest, which led to the edge of the loch. Those woods were very
fairy tale like with babbling brooks and greenery. After Looking at the
Loch for a couple minutes I walked back. |
|
| The Next morning I walked to Urqhart castle
and to some Nessie tourist traps, which were neat to look at for about 30
seconds. The castle was pretty neat and lots of great views of the Loch.
While at the castle a RAF jet flew over the Loch. |
|
|
That evening I walked the about 5 mile round trip
(uphill) to a waterfall, which was not worth it, the climb was long and
tough. By then my feet hurt badly, I stayed in and drank some beer and watched
Carlito’s Way. Charlie "Carlito" Brigante. The guy John Leguizamo kept saying
" we got some kind of mis'fucking'understanding!" |
Next day took the bus back to Inverness and the long ass train to London, stopped at stirling along the way where braveheart was set. met some really cool folks on the train. Arrived in London at midnight and then next train to Dover was at 5 AM so I stayed up all night using the Internet at Easy Everything. |
|
|
|
| Next morning took the train to Dover and walked
around there from 8 am to 2 pm. Nice enough town the cliffs are neat to
look at and the beaches there have big smooth stones (marble sized) which
are comfortable to lay on especially when you haven't slept all night. About 3ish took the hovercraft to Oostende and then the train to Brugge. Brugge is a cool very old village with some canals. |
|
|
|
The second night I moved to a much better hostel than the first night (Snuffles) the new one was called The Bauhaus, I did a lot of cool stuff in Brugge but I didn’t write it in my journal for some reason, too much beer I think.(At least I got some photographic evidence) |
|
|
|