puszysty

I'm back.
The remainder of my srping break entry will come later, but first, this past weekend.

So today was a Labor Day in Europe, meaning that I had a 4 day weekend. Aka- get out of Freiburg!

I arrived in London fairly late in the evening on Friday. The hotel (well, it was more like a bed and breakfast- without any towels provided) I was at was in a residential district. Which made transportation a pain, but it wasn't too bad. Especially for waiting til 3 days before to book it.

K so first day. I didn't even know what there was in London really, so when I arrived at Liverpool Street station, I had no idea where I was or what was in the area. So I got a map.
Liverpool street was not far from the Tower of London. So that's where I went first. Walked around there for a bit. Debated going inside, but wasn't sure if I wanted to pay the 15 pound. London is expensive man- all the prices are the same as you'd find in the states so it doesn't look that way....until you realize that the exchange rate is something like 1.7 dollars to 1 pound.
K so...after circling the tower (which isn't really a tower, but a castle complex) and walking out onto tower bridge, I decided to follow the river Thames for a while.
Some things I learned looking at placards along the way- The Thames has been dubbed a 'biological superhighway' because of all the wildlife that resides in it. Looked pretty dead to me though. the Thames is also tidal. They built walls along the banks so it wouldn't flood London in high tide.

This is a great thing about London- the streetcrossings are painted with the words 'look left' and 'look right', so you can watch for traffic. Wonderful thing for someone like me, who is not used to the side of the road that Brits drive on.

Around 11:30, on my walk down the river towards the Globe Theater (which is a replica, since the old one was destroyed years ago), I somehow found myself in a market. A market selling all kinds of food, fresh and the type you bag up and take home. A perfect place to eat lunch. I had a kangaroo burger. I kid you not- I ate kangaroo for lunch. Tell you the truth, it wasn't very good....

Continuing my walk, I pass by the Clink- the oldest prison in London, and a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship. Crossed over on the Milennium Bridge (the newest in London, it's a very funky looking footbridge) and walked by St. Paul's Cathedral. I believe it's the second largest in the world, but I was just at St. Peter's a week ago so....
Up to Piccadilly Circus, London's version of Times Square. With the light up adds and whatnot, but not quite as big. Oh yes- passed Trafalgar Square on my way there, and there was a rap concert going on called 'Love Music, Hate Racism.' I think they were protesting some political party.
Walked up Regent Street, hit the Virgin Megastore and a toystore that is apparently quite famous (and rather old. I had thought about getting something for my cousins, but decided against it. I can get them something here if I feel like being nice) there. Then headed up to Madame Toussand's. Thought I'd do something different while I was in London, instead of more churches and art museusms. The Rosetta Stone can kiss my butt.
Madame Toussands was like 20 pounds, but after standing in line for an hour, I no longer cared how much it was actually costing me in dollars. It was cool though. I had fun there. Where else can you go hug Will Smith, then rub Shakespeare's bald head? lol
I was out of there...I'd guess around 6:30-ish. Grabbed a burger (beef this time) for dinner, and headed back towards the Thames. Decided to hit Burberry on my way back. There is no way on this earth I can afford Burberry, but I like the print, and hey, I like to look and pretend that I can afford that type of stuff. One day, right?
Made a leisurely walk back towards Liverpool Street, stopping at an Internet Cafe (where I posted from), and Baskin Robbins. Cookies and Cream. If I have one weakness (besides fuzzy stuff)- it's ice cream. And it'd been a while since I've had American ice cream. And Baskin Robbins is good stuff. :)
Oh yea- bought a hand towel as well. I couldn't justify paying like 20 dollars for a real towel, but I needed something to dry myself off with.

Breakfast at the hotel. All I had known was that it was a traditional English breakfast. Before, I had no idea what that entailed. Traditional german breakfast is a midly stale roll with some nasty salami. English breakfast? Baked beans, ham, eggs, and toast. A big breakfast. :) And a good one at that. On the second day I got no beans, which is good because I don't like them anyway. This morning I had to grab something for today since I was getting up early. Did I mention that they sell Krispy Kreme donuts in London? :D
day 2- Buckingham Palace. I timed this one right- I got there just before the changing of the horse guards. On my way up towards the palace, I got side tracked through St James Park, and some waterfowl that I've never seen before. Whence I notice people standing in front of a gate. I walk over to see what the fuss is, and there is a guard inspection and the band playing a few warm up songs.
The changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace is a heck of a lot of pomp and circumstance. I think the whole thing lasts an hour and a half. First there's a mini-parade, then a lot of standing and marching in front of the palace, with the band playing. I didn't stay for the whole thing, but I saw enough. This whole big ceremony just to change guards that will stand there for hours.

Back up to Trafalgar Square again, after grabbing some lunch. This place seems to see a lot of excitement. Today on the square- a Sikh holiday! There were performers once again, a couple booths giving out junk, and free food. Too bad I'd already eaten. Apparently it was the Sikh New Year festival.
Walked down to Westminster Abbey and the House of Parliament where Big Ben is. Big Ben isn't so big. Actually, I think Ben is a bell, and not the tower. But the tower isn't very big. Westminster Abbey... for those of you who read the Da Vinci Code, it's where Newton is buried. With a number of other famous people, including royalty. And of course, closed on Sunday. :P. On the front facade are 10 figures- Christian martyrs of the 20th Century. Here's another interesting fact for you- there is a statue of Martin Luther King Jr on the front of the most famous church in London. I kid you not.
Back towards the palace, where things had died down a bit, but not too much apparently, since there was another parade. This one I am not sure what it was for. There was a band, bagpipe players, then a number of men in suits marching behind them. Veterans maybe? Who knows.
Mainly I was just cutting by the palace to get to Hyde Park. A very large park in the middle of London, with paths for blading, and a lake where you can rent paddle boats. Why do I love London so? Because it's the only big city I've been to where you can go horseback riding downtown. There were horse paths in Hyde Park- I saw some riders. What I did not see where the stables. I've only ridden twice before anyway.

My original plan was to go see the Lion King on stage this day, but it was sold out. So I saw a movie instead. Around 4:30-ish. A movie actually in English! They don't show in germany (Rent was a notable exception, and thank goodness for that). I miss the movies. I saw Ice Age 2, which I thought was better than the first one. Especially with that creature with his nut again.
Nothing exciting after that, just took a leisurely walk back to the station again, got dinner, that kind of thing.

And now here I am back in Germany. I had an awesome weekend. So much fun in London.