England
Trip Start
Feb 10, 2008
1
2
5
Trip End
Feb 21, 2008
Bath,
England,
United Kingdom
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Well if you know my schedule you would know that I should be on the bus tour...
First I will start where I left off. The lamb shank came with the bone in the middle which lucky would have enjoyed. The lamb tasted a lot like a roast which I've had plenty of times before. So after dinner I tried out the internet room. Sent some emails and saw that UW beat UCLA. After that I decided to check out the bar.
It was somewhat boring since I didn't know anyone. I watched as there was some quiz going on as well as some weird pool. There were seven yellow balls, seven blue ones and an eight ball. I gathered that it was just like stripes and solids. When no one was playing an Irishman asked me if I wanted to play. I told him that I didn't know how to play English pool and he said he didn't either. I beat him on a few technicalities and went to bed around 10.
I slept til 3 or so when the Spanish people returned. They kept me up for about an hour.
AHHHH it's 8! My alarms were set for 6! What happened?!?! No time for that. Just grab your stuff and go. There is no way I will make it across town in time for the 8:45 departure. Oh well, gotta try. So I start walking. Oh I'll catch a cab. Puh, if they weren't all taken! So keep walking and looking for a cab. Finally get one and its already 8:20 and the tour leaves in 25 minutes and we aren't close. I hope I'm not wasting my money. So the taxi costs 15 pounds (30 bucks) ouch and I get to Victoria Station at 8:35. The frantic search for the ticket office begins. Where is it?!?! I call the number I had written down using my credit card for the call (turns out it cost 2.35) which was a recording that I could hardly eve hear. So I hung up after 30 seconds or so. Ok I remember online something saying they had an office in the building next door. I run over there and go in the door right at 8:45. I tell them I know I'm late but I'm here for the 203 tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath. What?!?! Cancelled?!?!?! No way, not after I have been through...and thanks for cluing me in. I was the only one to book it. I asked if there were any other options and they asked if I could come back tomorrow. Nope. Well hold on. They called their rival company and got me in with them for the same tour leaving in a matter of minutes! Sweet! So I head over there and we head out. Phew.
It took about an hour to get to Windsor. The castle was alright. It was pretty foggy there so my pictures aren't great. Inside it was interesting seeing all of the "gifts" from imperialism. Heading out to lunch we were blocked by the changing of the guard. It was a pretty boring event. So back on the bus and we're off to Stonehenge. Met someone from Mexico, Australia and England today on the tour. Oh and I ate a sandwich knowing there was a tomato on it. Be proud of me.
2/13 5:39am
Stonehenge was huge. Much bigger than I had imagined. I was a little disappointed that we couldn't touch it but that's okay. I almost bought a shirt but figured it would have been a little nerdy.
Next we went to Bath and it was pretty neat. I think it would be a must if I wasn't going to Rome but I figure it will be a warm up for things to come. I ended up buying a small alarm clock (for 9 pounds) because I have more important and expensive travels to come. I tried to sleep on the two and a half hour drive back to London but only had limited success. I got off at Hyde Park Corner and began walking towards Trafalgar Square.
It was about 8:30 when I got there. After taking a few pictures I was forced to listen to my stomach and headed for the most authentic food I could find...McDonald's. I have to compare it to ours right?
So at McDonald's I decided that I'd had enough walking and planned to take the underground. I headed over to the station only to be told that it would be faster to walk. So unfortunately I lugged my stuff to the hostel.
Once there I decided to charge my ipod which I have been using sparingly. Listening to some authentic British music now - Oasis. After getting the 40 minute, locked battery charge started I decided that I'd try to take a shower but I don't have a towel. I took the shower that I desperately needed and dried off with my dirty shirt. I figured it would be a little counter productive but it was fine. Also shaved using a cheapo razor and that wasn't much fun.
Time for bed! Got the ipod which was now mostly charged. Hit the hay around 10:30. Took 45 minutes or so to get to sleep and then I woke up at 12:00. Booo. Only took 15 minutes to fall asleep though. Woke up for good at 4:15 and laid in bed until 5 to test my alarm. Part of me wanted to sleep but the other part of me was paranoid about missing my train. So all the alarms went off (5 on the alarm clock, 5:05 and 5:25 on the watch) and I was up and going.
Headed up here to St. Pancras station and breezed through customs. Now I'm just waiting to board the train to Paris. I'll try to write around lunch time.
