London at high speed
Trip Start
Jun 03, 2008
1
2
5
Trip End
Jul 09, 2008
London,
England,
United Kingdom
Thursday, June 5, 2008
I'm on the other side of the world. It's hard to believe that I've already been here for over a day and a half. And what a day and a half it's been.
But first a little about the travel. Auckland Airport is boring, if you can avoid having to wait there for ages do!!! I wasted heaps of money on crap that I didn't need to pass time - mags, scratchies (I didn't win), food (which is obviously highly overpriced), blah blah blah.
Anyway, I watched 5 movies in the space of 11.5hr and 10.5hr flights. The Other Boelyn Girl, Jumper (crap), Vantage Point, 10 000BC and The Bucket List. My eyes were tired of watching the screen, but it was awesome to have my own tv screen in front of my seat (never had that before on my previous longhaul flights).
I managed to get very little sleep the first leg, but the second was better. Although on arrival in London I discovered I had some serious CANKLES and they didn't go away until this morning. I real hot look when wearing a skirt!
Hit the ground running cos wanted to make the most of the time in London to do all the touristy stuff. So yesterday took the tube (cool) and the overlander to Waterloo Station (couldn't help but sing the tune - bloody ABBA). Headed down to SouthBank running alongside the river Thames. Really good to walk everywhere cos I don't feel like a big blob for not going to the gym when you're walking all over the place. Typical tourist taking heaps of photos and then realising that around the corner you get a better view (ah well that's the beauty of digital cameras!). Caught the Ferry down the Thames to Greenwich Village and saw where time begins. That was pretty cool. After lots of wondering around and a bit of food, headed back on the ferry to The London Bridge stop and walked to The Globe where we saw Sheakspeare's A Mid Summer Nights' Dream. Not the best seats, but I know a lot of the play from school. I had to wait the whole play (3 hours) to hear the section I did at school with my house Lochleven. The bit I did was the play within the play that's performed by the locals for the king and queen at their wedding feast. I played Bottom the Weaver (post being an ass) where he's playing Pyramus. A bit confusing sorry if you don't know the play, but loved it and the fact that it's outdoors. We glad to sit down for a while though after walking around all day, but damn my butt was numb from the hard wooden benches you sit on!!! Tried a Pimms as well, was really yum and refreshing. Good options cos it was really hot. Weather has been superb so far. Singlet weather, now that's what I'm talking about!!!
Didn't get home until almost midnight, by the time we'd caught the train back to Clapham. Pretty stoked I was still awake actually all things considered. Was asleep in about 5 seconds though cos was shattered!
Today after a wee sleep in we did Buckingham Palace and saw a big procession thing between the Queen's Guards and the Malaysian Military, complete coincedence we were there when it happened so very stoked and took tones of pics! Next it was on to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. I can't get over the decidence of the buildings and the gates, everything is finished in gaudy gold trim. The history is everywhere, it's so impressive to think that some of the buildings have been standing way way longer than people have inhabited New Zealand. I just find that so amazing.
Just to make sure I'd gotten the complete view we jumped onto the London Eye. It makes you realise just how massive London is. It's as far as the eye can see almost, incredible. You could spend months just going to places in London and on the outskirts.
Grabbed some lunch and went to Trafalgar Sq, a great place to people watch! Got quite a bit on sun today so decided to head home a little early. Good cos I'm currently watching the cricket test between NZ and Eng live instead on via highlights, doing a load of washing, wearing a sarong cos it's so hot and writing this blog. Going out for dinner in a little over an hour to a place called Little Bay. The have live opera. Should be interesting :)
One of the funniest things I've noticed so far is the signposting. Shop fronts, tube signs, bus signs, street signs, they're just everywhere, it's an absolute invasion on your senses. Sometimes you just don't know where to look cos there's so much to take in. I don't think you'd get too lost though cos the signage is pretty clear if a little over bearing.
Tomorrow I go to The Tower, Borough Markets and on the topless big red buses before heading to the start point of my Contiki. I think I'll wait until I've finished taking ahppy snaps tomorrow before I load up photos. Me thinks I need to do some serious culling of photos before I bother loading them (if I can figure out how to do it using this blog system that is - remains to be seen!)
Well, I think I'll sign out now cos I seriously need to take a shower. It's going to take a bit of time to adjust to this heat when I've been freezing my t*ts off back home wearing thermals and jackets inside!!!
I'm having a fabulous time and can see that the rest of this trip is going to go by very quickly if the last couple of days are anything to go by. Still can't believe really that I'm across the other side of the world seeing sights in person that I've only ever seen on TV or in books. Pretty damn cool and definitely helping me to justfiy the squillions of dollars I spent setting this whole thing up before I left little old Welly!
Will write again soon, perhaps from France, the first stop on my Contiki
Lots of love
Ness
