What I did:
I woke up early in time to get the complementary breakfast at the hotel. It was raining which almost convinced me to stay in bed and not even try to go out today. Nevertheless, I thought food was worth it, so I climbed down. They had tea! Other than that it was like any continental breakfast. After eating I came back and got ready to go (the rain had cleared up). I then decided it was finally time to call and get my toilet checked out. To my utter shame and embarrassment the lady receptionist answered (it is her and a guy that switch off). Furthermore, the maintenance man was gone for the day, so she had to come up and have a look at it. But, she just fiddled with the stuff in the top and got it to work, so it wasn’t too bad.
I woke up early in time to get the complementary breakfast at the hotel. It was raining which almost convinced me to stay in bed and not even try to go out today. Nevertheless, I thought food was worth it, so I climbed down. They had tea! Other than that it was like any continental breakfast. After eating I came back and got ready to go (the rain had cleared up). I then decided it was finally time to call and get my toilet checked out. To my utter shame and embarrassment the lady receptionist answered (it is her and a guy that switch off). Furthermore, the maintenance man was gone for the day, so she had to come up and have a look at it. But, she just fiddled with the stuff in the top and got it to work, so it wasn’t too bad.
Then, off I went to get my Oyster Card and to travel the city. The first train I got on was the wrong one, so I had to get off at the next stop and wait for the correct one. It came 10 minutes later and was packed, so I waited so more. Before it came a woman asked me how long I had been waiting and quickly realized I was American (although I think she was too). After finally getting on the right t
rain (it came just a couple of minutes later) I headed to Westminster station. I got there and had no clue what was what or where to go, but being too proud to just whip out my map I just walked around aimlessly for a while snapping a few photos here and there. I finally figured it out and walked down Parliament/Whitehall Street. I saw Big Ben and some government stuff and walked into Trafalgar Square. I walked around the national gallery and then had lunch at the Crypt Café at St. Martin in the Fields Church. After I finished, I wanted to go to the concert that church does at 1, but still had some time to kill, so I walked north and kind of lost myself in China town of all places. When I got there I turned around and finally made it back to the church a couple of minutes before one and got a horrible seat behind a big pillar. But I could still hear, which is what matters. It was a trio (piano, violin, cello) playing pieces by Haydn. It was good and nice to get off my feet for a while.
rain (it came just a couple of minutes later) I headed to Westminster station. I got there and had no clue what was what or where to go, but being too proud to just whip out my map I just walked around aimlessly for a while snapping a few photos here and there. I finally figured it out and walked down Parliament/Whitehall Street. I saw Big Ben and some government stuff and walked into Trafalgar Square. I walked around the national gallery and then had lunch at the Crypt Café at St. Martin in the Fields Church. After I finished, I wanted to go to the concert that church does at 1, but still had some time to kill, so I walked north and kind of lost myself in China town of all places. When I got there I turned around and finally made it back to the church a couple of minutes before one and got a horrible seat behind a big pillar. But I could still hear, which is what matters. It was a trio (piano, violin, cello) playing pieces by Haydn. It was good and nice to get off my feet for a while.After this I again had some time to kill before a tour started at the National Gallery, so I walked northeast and found the Victoria Em
bankment Gardens which were not that impressive. So I made my way back to the National Gallery for the guided tour, which was great. The lady took us to 4 places in the museum and talked about four paintings in great depth at the same time giving us some history to the establishment. After this, I looked through the Gallery myself for 2 ½ more hours and still did not see everything. It is huge! I definitely tried though and wore myself out doing so. They had a special exhibit on some Picasso stuff which was interesting and the whole thing was definitely worth it. Then I walked back out to decide where to go next.
bankment Gardens which were not that impressive. So I made my way back to the National Gallery for the guided tour, which was great. The lady took us to 4 places in the museum and talked about four paintings in great depth at the same time giving us some history to the establishment. After this, I looked through the Gallery myself for 2 ½ more hours and still did not see everything. It is huge! I definitely tried though and wore myself out doing so. They had a special exhibit on some Picasso stuff which was interesting and the whole thing was definitely worth it. Then I walked back out to decide where to go next.I decided to get on the Tube again and go way up to see the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, which apparently in not London Bridge (which is the next one over and not near as impressiv
e. The tower was like any ca
stle and I really liked just walking down the Thames better. So I walked down, got to another Tube station and went back to Trafalgar Square. I decided I would eat at the next Subway I saw, which happened very quickly and then I walked down the Mall and into St. James’s Park. This was by far my favorite part of the day. I walked in and found a tree to sit down by and prayed. Then I looked around and there were lots of people there just sitting and talking or playing football or Frisbee. I really wanted to, and almost did, join in the Frisbee game, but I kept going.
e. The tower was like any ca
stle and I really liked just walking down the Thames better. So I walked down, got to another Tube station and went back to Trafalgar Square. I decided I would eat at the next Subway I saw, which happened very quickly and then I walked down the Mall and into St. James’s Park. This was by far my favorite part of the day. I walked in and found a tree to sit down by and prayed. Then I looked around and there were lots of people there just sitting and talking or playing football or Frisbee. I really wanted to, and almost did, join in the Frisbee game, but I kept going.I went to my last stop which was the new Scotland Yard (not that cool) and then to get a better look at Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. So I was brought full circle and got back on where I first got off to go home. I am now exhausted and have lots more fun ahead of me.
What I learned:
Over 50 people (52) got seriously injured last year because they did not “mind the gap” on the rail system. This message now plays over and over and over again at every station. lol
Apparently the Underground Tube is a great place to sleep. I spotted 4 sleepers today (one of which fell asleep on someone else who was a stranger). I could not help but laugh.
Brits love Subway! This was fun news to me. There is a subway on almost every block in the city (no joke). They are only surpassed by Starbucks. (I don’t know about McDonald’s which does have a commanding presence, but I just did not notice as many of them).
People can tell that I am American as soon as I open my mouth. One lady did.
2 ½ hours of artwork from 13th to early 20th centuries is a lot. But the paintings get neither old nor more interesting.
London is much windier than I thought.
Traveling (especially sightseeing) is much more fun and interesting in a group.
What I learned:
Over 50 people (52) got seriously injured last year because they did not “mind the gap” on the rail system. This message now plays over and over and over again at every station. lol
Apparently the Underground Tube is a great place to sleep. I spotted 4 sleepers today (one of which fell asleep on someone else who was a stranger). I could not help but laugh.
Brits love Subway! This was fun news to me. There is a subway on almost every block in the city (no joke). They are only surpassed by Starbucks. (I don’t know about McDonald’s which does have a commanding presence, but I just did not notice as many of them).
People can tell that I am American as soon as I open my mouth. One lady did.
2 ½ hours of artwork from 13th to early 20th centuries is a lot. But the paintings get neither old nor more interesting.
London is much windier than I thought.
Traveling (especially sightseeing) is much more fun and interesting in a group.
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