7/16 - One last interview, one last view

What I did:

I went back into London pretty early to make sure I would be there for my 1pm meeting with Ian. I walked around a little looking for lunch and trying to act like I at least knew where in the city I was. I felt very out of place because I was in the middle of the bank/business district area where everyone wears suits and are running all over the place. But I carried on and walked literally all the way around the place I was meeting Ian, but slightly on purpose because I had time to kill and wanted to see more of the area since I had not spent much time in it.

I finally made it back to the church converted to bookshop where Ian works and had a nice long interview with him. It will probably be my last and was a great note to end on. He was very insightful and may have helped me add another dimension to my research. I will leave it that cryptic so maybe you will have some incentive to actually flip through whatever I come up with at the end of all this.

I left Ian with two new books in my bag and headed out to look around London one last time. I walked back to St. Paul’s and spent some more time there and prayed there. Then I walked back towards the monument to the fire of London to see if it was free, but it was not, and I saw no reason to climb all those stairs just to get a nice view. Then I went over to the Temple area and got to the church where they have some effigies right before it closed. Just enough time to look around, snap some photos, and get booted out. I walked around that area of Westminster some more and eventually made my way down to the river and walked along it some. I went back to the parliament area and eventually found a pub that Mr. Wightman (high school English teacher) suggested and had some food that was just as good as he said it was.

Then it was time to leave. I decided to walk all the way to the train station instead of getting the tube again. First, because I have a lot better chance to not get swine flu the further I stay away from the craziness of the tube. But really it was nice to get one more view of the city.

I got back just before it started rain. Caught the end of Talladega Nights before getting ready for bed.

What I learned:

The larger picture of geographical London is starting to finally be pieced together in my head.

There is a constant influx of tourists like a river coming out of Westminster tube station. But I guess I am sort of part of them, at least I was definitely in the exact same boat several weeks ago.