Location: London, England
Time: 11:54PM
London is such a mysterious city. Yesterday, we took some time to get ready in the morning from such a tiring first day. We left the room around noon or so and before I had my first English breakfast. I saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, and walked all around Westminster. Everything is so expensive here! At the internet cafe in front of Victoria Station, I met an American named Tara who was trying to find hostels like us. Unfortunately, we were to busy sightseeing to meet up with her. I wasn't into her so I wasn't too bummed out. I'm telling you this guy I'm traveling with is getting on my nerves.
The sites around London alone are enough to make me cry. It's so beautiful. However, most of the people here are assholes. At the end of the day, yesterday, I was a little drunk after hitting up the pub. I had this desire to go out and get a night-feel for London alone, without having to worry about this kid tagging along. I got some beautiful shits and stood on Westminster Bridge for about an hour. However, I got back to the hotel around 1:00 AM after getting lost in the cold, rainy London weather. I witnessed my first London car accident today too! Some motorcyclist cut off a double-decker and was clipped while we were eating at "Frankies American Classic Italian Food"- It (the food) was OK. Well, it's off to Paris in a few hours. AVOIR LONDON! Last night was truly a trip. I decided after napping from 8:00 to 10:00PM to go out and take some night photographs. Rome didn't feel up to moving - one, well a few things about him are that he constantly talks over you - I'll get back to that when he's not here (Obviously he was in the same room as I wrote my entry, HA). So anyways, as I left I turned on some ATB and began my walk from Hugh Street to Buckingham Palace Rd.
The streets were pretty empty and it was a bit cold. Thank God I had my jeans and sweater on. I walked back to Buckingham Palace, where I was earlier in the day, to find it dark with a hand full of people either gazing at it or walking by. I decided to walk the road bordering the park to the left and armory to the right. The street was COMPLETELY deserted. Yet, I was not scared and just admired every footstep I took in this gorgeous city. I eventually made my way to Big Ben and the Westminster Bridge over the River Thames. I stood on the bridge, also nearly empty, and gazed across the river to the pedestrian bridge that is lined with white beams and complimented with mysterious dark blue lights. To the left was an old, seemed like an apartment building, that was lit up by white and yellow lights. To the right were docks and the London Eye, illuminated by blue and white lights. Truly amazing. Walking by me were French tourists, English locals, and Middle Eastern tourists. There were many muslims around of whom the women were completely covered in their traditional religious garb. As the clock struck 12:00AM and Big Ben's bells chimed, I thought about the impact this country has had on the world. "The Sun never sets on the British Empire." Until the 20th century, that had always been the case since the Age of Imperialism. Yet, England has not lost her glory, at least in my eyes.
I decided to head back to the hotel around 12:30AM after Big Ben's lights went out. I got lost for a minute when I didn't recognize a few of the street names that were located on the sides of buildings, not posted as separate sign posts. I figured out the correct route just as it started to rain. I also realized I didn't have the key to hotel room and Rome had said he was heading out to get something to eat as I had initially left. I was dreading a night sleeping in the cold since I was almost positive he was going to be passed out and no one would be at the shitty little hotel to unlock the "lobby" door. I got back and to my amazement, he had stayed up, not without a complaint of coarse, and let me in. It took a little while to fall asleep since the train station was right behind our room a couple hundred yards away. Yet, the adventures of the subsequent two days had finally taken their toll and I eventually crashed.
I slept a good eight hours before I was awakened by the knocking of the proprietor at the door telling us we had to leave by 10:00AM - check out time. We made our way to Waterloo Station where we now wait to board the Eurostar that will take us, via the Chunnel, into Paris. AVOIR
(This last section I wrote at 3:11PM en route to Paris from London) I love this place already.
