London Feb 27 - Mar 2, 2023

London Day 1

I can't sleep well on the plane, so I binge-watched "The Consultant", a show on Prime Video with Chris Waltz. Really creepy. I may have gotten 2 hours of sleep. Got to London and immediately had NO cell service - well, possibly calling and texting, but no data plan. I found Wifi and googled it, but the solution was not on my phone where indicated (data roaming under Cellular Data. 

Took the Heathrow Express to Paddington station (of bear fame) and I meandered my way on the tube, a station here and a station there - always going North and East until I hit King's Cross. This meant lugging my 40 lb check-in up and down stairs, because not all stations offer escalators or elevators. Victoria station was the worst with about 100 steps down a steep set of steps. 

Sent a message to my AirBnB provider saying I was in early and she graciously allowed me to check in early, but before that, I left my luggage at the "Left Luggage" place and went in search of a place selling SIM cards. Guess what, my phone, which surprised the hell out of everyone, has NO SIM CARD. It just uses eSims. These folks couldn't believe it. They examined my phone minutely and couldn't find the little hole. They then declared it an American aberration. I went to the AirBnB by cab.

MORE STEPS - there are 2 narrow flights of steps up to the room. I was already pretty exhausted. I had a total of 22,000 steps, a record.

Having a phone was more important than resting yet, so I headed out to the local area to find a place that might have a solution (new phone or wireless hotspot device) but the 2 local places I found did not pan out. I also bought a few groceries, because I generally hate eating out and I like my coffee with cream (only found milk though.)

Called Spectrum, my mobile provider, and they told me the same as I had discovered on the web. As an experiment, touched the eSims button and sure enough, there was Data Roaming. I clicked it on and I had data service. 

The next thing was to charge my devices but I couldn't find my international voltage converter. There are no USB plug-ins at this AirBnB (some places have lamps that have them.) I figured I was too tired to go out again, so I took a 3 hour nap, then went to the International Train Station at St Pancras Station. The shop there did have voltage converters but they only were plugs, not voltage changers. Plugging my devices into them would destroy them when 120/220/230 volts would hit my 110 powered devices. Luckily, I eventually found my converter in my non-technical bag. Kicking myself for not searching the bottom of my check-in bag, but I was so happy to find it, so I forgave myself (aren't I good to me?)

For the evening's event, I went to see Matthew Modine in To Kill a Mockingbird. Photography was not allowed, but I snuck some pictures at the curtain call, then waited outside like a groupie and got a pic with him. He gave me some signed cards which I will give to Rose and Aly (via Lexi.) I wish I had stood up when he came out last and yelled "Papa" but was worried about the very reserved British audience. In the future, I plan to be the boorish and loud American and I WILL DO IT.

London Day 2 Part A

I had signed up for 2 scavenger hunts - "The City" and then "The Rift in Time". I only did a bit of The City, because it took me forever to get the first clue. I read up too much into it and walked several miles extra. My total step count today is 21,500, not quite as much as yesterday, but still considerable. I gave up after 4 clues (with assistance) of the 15 clues needed to complete it. I was so sore, I just couldn't any more. I did buy an Oyster Day pass for all the extra trips I was taking and for 14 pounds and 2.50 per trip, it was totally worth it.

London Day 2 Part B

Instead of completing the first or even starting the second scavenger hunt, I took the train out to Poplow (a 90 minute train), then ordered up an Uber to take me to Oakley Court Hotel, which Aron told me the Rocky Horror Picture Show was filmed at (the outside of course and maybe even the inside.) The Uber driver suggested I summon an Uber as soon as we got there and he snatched up the fare, then waited for me. I have to admit, I was only there about 5 or 6 minutes. Then back to the train station and back to my main station (Warren Street). I had broken my mouse the prior day and also was almost out of phone power - shock, 12% remaining. Of course I forgot my battery pack after I had charged it. This time for realzies. I went to a place called Curry's which is like a Best Buy with an Apple vibe. Picked up a new mouse and battery pack. 

London Day 2 Part C

I ended the day with a performance of "The Lehman Trilogy" at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. It was awesome. Just 3 primary actors who kept changing their roles and their character traits. The first part was "Brothers", the second part was "Fathers and Sons", and the final part was "Immortality". Awesome play and I was the first to stand and yell bravo, because I am the obnoxious American. I just tell the folks around me that I have no couth.

London Day 3 - All Day Bus Tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath

I was very happy going on an all-day bus tour because with the prior 2 days of walking, I had racked up 43,000 steps and I was sore, especially my right something or other like a hip or pelvis.  Nevertheless, I still managed to get in 13,000 steps in, so London was worth 56,000 steps.  At 2500 steps per mile for me, that was 22 miles of walking.  Crazy!

The ride there was illuminating because it essentially took the same route, though on the M4 going West out of London, and passed through many of the towns my train had gone through.  After Slough, one of my train stops, we turned off and drove to Windsor.

London Day 3 - Tour Part 1

Part 1 was visiting Windsor Castle.  Queen Elizabeth II is buried here together with her mum, dad, and husband.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside.

Side story - there was this girl on her own who went to the front of the line.  She was in a single seat at the front of the bus and was extremely pretty.  So I caught up with her and we walked around together.  Her name was Irini and she hailed out of Melbourne, Australia, my birth place.  She is an optometrist and married.  Oh, also 27.  But very easy on the eyes. 

There were signs everywhere that no photography was allowed indoors and we were told this at the start.  Irini still wanted to take pics and when she started doing it, I blocked the view of the attendants who were watching everybody.  She managed to do a selfie with her and the ceiling by looking down at her phone.  Clever girl.

The changing of the guard trapped us in the place.  While it's going on, the main exit gate is closed, so we had to watch it, and I thought it was boring.

When we left the complex, we were supposed to turn right at Queen Victoria's statue which was in the street.  I wanted a pic with Vickie, so ran into the straight where there were a shitload of cops.  I walked out as far as I dared, because there were no vehicles, but I couldn't get out far enough.  Also, they were all staring at me.  So it was either Queenie's head or mine.  You can see the result.  Real pic off the web as a comparison.

Irini was laughing her ass off.  She said everybody was staring at me.  I guess because I'm a big orange and yellow object in a rather drab place.

London Day 3 - Tour Part 2

Part 2 was visiting Stonehenge. 

Irini sat at the front of the bus and I had gravitated to the back even though I was the first one on, but I caught up to her and we walked around the stones.  It was freezing cold and she kept taking her coat off for selfies. 

Stonehenge does look a lot bigger than one would expect.  We had some kind of audio tour gadget, but it was horribly boring and we walked around quick, then met some of our tour folks who took the pic of both of us.

London Day 3 - Tour Part 3

Part 3 was visiting Bath and going to the Roman Bath Museum.

Maybe I don't like water stuff, because I was fucking bored with this.  Roman ruins are boring.  I learned about the damn Romans and their baths in my English School in Vienna.  So I walk around really fast and Irini later told me that she was trying to keep up with me but I was speeding through like crazy.  I do stand out a bit.

From above the Great Bath, I saw through the window a vision of a goddess, so I hurried downstairs the best way I could.  Though jumping would have been effective, it was prohibited to bath or drink the water, so I used the stairs.  I talked to the goddess who told me she was just a lady and she really laid into the "what is a selfie?" bit.  Fun stuff.  Her hand held up is supposed to represent Peace, because she is showing she had no weapon.  I told her that she was a potent weapon no matter what and she broke character and giggled.

I got out of there and Irini finally caught up with me.  Apparently, she was bored of this shit too.  We decided to get a treat, but first stopped at a chocolate place.  I was going to buy a bunch of stuff, but they were much too expensive.  I only bought chocolate covered coffee beans for 17 pounds - figure that's 20 bucks, but they are purely medicinal.  They are so I can wake up better in the morning.

Then we went to Sally Lunn's and wanted to order a Bunn to go, but were told they were out of them in the downstairs shop, but could go to the cafe and order one.  We sat down next to 2 others from our tour group.  We waited a long time for someone to take our order.  Our tour folks, a mother and daughter from the States, had both ordered tea which came with a Bunn.  I read the menu and found out that only the top or bottom was served, which made sense when their Bunns finally came.  They had ordered the cinnamon and butter Bunn which is what Irini and I had planned to order.  They looked at these HUGE pieces of pastry and offered us one of their plates (which was just a half!)  See pic below. 

Now, the menu also says you're supposed to eat the Bunn with a knife and fork, but since we had not been served, let alone asked for what we wanted, we did not have any.  Our tour buddies gave us one of their knives and Irini cut our half in two and we shared.  It was absolutely delectable.  Irini was a messy-bessy and got cinnamon all over her.  Delicious shit!

That was the 12 hour tour.  I haven't been getting a lot of sleep because I have to get up early but have been at the theatre late so I got in 2 one-hour naps on the bus. 

I leave tomorrow at 8 AM on the Eurostar Chunnel Train (I'm the only one who calls it the Chunnel - I thought that was the name, but apparently it isn't - everybody says Channel Tunnel.)  I have to get up at 4 AM (it's almost 11 now)

London

Final Thoughts

I have to get up early tomorrow in order to pack and make it to the St Pancras station by 6:30 AM for an 8 AM train. I'm thinking 4 AM.

Some final things about London:
- it's very expensive - tourist areas are even worse, but of course that's to be expected
- people walk very fast and not just because of the cold
- there are a lot of people in the streets going hither and thither
- a lot of people use public transport which is fast but a bit expensive compared to what folks earn
- the problem with taking the Tube is that it gets you from A to B cheaper than an Uber, but you miss what's above ground
- on the Tube, do not make eye contact - it is rude - however, people will glance at you and then away. Perhaps it's my color choices
- Brits tend to be reserved. Amazing at the theater - when something is funny, you hear a few chortles, but no guffaws
- there is a lot to see and a lot of history to understand

I wish I had had time to go to King's Cross and take a picture of Platform 9 3/4, but when I was there, a lot of people were standing and lining up for it, and I could only get the shop next door without having to wait.