London... dreary London...

Here I am in London... today is the only day it hasn't been raining!!!!

Our flight here was uneventful. However we were on a Boeing 777 -- the first class had those awesome pod seats that fold down into beds!!! Obviously, we were not fortunate (or rich) enough to get first class. LOOOONG flight.

We exchanged money first off -- $35 USD turned into £12.86 - WHAT?!?!??! The currency exchange is so unfavorable for Americans!

Getting on the tube (the subway) we followed Jenny's directions to get to Trafalgar Square nearby where she works. Coming up those subway stairs into one of the most famous squares in the world was overwhelming. People everywhere, pigeons everywhere, the most beautiful architecture you've ever seen!!! And the architecture didn't stop there... it's an absolutely gorgeous city!!!!

A visit to Covent Square brought us amazing pizza, men juggling, audiences laughing...an Italian opera singer could be heard in the distance. What a sight!!!

We then ventured down to Fleet St -- this means nothing unless you've seen/read "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Very picturesque part of town that led to St. Paul's massive cathedral, and paralleled the bank of the Thames. Tugboats and tourist boats alike all chuggin through the dirty Thames -- we enjoyed a Corona on the deck of a yacht to take in the view.

Big Ben, The House of Parliament, The London Eye (the big ferris wheel), the Thames, the Tower Bridge in the distance... if only it would stop raining!!!

We met with Jenny and strolled down the bankside past Shakespeare's Globe Theater. We ended up at the greatest Greek restaurant. Cravings for gelato led us around the corner, but it was closed since the weather was so dreary.

Jenny lives in the residence halls for the University of Westminster. It's an hour-long tube ride back to her place, but the subway life/life-forms are interesting.

By this point, we had spent all day lugging around our 30lb. packs so we were exhausted. At least we stayed up, so we were able to get our sleeping schedules in sync with Greenwich Mean Time.

The second day was a whirl -- our packs left at Jenny's, we were able to maneuver quicker and lighter. We first visited the National Gallery; Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", Rembrandt's self portrait, Monet's "Lilly pads" and "The Virgin on the Rocks"! Some of the greatest works of art ever!

We then made the long walk across the Thames to Tate Modern (obviously the modern art museum). Everything from Andy Warhol to Picasso (a lot of Picasso) to Paul McCarthy's sexually explicit home videos on projection! An audio tour guided us along our way.

Then me, josh and Jenny headed to the Arc to meet some friends of hers -- 2 for 1 pizzas and 2 for 1 cocktails!!!! This led us to a pub/venue where I had my first pint of Cider!!!! A couple pints are enough trust me!!! We rocked along with an English band called the The Fins -- not the Friends and not the Fiends -- this was the first difficulty I've had with the accent.

Well besides all this...
trash can = bin
loo or toilet = bathroom
fags = cigarettes (no really, it does. It's crazy embarrassing asking for them too!)
vest = waistcoat
subway = underpass for pedestrians (NOT a underground rail!)


just some random things have made for an entertaining trip!!!!

Today, we woke up early to go to Buckingham Palace to see the traditional "Changing of the Guard"... pretty pompous and boring and waaaay too many tourists.
We then ventured to Westminster Abbey and The Houses of Parliament which are two of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen!!!! Westminster Abbey had so many tombs of British and Church leaders -- kinda creepy!

After that, we found the best little Indian restaurant before we headed to the British Museum. It houses 50% of what was recovered from the Parthenon (the other 50% being what's left of the Partenon in Greece!). It also houses the most extensive Egypt collection outside of Egypt -- including sarcophagi and even Cleopatra's mummy!

Now that we have had our fill of culture, here I sit in an internet cafe with a few conclusions...

London = skinny jeans. Everyone wears them. Boys, girls. It's like all the emo/punk/eclectic people of America came to London.
London = tall boots. Yes, even though it's summer, all the girls wear tall boots or Uggs.
London = America with accents and cooler architecture.
Londoners = London college students rival the most travelled adults in America. Everyone we talk to has been to almost every continent, has travelled all over, has studied all over, and knows at least two languages. It's almost embarrassing to be an American sometimes.


Tonight we head to the London Eye (big ferris wheel) since it's a clear night.
Tomorrow, patisserie in the morning and the Science Museum. Tomorrow evening, we are going to see the London production of the New York Broadway Musical "Avenue Q" -- which I've been dying to see for FOUR years!!!

Well, we are going to head to the London Tower now to meet Jenny before the London Eye...
We fly out Sunday afternoon to Greece!!!!!!

Until then... Cheers!

TaTa -- Amanada