When I got off the plane at Heathrow, I purchased the phone card for my unlocked cell phone. As I called the number, I was told I needed a registered credit card in the UK in order to activate it, and when the automated voice asked yes or no questions by pressing 1 or 2, it repeatedly resulted in “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that.” So much for the pretty extensive research I did on the phone situation. But because I was not in the mood for frustration, I hopped on the “tube” towards “Cockfosters” and got off at Piccadilly Circus. No there aren’t elephants and acrobats at this circus. It is basically London’s version of Times Square.
This is also my first experience in a real European hostel. Luckily, Piccadilly Backpackers is in an AWESOME location, right in the center of everything. But as is to be expected, its not the Ritz. After arriving, a half naked man walked into the elevator and asked me if I was impressed. I got off on the wrong floor…on purpose. Later, as I finally got the guts to walk into the freezing shower, a loud alarm started blaring. As I stepped out, my hair dripping, people started to exit the building. I got outside and the fire engines pulled up. Luckily, five minutes later everyone went back inside. And even more luckily, there was no fire.
The next day I woke up feeling a little disoriented. The phone (which I trusted had the correct time) said it was 1 p.m. After getting dressed I realized I misread it...the phone now said it was 7 p.m.
The sky looks the same (cloudy) all the time, and it doesn’t get dark here until about midnight, so I assumed I had slept through the entire day. That is until I went downstairs and everyone was saying "good morning.” It wasn't 7 p.m. but 7 A.M...I wasn't going to eat dinner, but breakfast…I had not slept for 13 hours, but more like 6. After correcting the settings on the phone, I went to lay down for a few more minutes, and woke up at 2 p.m.
Then, feeling refreshed, I left and took a stroll down to Oxford Street to the Vodaphone phone store and successfully got help in activating the phone. Then, calculating that it was 10 a.m. in Los Angeles, I called my dad. It was nice to talk to him, except for the fact that still, I didn’t know what time it was…I woke him up because it was really 7 a.m.
Then I walked to Buckingham Palace:
(flag is up, the queen is home!)That night I met up with Camille, a friend from Oregon. She has been living here for about a year, working in music and getting her master’s degree. It was really nice to see a familiar face and catch up with her. The waiters gave us an extra glass of wine and a shot of some coffee liquor thing, which is why I am now up at 4 a.m. (I think) writing this part of the blog.
When I got back to the hostel, I discovered that the men’s bathroom (two doors down from me) overflowed into the hallway. The guy (who is felt really sorry for) was cleaning it up a mere couple feet from seeping under my door.
Then today I woke up early and did what ANY Jewish girl in a foreign country would do. I went to church.
Not just any church. Westminster Abbey church is 700 years old and makes up for the Sunday closed tour by opening up worship services to the public. The sung eucharist service with pipe organ and men/boy’s choir made my neck hairs stand up.
Then I went to catch the changing of the guards ceremony at Buckingham. Men in red coats, shiny shoes, and really fuzzy hats, some with guns, swords, and some with musical instruments, put on quite the presentation.
(he wasn't allowed to smile)Then I walked to the Royal College of Music. They also had a free concert open to the public featuring upcoming players from the school. Unbelievable. After the second hour (and still going), I couldn’t take it anymore. The brain can only absorb so much talent.
So then I went to hear MORE music back in Westminster Abbey, an organ recital featuring J.S. Bach trio sonata in d minor. Once again, the loud parts could be felt through my feet and the phrases took 5 seconds to fade away. I totally picked the right day to have a musically-enhanced tourism experience.
Apparently mannequins portray the subliminal message that not only are these clothes cool, but if you buy them, you’ll also get a black eye!!! And seriously. Who DOESN’T want new clothes after getting punched in the face?
It didn’t take me long to get acquainted with London because pretty much everything about Boston (from the names of the streets to the little public parks to the cobble stones to the clocks on all the buildings to the “Squares”) was stolen from this city.
With that, this country seems very devoted and supportive of its child nation, having erected SEVERAL memorials to American things like 9/11, Abe Lincoln and FDR. Music in stores and cafes have all been of American bands, and advertisements for movies have all been for American movies. Basically, this was a good place to start because I feel like I haven’t really left in America.
One main difference, however: Apparently here, squirrels don’t have rabies.
Hard to think that in the Minute Man park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_Man_National_Historical_Park) next to my aunt and uncle’s Boston suburb home, we all once killed each other.
Why can’t the middle eastern countries put past conflicts behind them so well?
Now I’m onto meet up with my Contiki tour, hoping that the cheapness of it will at least come with luke warm showers, but nonetheless, excited to both be with a group and to see more awesome stuff!
I’ll conclude with the most important information: The English are so polite that when I bought a can of soda, I got more information than I ever imagine getting on anything. Ever. The name of the drink is “Yoga Bunny Detox.” (Now try to hear this in a British accent)
Yoga Bunny Detox
Balanced with Ginseng and Echinacea
Liquid Psychiatry! (lightly carbonated)
* NO NASTIES *
100% Delicious, Preservative free, Naturally prêt, nastiness free, 100% goodness
PRET is radical because it creates handmade, natural food, avoiding the obscure chemicals, additives and preservatives common to so much of the “prepared” and “fast” food on the Markey today. NO NASTIES. NO fructose syrup, NO sodium benxoate, NO aspartame, NO potassium sorbate, NO phosphoric acid, NO colourings, and NO artificial flavourings. Allegedly, the chemicals found in quite a few soft drinks aren’t good for your health. Who knows? We can’t be sure.
