Resist, resist!

We are back from London but the jet lag got the better of me and I was too sick today to go to work. In the later afternoon I went in search of caffeine and had to drive. I had to resist the urge to drive like a crazy Londoner and attempt to cut everyone off. I also had the urge to scare pedestrians so they found a reconnection with their religious faith due to a near death experience that I caused.

I am grateful that both Elizabeth and I returned unscathed from our travels on foot in the city. I am also very fearful I had this time to spend with her to get to know her better. Sixteen is very young, and she is a remarkable young woman who has a great spirit of adventure! Onward!

The Tube: Awkward Encounters

By: Elizabeth

Now I know why comedians are so funny. They must travel the world, or at least get out of their own town and see or experience something different and new. Well, we have seen just about everything, and some things are just plain old funny, others quite shocking.

Awkward Encounter #1:

On Wednesday the 11th, we went to see Billy Elliot. The play ended about 10:30, so we took the Tube back to our flat. We sit down next to each other, and a few stops later this group of about 5 or 6 people in their early 20's get on. Two of them sit down, and they are yapping very loudly. Mind you, most of these people on the tube just want to sleep, not listen to these people until they get off. both of us look in their direction since they were causing such a stir.

Little did we know that the guy was wearing Sunday socks! Hello! It's obviously Wednesday. What makes this more interesting is that BOTH of his socks said 'Sunday,' not just one sock. So Crystal tried to take a picture, but as she tried to, the girl who was VERY drunk, mentioned to the guy that his picture was getting taken. He simply said 'I don't care if anyone takes my photo!' Too bad the picture came out blurry. :(

Anyways, about the girl. About 2 minutes after her tribe got on the Tube, she started hacking, like a hairball was about to fire out of her throat. Nasty! Crystal assured me that all she needed was a little attention and everything would be just fine. But she kept complaining on and on; one moment she wanted water, the next she was perfectly fine. Hm. And yes, she was THAT drunk. But there's more! She suddenly wanted to get off at one point in their short journey. Out of the blue, she loudly exclaimed "I need to get off here now!" Then she started to fan herself as if she were about to pass out. Her buddy said something along the lines of "We don't get off here. We get off after the next stop." Then she freaked out again. The poor lady that was sitting across from me though, she looked so exhausted and this situation made her want to smack the girl. Honestly, could that lady shut up for just 10 seconds?!

Awkward Encounter #2:

The day after we got our Oyster Card renewed, we realized that the lady didn't do it right. You see, our Oyster Card is one that we wanted to last for 1 week, for Zones 1, 2, and 3. Zone one being the center of London, and 3 being where our flat is. The lady only renewed it for Zones 1 and 2, so we went to a ticket/assistance booth where this guy helped us. However, this was one creepy encounter...

We get to the booth, and there is this guy standing off to the side, who looked like he hasn't seen a barber or the dentist in a very long time. Well, he was trying to be helpful, but was not understanding of our situation that we were in. Somehow, he thought that we needed a full refund for the Oyster Cards, then he mentioned many other things, but I didn't listen to any of it. He was coming off very strongly as a creep. He reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, and his voice was very deep, which just didn't suit him whatsoever. So while the guy in the ticket booth was helping us add Zone 3 to our Card, he kept saying things that were clearly irrelevant. We didn't listen at all because we were trying to ignore him, but he would just keep creeping and inching forward. Crystal was wearing a shirt that only covered her shoulders and he touched her arm a couple of times... I just wanted to shout "CREEP! Leave us alone!" But we would have caused a scene just like the lady on the Tube...

Awkward Encounter #3:

Today we were on the Tube, and needed to go from the Southern end of London to Highgate, where the flat is. It would take at least 30 minutes all together, and near the end, I hear this guy shout to an elderly lady "A seat's a seat! Just sit down already!" Apparently, this guy who appeared to be around 50 years old (with a near jet black pony tail) would not give up his seat. He was however sitting in the priority seat for people with disabilities or people who are pregnant. He did not give up his seat. Someone did finally give up their seat without hesitation, and when she sat down she scolded him out, saying "You are very rude." He responded "I can be sometimes." I wanted to smack him. He could have at least apologized to her, but no. Made himself look like a moron in front of everyone aboard the Tube.

You see, you will come across 2 different types of people in London. Those who are very nice and helpful and joke around, then those who do not wish to ever speak to you and are quite rude. 

Windsor Castle, Oxford, Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace Sighting of the Brass Band, the Queen's Mews, the Queen's Gallery and Smart Casual Golfing!

So for our sightseeing...
Yesterday was a sightseeing professional tour, which Elizabeth and I almost missed. I miscalculated the proper time to leave the flat and time on the tube and we got to the tour bus at 10:29 just as it was getting ready to depart at 10:30!
I have never been too fond of professional group tours, I like to explore at my own pace which is slow and lost with some confusion. But we needed some transportation to get to these places as they are quite a bit outside of London.

Windsor Castle was cool, not as intimidating as The Tower of London and the White Tower and without jewels. It did however have a fantastic collection of china tea sets and serving sets. There was also a great photo exhibit of the Queen and her family for her Jubilee. Just imagine having to be polite and have proper manners in public for 60 years! Amazing!
The Queen was home! Her "Royal Standard" flag flew above the highest tower! We were able to tour the State Rooms, but we couldn't take any pictures. If you go you should but their souvenir guides, they have great pictures because someone broke the "no picture" rule, and they have a lot of good information in them. They cost about £5.00 at each national tourist spot, that's $98.76 (plus the exchange rate and the VAT: value added tax) in American money. A good investment!
One of the pictures was so cute, it was of the Queen bending down and scratching one of her lovely Welch Corgis behind the ear, and I realized, Scooby looks at me like that, he must think I am a queen!
The other photo I loved was with Princess Diana and her two young boys, she was holding one and Prince Charles was holding the other. It was difficult to try to explain to Elizabeth how loved Diana was, Elizabeth was only two when Diana died.
The gardens at Windsor were impressive! See below!
We could only see a bit of the castle because we were threatened by our tour guide that he would LEAVE US THERE if we were late. How in God's green earth am I supposed to get back to London, or worse yet to Highgate? There were about 50 other coaches there, I could just slip into one of those...and end up in Bath or Edinburgh!
Oxford was old. Old libraries, old buildings, old history. It didn't thrill me, but it was ok. I didn't see any of Bill Clinton's frats there, but I suppose they may have been shut down after he was done with them. The strangest thing about the town was you had this beautiful historic area, not unlike some of the parts of university campuses in Boston and you turn the corner and it's frigging shop-a-palloza! Shoe stores, clothing stores, Burger King, it's a pedestrian mall of disposable income! Wow.
Stonehenge was cool, but there was no sunset as we have had very little sun. Elizabeth was finally convinced that the stones did weigh 4 tons each once she stood next to them.
Personally I didn't feel any energy vibes or anything. They look much more exotic on Public Television programs with the ethereal music and the deep male voice over about their ancient history. One of the people on the tour, a very funny guy from Sidney, Australia who was traveling with his wife, pointed out one of the aliens to me that had created Stonehenge. Unfortunately it was just a very nice security guard with a neon yellow outfit on. The stones are guarded 24 hours a day. He said people are always creeping up in the dark to hug the stones, touch them, etc. We weren't allowed to touch them, and I was concerned my flash might cause damage, but they said the flash was ok. Funny rules.
Today we couldn't go inside Buckingham Palace because the Queen was there. Since she was at Windsor yesterday she was obviously following us. That's ok with me, she seems nice enough and she loves her dogs and horses so she's cool by me.
On our way to the Palace from the Tube we happened to see the guards who were going to do the Changing Ceremony and the brass band. That was confusing because I thought the beach volleyball court was in their space, and it wasn't, but about 1,000 tourists were pressed up against the steel fence for a peek. We had seen enough of steel fences and soldiers looking at each other so we skipped that and went for the Queen's Leonardo da Vinci art display.
The tour guides at Buckingham, who have no job to do because there are no tours, suggested we come back July 30th when the Queen would be out of town and we could go inside. I said, "Sure, no problem", then made plans to find out where they lived so we could move in with them until the Palace opened up because I can't afford this city past the 23rd when we fly out of here!
Even though we couldn't go inside the Buckingham State rooms we saw an incredible, unique display of art, by Leonardo da Vinci himself, his anatomical research drawings. They were remarkable in detail and accuracy.
I was unable to read his right to left and mirrored handwriting, as I do not read Italian well enough. I'm fine with right to left and mirrored handwriting. I'm left handed (like my old pal Leo) so I'm cool like that.
Leonardo drew one image of the theory of the brain processes that was popular in his time. The drawing is of a man's head and inside there are three relatively small circles in it, linked in a line. The first circle, or area, of the brain was where all of the senses took in information. The second circle was to understand those senses and provide control of them, then the third portion was the memory area of the brain.
Surprisingly all of this brain matter used up less than 1/4 of the space in the man's head. And then I realized this type of brain was one I knew well. I had dated men with these three circles/areas. I was already familiar with this theory, and surprisingly enough it does exist!
I found it fascinating yet Elizabeth a kind of blank stare. Was this boring her? So I hurried a bit to make it less tortuous for her and off we went to the Queen's mews, or working stables, down the street.
We joined a guided tour after we went though a bag x-ray and a metal detector. They wasn't to make sure you have no intentions of sneaking in equipment you might use to re-shoe the horses.
The Mews have almost 200 staff. Many of them live there in apartments and have their meals cooked for them. Before Christmas there is a sleigh specifically for the arrival of Santa and the Queen to the Mews and Santa hands out gifts to the children of the employees of the Mews. I want one of those jobs! ! !
We saw several Royal Coaches for different occasions. Some of the uses of the Coaches are: Royal weddings, the Opening of Parliament, bringing Ambassadors to see the Queen, and for the Queen's Golden Jubilee (she choose not to ride in her Gold State Coach for her Diamond Jubilee this year, it isn't very comfortable).
One of the State Coaches has electric windows, heating and A/C as well as a hydraulic suspension system. That one has a big ole' battery in it! 
Then there were two horses to meet, ask the rest are on summer vacation at Hampton Court Palace, our destination for tomorrow, so we may see them there! The two horses left at Buckingham are a little sick and are being cared for. One is an Irish Windsor Gray who has a leg injury who is close to retirement. The Gray was being pestered by his neighbor a naughty, playful Cleveland Bay. The Bay has a skin problem he is being treated for. They didn't pose well for pictures, but I'd be down in the dumps if I were in a stall in London while my buddies were off playing in King Henry VIII's fields sewing wild oats!
And then golfing. We went south of the city so Elizabeth could golf in England. She played 9 holes while I watched and asked questions and kept score. I may have felt a little like she did about the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, but I think I covered ok. It was nice out, not raining anyway.
Tomorrow Hampton Court Palace!

Wait for the Green Man

Culture notes...by Crystal
England created New England. New England inherited many things from our Mother Country: hot dogs and beans on Saturdays, many names of our towns and cities are rip-offs of those in Great Britain, similar food to ours, a love of sweets...the list goes on. A couple of the most dangerous things we have in common with the English are our scary driving habits and our tendency to run pedestrians down on the street!
If you come to Great Britain and you are a pedestrian expect your heart to stop on a regular basis. Just watching the traffic is the stuff nightmares are made of. Here motorcycles consistently zoom down the middle of the road (on our double yellow line) between two lanes of traffic. It can't be legal, but it happens all of the time. There is no room for error, there are no shoulders on the roads so a car cannot veer off to the side to avoid an accident, like a head on accident with a motorcyclist.
Turning left? Turning right? Well the Brits like the element of surprise because they will either turn their signal on at the very last moment or not all all! Surprise!
Then there are the bicycles...not only do about 90% of the population not find helmets necessary, the cyclists are constantly braking all rules of the road. They also seem to have a mission in life to run down people walking across the street when they have permission from the "Green Man". The "Green Man" is the symbol that you, as the vulnerable pedestrian, have the right to cross the road with a reasonable guarantee of safety. Nope! Here comes a bike through a red light! That was close!
And if you are just at the end of the "Green Man" symbol, you better book it! The cars and motorcycles start to rev their engines as you attempt to reach the safety of the curb!  Yikes! I think my heels were almost taken off earlier today. Does anyone know if a motorcyclist hits a pedestrian does the motorcyclist get thrown from the bike? Well, I hope so, because I'm taking that sucker down with me!

Pedestrians in mortal peril even though the Green Man is visible.

Thank the Queen for free healthcare in a first world country! God save the Queen, and God save me from these aggressive, impulsive and all around horrific drivers!

Photo Album of Harry Potter Studio Tour

Hello!
This photo album is almost finished, so please enjoy!


To view the photos please click below:

HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR, LONDON

Did The Guards Change? and HUGE Waterlily Pads!

Today we did a few really cool things, we saw the Changing of the Guards (or at least I think we did) and we went to Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens and saw these freaking huge plants, and huge-mung-o lily pads!


Since we are going to be visiting Westminster Parliament tomorrow (Saturday) we had to pick up tickets today. Handily the Parliament is ONLY having tours on Saturdays all summer and they limit the number of visitors to 8,000 per day. Have fun Olympic tourists! The majority of you will NOT be entering one of the most famous buildings in the world during your visit to London! Anyway, we have our tickets.

The Houses of Parliament with Big Ben. Can you see Big Ben? Nope, no one can! Big Ben is actually inside the tower, he is the Big Bell. This is a famous English tour guide joke! ha ha.

Since we had to get the tickets in person we were near Whitehall Street where the changing of the guards is going to take place until the Olympics is over. Right now Buckingham Palace's lawn is being covered in tons of sand for the Beach Volleyball Olympic Event. Am I kidding? Nope, and I wish I were because we saw a very, very, very small scale and motionless Changing of the Guard on Whitehall Street where there are two horses all day standing for one hour intervals. I can't imagine being a horse and standing still for an hour, much less with some dude on my back in full Royal Regalia. But at least it's only one hour and the black horse with white on his forehead gets replaced with another black horse with some white on his forehead. 


So the changing of the guard is pretty strange right now. Some of the guards are over at the Buckingham Palace grounds, and some are at Whitehall at the Horse Guards Palace. What is supposed to happen, or so I have read, is the guards all get together on the Buckingham Palace grounds and there is a brass band and the guards do some ritualistic stuff and then they lead their horses off for a break and they take one too, leaving the new guards to watch over the Queen. 


Instead all of the guards came to Horse Guards Palace, and it is very small there. One Swedish woman almost had a knock-down, drag-out with some French woman because the Swedish woman had been there for at least half an hour waiting with a good view. The French woman and her friend walked right in front of the Swedish woman (and everyone else) and grew roots there. I thought it was going to be crazy, especially if the Swedish woman got a hold of the guard's sword, but she didn't get the sword so it was just a situation where someone was rude. 


So, we waited, and waited. Elizabeth is short so I shoved her forward as taller people moved back. People were getting bored, the guards weren't moving yet.

Cuddle up close, the "Changing of the Guards" is in a space that doesn't allow for the traditional brass band, and it almost became a wrestling ring between the Swedish and the French!

Well, the guards had arrived and the big iron gate was closed to the courtyard. We had this huge cast iron gate in the way as well as a couple of police officers standing right in front of us. Don't forget the rude French woman, she wasn't scared of the Swedish woman, but I was! And I had done nothing wrong!


Now the guard with the blue coats were still on their horses standing across from the guard with the red coats. They were looking at each other. This went on for about 20 minutes. Some people were video recording it. I am not kidding, unfortunately. Wait until those videos hit the US, there are going to be a lot of bored people watching London videos in a couple of weeks. Even the huge group of Japanese tourists abandoned their photograph taking and wandered back to a cheesy souvenir kiosk they had just bought out of large stuffed joker hats with the Union Jack on them. The exchange must be really good for the Yen right now. I'm getting to the point where I won't have 50 pence for a public bathroom.  

So there was no brass band. There was not much yelling of commands. They are doing the best they can without any space or resources to do it in. I will never watch beach volleyball again without thinking about my bizarre Changing of the Guards experience during this London trip. How random is that connection? One of the most random. 


A tip - if you come to London you need to watch the "end of the day" 4:00 check at the Horse Guards Palace. We happened to come across that a day or so before and that was very cool. We got to stand right in the courtyard, no pushing or jockeying for spots. In this ceremony all of the guards there, with the red coats, get all checked out by a superior. One guard didn't have something fastened on his jacket and they took him off to the Tower of London to break the execution axe and block out of retirement! Really though, he probably had to clean something gross as punishment, he wasn't beheaded or hanged. That would be bad PR before the Olympics. At any rate, that was interesting and unexpected and that was when we were wandering around following a self-guided tour of Westminster Square (there is a statue of Abraham Lincoln there, and Nelson Mandela, pretty cool!). The fun of travelling is you can run into things like that, get lost and meet cool people or find cool places and unusual things to do!


So we went to Kew Gardens and they have A LOT of plants there! I won't go on and on because it's time for bed. I ran out of memory on my 4GB memory card for my camera if that tells you anything about the number of plants there! There is one house that took my breath away, and really did take Elizabeth's breath away, it was the Waterlily House. After Elizabeth was able to clear the fog off of her glasses and before she rushed out of the steamy, humid, hot building I got a couple of shots so you could see just how big these suckers were. 

Three kids and a mom came in just as we were about to leave and one of the little boys said "(insert very cute little boy British accent here) Mum, do you think we could sit on one?". I said, "Yeah, go for it!"


No, I didn't, but I wanted to. Or I would have said, "I'm not sure, why don't you try it and we'll see....". But Mum answered in the negative and we were all despondent. I'm going to organize the Picasa albums online in the next day or so then you can enjoy our pictures! 


We won't have photos of the Parliament, we aren't allowed to take pictures :( 
But I'm certain we will have a story or two...

Sightseeing Bus Tours... What are the sights again?

While we were on our Original Bus Tour of London, we saw many sights to behold. The tour, which took place on a double-decker bus, brought us around the city to the major attractions. By the time we were done, Crystal and I realized that we now had NO idea where anything was! Now we were even more confused than before we started the hop-on, hop-off tour.

Many people would get on or off at the major attractions, like the London Eye or Big Ben. (By the way, the weather was actually brilliant for a London day!) This one group of Asian people got on at the London Eye and sat in the 2 rows in front of us, carrying Mc Donalds bags. The oldest of them, who appeared to be the father, was taking photos with what looked like a spiffy camera that must have cost a lot of money. Then there were 2 teenage girls and a teenage guy. The guy and the girls decided that they would eat the food first, probably before it got cold. The guy and girl directly in front of us were eating 5 piece chicken selects (the chicken tenders). When the girl was done (she only ate 4 of hers), she held up the box it was in, and dropped the chicken into the guys box. She couldn't simply pick it up and place it in his box. Why? I don't know.

Then, she got out some sort of burger. It wasn't a BigMac, but something like that. Anyways, she held the burger, in the box because she didn't want to touch it, and was feeding everyone from her group! Seriously, she would hold the burger, and the dad would take a walloping bite of the thing. Then, she fed the guy next to her, the same way. Near the end, Crystal and I thought that the dad would bite her fingers off! Holy Moley!

And the people talking on their phones! Oh my goodness! You pay 26 pounds to go on this tour (which is a pretty penny in US Dollars) and then all you will do is talk?! You've got to be kidding me!!! One guy was speaking French, the whole time of the tour. Goodness gracious. Talk about annoying! I would rather listen to the tour guide than you, which is why I got on this bus in the first place.