European Adventure - Day 1

While sitting and waiting at the airport i started remembering all the stuff I had forgotten to bring. Oh well, I'll have to do without. The flight was so long and one of the most uncomfortable things ever. I wasn't able to sleep that much, maybe 3-4 hours, usually its not a problem for me. They were showing Die Hard, Fantastic 4, The Office, and then a few other dumb shows in the head-rest TV's. It kept me busy for a while, but not the whole time. The airplane food was very mediocre, like expected. As we were getting off the plane the person in front of Ryan freaked-out/collapsed and they had to call the paramedics. I really wanted to take a picture but ended up not just cause everyone was super sensitive at that moment. Jeff suggested under his breath that she was probably a terrorist who got cold feet, thats why she got so nervous. Although it was funny, I instructed jeff never to use such words in an airport when i was anywhere near him, that or he should submit his jokes to a funny/appropriate committee before he use them. The second we touched the Ground the 'Adventure-o-meter' started going wild. First off, the bathrooms are much different there as I was reminded quickly. Very clean, everything was automatic. Even all the graffiti was only on signs or papers, rather than carved/scratched everywhere.

Getting through Customs was a treat. Obviously the lady had forgotten who had to bail them out of World War 2. She was probably thinking back to the Revolutionary war, where we kicked them out the Promised Land (the US). She was annoyed that we didn't have a hotel booked or a train ticket out of town. How Ridiculous that she didn't notice either Ryan's or my large Backpack, and neither of us were wearing 'Towels', 'Sheets', or Anti-Freedom/Anit-English speaking T-Shirts. Finally after Jeff showed our Paris hotel reservations she begrudgingly stamped us through the customs line. Right after we walked by her I said to Jef real loud like, "Did you understand anything she said? Real Funny accent. I wonder where she's from." I felt vindicated.

While on the tube into London we made friends with some of the locals. Our best bud looked like a skinnier version of Mr. Dursley (from Harry Potter). Right before his stop he told us that there was a train strike tonight. The Underground Tube drivers had a point to prove I guess. So with the strike (that they called an Industrial Action) It left us walking around town, a LOT.

Walking around with a backpack is not horribly difficult. Walking around on cobblestone roads with a roller suitcase and a bowling bag is very problematic. While walking anywhere he would find a way to walk diagonally in front of me, cutting me off in an awkward manner. Now imagine this 5 times every 20 minutes. For a moment 2 times in 60 seconds. He started zig-zagging as if someone was following him(Hmmm, like me and Ryan perhaps). So after I figured it was pointless to try to walk next to him, so I then would just follow behind him. Oh this was a great idea, until he realized that I wasn't next to him, then he would stop, then look around, then notice that I had just bumped into him because of the sudden stop, or that I was within arm's reach, then continue. Not just a 'look-as-you-go' walk. No, thats to much multitasking. It was a full stop, then he'd turn and then wonder why I kept running into him as well as the 5 busy commuters behind me as well. (This as well happened repeatedly. At least 3 times per minute) To solve this situation I'd take the lead, but then I'd have to stop and let the other two catch up every few minutes. It was the most problematic in the train stations, but it more or less continued through the evening.

Then there was Ryan. One of the friendliest guys I know. And you have to remember this when traveling with him cause he wanted to stop and talk with every 3rd person we passed, just chat about life, talk about teeth, or Utah, or whatever. Sure I sometimes stop people randomly to ask silly questions, but I usually do this when the other two are watching me. Plewe would walk behind Jeff and me and instead of walking 'To' a destination, he would simply walk with his gaze wandering often from point to point. I think he was trying to use 'the Force' to follow us too. One time Jeff and I actually had to go back a few streets just to find him talking with some stranger. Yes, just a random person who he said had a Utah sweatshirt on. I reminded him not to talk to strangers a few times. So like I said, lots of walking with the Underground closed. We found a hostel for 17 Pounds a night near Waterloo Station (which is a great deal for London). We left our stuff there and then started cruising the town. With the Tube system on strike, that meant we had a lot of walking ahead of us. Now let me add as we would walk, every 20 feet we would all need to stop and photograph something else. No, I'm not kidding. Every 20 feet. I would snap shots on the move like a ninja, but not everyone is a professional photographer like me. Often I told the two NOT to wait for me if I did take a picture, which just confused them. Also quite often Ryan would just take the same pictures that I would. So I started to take him under my Photographic wing, so to speak. Another difference between Ryan and my Photography is that he HAS to have a person in it, which will thus slow two of the three of us down, which thus would slow the group down. That and he takes pictures like my Dad does, takes his sweet time.

Our stomachs quickly led us to this cool little pub/bar and grill called the Red Lion. (Lots of Lions everywhere in the area.) I got the Fish n' Chip's of course. They got something called Ale Pie (obviously a recipe by Julia Childs). It was all pretty good, the fish was a little 'artistic' for my taste, but acceptable.

That night we visited the Parliament Building/Big Ben, Westminster Abby, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, The Tower Gate bridge, London Bridge, and then our Hostel. This all happened anywhere from dusk to late night; all those things were closed, but we were still there. We were desperately trying to get to Kings Cross Station to find Platform 9 3/4 but didn't make it. Maybe next time