London!

Here is part two of my European Adventure! Again, I wrote this in a paper journal, I'm just transcribing what I wrote here onto my blog :)

Right now I am sitting in Green Park, right outside Buckingham Palace... In London! I'm all alone here, just like I'll be all alone all week. Last night I got to my hostel at 2 AM after a relaxing 5 hour bus ride to Riga (after visiting the Presidential Palace and talking to an advisor to the president.) The bus driver was crazy, passing people all the time. And we got stopped by the passport control going into Latvia... But the bus was SO nice. Lots of leg room and comfy seats... Good time. Riga... I spent a limited amount of time there, but it seems they enjoy the 'glob' system as opposed to lines. Everywhere... But we got money changed and asked where the bus to the airport was... She said bus 22, so we went to bus stop 22... which is apperently different. So, after waiting for over an hour for the bus that comes every 15 minutes, we decide to give up and take a taxi. All of this while Nick, who was also going to the airport, gets an e-mail saying that a ryan air flight was canceled and was wondering if it was ours... (It wasn't.) Eventually, we get to the airport and play spit for an hour, until check-in opens. Security was simple and getting through boarding was quite the expiricence as people all crowded the two ladies who were taking tickets then ran onto the bus... when the bus got to the plane, everyone RAN for the plane... open seating does that to people. We were welcomed by techno and smiling (all male) flight attendants. I promptly fell asleep. I woke up as we landed- everyone one clapped. In Stanstead, everything was in english. It was almost english overload as I just read everything I could. I was so used to not understanding anything I looked at... It was quite the change. The whole airport was a line, as England is not part of the Schnecken agreement... So I had to go to the line for "rest of the world" and wait as the 2 people checked and questioned everyone entering the country. Good thing about pass control? STAMPS! I have proof I've been to Riga and London! Anyway, I made it to London by 2 AM, then got lost finding my hostel and had given up and was just going to take a cab... got a cab- who told me it was right around the corner. Thank you nice cabby! So I got there... I'm in a mixed-gender room with 6 beds. I'm rather glad I bought a padlock for my stuff, as the underbed drawer is made for padlocks... Though I still need a watch and an alarmclock... Anyway, this morning I woke up and got a coffee and just wandered around for 3 hours. I was so glad I was alone. I could get lost and take my time to get a good feel for the city. I had no idea where I was, so I just wandered and orientated myself to the map. I never felt in danger, so I just kept walking. I had three hours to get to the free walking tour I wanted to go on, and I got here with time to spare... AND I feel like I know the city a lot better than if I'd just taken the tube. And its a beautiful day anyway, why spend it underground?

(Later, same day.) Wow! big day! I went on two free tours (I'd list the things I saw, but name a tourist place and I'm pretty sure I was there.) and then to a comedy club. I saw basically everything I wanted to- but only from the outside. AND I got many more pictures! I made a friend too, kinda. Her name is Alona, and she, too, is travelling alone. I spent all day with her, going on both of the tours, then to the comedy club (she invited me to go with her.) We met while waiting for the first free tour. She's nice, but (again) conflicting intrests on where to go- and she doesn't have a budget, and I do. It reminds me of all of the reasons I decided to travel alone. And, we're just different. but thats okay. She's studying in Brussels this semester and wants to meet up with me there.

Saturday! I just got back from sitting awkwardly at a table for one at a nicer pizza place. I got a few funny looks, but I was so hungry that I felt weak and my legs hurt so bad from walking for two days straight... My feet are STILL throbbing with pain from being on them since 9 AM this morning. This is why I'm at the hostel at 7... and not leaving again. It was an interesting day though! Met up with Alona (from yesterday) at Green Park then we headed up to Camden Market- her sis' reccomendation. Basically, its hot topic to the extreme. So... not really my thing. There were a few cute things for far too much, but I didn't really want to to the shopping thing and wouldn't have spent nearly as much time there as we did. BUT! I did buy a watch and refils for my shampoo and conditioner! After that, we made the trek back to the Tate Modern, which was really interesting. I don't understand modern art, but I like it anyway. Thre was an 'abstraction' of a table (meaning a table that didn't have holes between the legs, just flat wood.) and a white spot on a wall- definatly the weirdest. My favorite was called "30 pieces of silver." This lady had taken everything silver she should find... then steamrollered it. Then hung each piece individually by a wire so it hovered over the ground in a series of lilly-pads. It was really impressive. After that, we headed over to St. Paul's cathedral, and got lunch in the Crypt Cafe... Kind of weird... its in the crypt of St. Pauls. You're eating, then you look down and realize you're sitting on the grave of a dead person. I, personally, ate my soup while sitting a few feet away from Sarah's coffin. After lunch, Alona left and I explored St. Pauls. I wasn't really interested in another cathedral, but it has a great view from the top. It was the only building in the area that during WWII didn't get destroyed during the blitz. Why? Not a sign from God, but it was the marker for where everything else was. If it was destroyed, they wouldn't have been able to bomb anything else in London. Anyway, it was a gorgeous cathedral that you can't take pictures in. I trekked up the 528 steps to the golden gallery, and got an amazing view on an amazing day. The weather was perfect. After that, I went to West Minister Abbey, which was closed for visitors since it was Saturday and it only allows worshippers on weekends, but I took lots of pictures from the outside! Then I wanted to go to Hyde Park, but I couldn't find the underground, so i tried to walk there, despite aching feet. Then it was my one creepy happening of my trip. I was walking through St. John's Park, which is one of the royal parks with animals and filled with tourists and locals enjoying the great whether. I was just walking, enjoying the beautiful day when someone says hi. I say hi back (habit.) and see a middle adged guy in a black had and black jacket and look away and keep walking (in the opposite direction of him.) Then I hear him again, and he asks if he can walk with me. I snap "NO!" and keep walking, but he joins me. I'm a little freaked out, but don't tell him anything about myself and I have a good idea of where I'm at. I talk about how I'm there with friends and ask him what he does and things... he realizes I'm an American and spends some time hating on Bush while I try and plan my escape... My plan was to go to Buckingham Palace (palace guards + police + hordes of tourists who can hear me scream if neccessary seems like a good plan.) I get there, he's still hating on Bush... I say I have to go and leave the middle-aged french guy who sells antique comic books as a living behind. Luckily, he doesn't follow me, and I'm once again, on my own. I wasn't missing anything, he didn't try anything... Just chatted with me for a while. it was rather odd and quite suspicious, but it turned out okay, and thats what matters. Anyway, I took the tube up a station from Green Park and saw the entrance to Hyde Park before I realized i was tired and hungry and turned around and went back to my hostel. Theres a map there telling me where food is... but I never found it. My feet hurt so bad that I can't even begin to explain it, so I just went to Pizza Express. They looked at me funny when I said I was alone, but they gave me food. You get food really quickly when you're alone. After that, I went back to hostel to write this, but now I'm watching Edward Scissorhands with Jenna from Australia! Tomorrow is last day in London, it all went so fast!

Sunday! Today's Adventure: Stonehenge! I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast and went to the coach station, like the people at the hostel suggested. The coach station tells me it will take 3.5 hours to get there, which is a bit longer than expected, and tell me that round trip will get me back by 10:30... but it will only cost 17 pounds. Not bad. I'm starting to think I should have just gone on the planned trip to Stonehenge and Bath through a company, but is too late now. (later: same day.) Operation Stonehenge: FAILED. My bus arrived in Salisbury, I quickly found where the stonehenge bus leaves from, read the time table... yeah. The last bust for the day had left a half an hour ago. it left at 2... it was now 2:30. Awesome. I was a bit upset for a moment, but then realized that, while the situation was not by any means ideal, that I should not let it ruin my day. I had noticed coming in that it was a cute old-fashioned town (that the bus had problems driving in because of the narrow streets.) So I went exploring! All of the buildings were old tudors of stone and I saw a chapel in the distance. So I headed over that way. it was Salsbury Cathedral! And it was pretty. You couldn't go in the Cathedral part because of Sunday Service, but I went to the courtyard in the middle and then wandered into this random room that had one of the four remaining magna cartas. Yeah, i was rather suprised as well. I looked at that for a bit, then wandered around the grounds and saw 4 museums were scattered around. 2 were closed. One was a military museum. The other was really expensive. No museum for me. Oh well. So I went around the town a little more and found a cute little old church and a nice river with ducks... and a TK Maxx. I'm assuming its the bristish version of TJ Maxx. I looked for gloves (too expensive) alarm clocks (nonexistant) and sweater dresses (couldn't locate.) Then decided to spend the rest of my time in a pub getting dinner (only 2 hours more. And the town was basically closed.) BUT all the pubs stopped serving food at 3! So i went and asked someone, and they sent me to a pub/restaurant. I ordered a Pimm's Lemonade (tasty) and ham, egg, and chips. It was one of the cheapest things on the menu. it was all pretty good. AND only minimal looks for sitting alone! Always good. After that, I took my time reading a magazine and went and sat by the bus station for a while. I talked to some nice girls from Hong Kong who were studying in Belfast. They were shocked I was traveling alone. The bus came and took me to South hampton, where I had an hour long layover in the dark, cold town that had closed many hours earlier. I'm still rather glad I'm traveling alone. Today could have been miserable, but I chose not to let it be. Other people may not have made that choice.