Once the Shakespeare Express left the station I check the time. I decided I wanted to leave with my group earlier and I go to the box office. I show them my ticket, they tell me it’s for tomorrow. Uh-oh. So I have to change it anyway for today, and I choose the nearest time. More money speeping out of my pocket. These Brits sure know how to suck me dry. Ok so the train gets there and we settle in. It’s around 3hrs? I think. We sit and read for a bit, pointing out magazine articles. The youngest girl (18, I think) points to the horoscopes. I don’t really remember what it said, something with discovery, applying to me but I can’t really remember. We played a card game after while. It was interesting, like you bet how many rounds you can win and then you play until everyone’s out of cards (they go up one each round) anyway sometimes I won but I think I lost the game because I mis-bet too many times. When we got in the station we asked where the local internet cafe was. When we got there I grabbed some wifi time and called Val using Skype. I was early, I caught the earlier train. She said that was fine but I was staying at a hostel for two nights since there wasn’t any room in the flat they were in. Val said she’d meet me at Euston Station. I had wanted to stay with my group and be able to hang out with them but that wasn’t going to happen. I got the eldest’s phone number hoping I’d call them later. Val told me to take a bus but I didn’t feel like it, I wanted to walk. I enjoy getting to know a place more by walking. I ended up walking something like 13 blocks, or 7 bus stops. But at the same time I was checking out the scenery. The buildings were mixed, some historical looking while others more modern. None of the cities I’ve been to have been extremely intimidating. London sort of looks like a city neighborhood with a bad case of urban sprall, like a virus it’s taken over surrounding towns. When I do finally get to Euston Station I look around, trying to find Val. I don’t see her so I just hang back so I’m not in everyone’s way. I find that the British are very used to pushing instead of saying, “Excuse me.” I’ve never bumped anyone’s shoulders nor had mine bumped until I got to the UK. I find it very off-putting, how rude. Once, later in my stay it even hurt my feelings. Was it so hard to say? They don’t even turn around to say sorry. None so far. It’s always me. However I did get a sorry when I was shuffleing about and a cigarette got too close to me as I was nearly bumped into.
After a few minutes Val and I spot each other. I was so relieved, a familiar face! Val and I walked down the street to my hostel, The Generator, on Tavistick? Place street – which is in Bloomsbury for those of you following at home. The hostel had obviously spent way too much on they design. Neon blue lights prevaded much of the building. We went inside and I checked in, 2nd floor room number 205. Fun. There was even a small tourist center, a lounge, bar, pool table, computers, and a dining hall. After I drop off my things Val and I walk down 10 blocks to the River Thames, walk across Waterloo Bridge and walk along the river for a bit. Near the London Eye there was an event for Columbians going on and there were lots of people. The churros looked good. I actually wrote a paper for spanish class on churros. We went past the London Eye, whch Val hates since it’s so ugly. Crossing over the Westmister Bridge gives me a great view of the Houses of Parliament with the clock tower. It’s so beautiful. According to Val it’s wanna-be gothic architecture. Duke actually has lots of wanna-be gothic architecture, Val said. So much that they actually went to great lengths to make it look like it was there for ages with warn down steps that are also fake. Still, I admire the building – it’s so beautiful and looming larger than life. It’s got so much detail that boggles the mind. Suddenly Peter Pan and The Great Mouse Detective pops in my mind (just now, not then, I was intently listening to Val). We walk past Westminster Abbey on our way to Trafalgar Square. There is the National Gallery, and in front of it a huge fountain with what appears to be mer-people and a fish spewing water. By the way, there’s a statue of George Washington in front of the National Gallery, given to the Brits by the US. Personally I think the French are better gift givers, Statue of Liberty, anyone? From the Trafalgar Square we head to Covent Garden – or rather breeze by. Pausing for a moment, I watch a performer in a crowd bend this asian tourist girl in compromising poses while she’s in a dress. Val is on the phone as I watch then once she gets off we decide it’s dinner time. I THINK we went past this cross roads intersection, which seemed more like Times Square, it was filled with tourists. Eww. We found an asian restaurant where we had dinner and it was really good. Val asked me about my courses and my travels, we talked about the films I watched in my film class in Prague and we talked about those as well. After dinner Val walked me back to the hostel and said to contact her in the morning. I went in my room, settled down, and after bit bought some interenet time downstairs. I let everyone know I was alive then after a bit more time I went to bed.
