Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
So I had a pretty solid nap with no panic to wake up and I took me sweet time getting up. Was a balancing act to get around the room to the biffy...yes it had one .... almost as big as the room...thats not saying its big either. Went through me usual routine and managed to find the lil restaurant in the lil hotel. It was like living in the land of little people. Good thing was that it was a great location...right next to Hyde Park. In the end its only for sleeping...so I actually had no issue...but am amazed how small of a space they can pack in things.
Today I did need to turn in me wheels though. So I put me gear on for the last time...put me lid on...and managed to get it out of the parking spot I was wedged into...yup it was a small spot. Navigating in London is something that everyone has to try to do once in their lifetime...and those that succeed should get medals. It is crazzyyyy. Roads go all directions...traffic up the ying yang...and yup this whole driving on the wrong side thing...its just so wrongggggg. But they allow filtering and that is their get out of jail card for moi. Being able to wander past the long lines of cars and cut in and out makes it sooooo much quicker to get around. Speed cameras are every 10 feet but its not really a problem I don't thing you can ever get past 20 kmph on the roads most of the time anyways. So I rode through Hyde park, past Albert Hall, and numerous other cool places and I managed to find the place.
Mike was there to meet me with a big grin on...gave me a big shake of the paw I think he was so happy the bike was back in one piece. No extra damage to report either. So he wanted to know what I all saw and was really keen to know if I liked the bike better than an RT. Well people after a long time to ponder it was hands down........NOT the winner. RT beats it big time in me view. It may have more HP but the balance of all the bits on the RT make it the bike of choice...and apparently all the bike mags agree with me lately lol. It didn't take long to do the paper work...I blew me mileage allotment however which sucked...so had to pay a little extra but you can never figure those out in advance. Mike got me a taxi....and I was off to change into normal clothes to wander around London...still no idea where yet and it was only 9:30 so had the whole day yet.
I changed and grabbed a map....and basically walked out the front door...hmmm where to dabble....me gut seems to be sending me in the right direction lately so I must listen....as I was watching the news (BBC of course) for a lil bit the previous eve and yesterday I had thought about going to check out Stonehenge before hitting London. At the last minute I decided not to and to head to London instead..gut told me to. Well turns out Obama went there and would have been there when I was....so of course it would have been blocked off....and he got to go in all by himself where its usually roped of....not very fair I say. Stomach was right. Stomach said.....head to Museum of natural history....so off I trudged...funky knees and all.
The walk was fun...went through Hyde park...and its like a area of tranquility ... almost... fair number of people in places...but all sorts of animals running around...birds...etc etc. I was using me google maps on the phone and it is pretty easy to find places with it. So I didn't get lost at all....got to the museum and.......stomach wrong.....it had a huge line in front....those that know me know I do not do lines. So I sat down for a lil bit...and pontificated ... stomach said head other way...so I did. I decided to head towards Buckingham Palace.
On the way I found a Ferrari dealership...some awesome eye candy. Have to say I have seen some pretty exotic cars here .... pity they can't get past 50 kmph here. Then I found Wellington's arch...history lesson time..... the Duke of Wellington was the one who lead the British to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo (Waterloo...a classic movie by the way) ...he is one of the greatest Generals of all time some say. The British do give recognition to the great ones. Lord Nelson is another (won at the Battle of Trafalgar....defeated the French / Spanish navy but got killed doing it, I was actually on his ship the Victory in Holland and the spot he died is cordoned off on the ship).
So much history in this town. One memorial stood out as a Whaaattt the heck is that? .... for me. I didn't even take a picture of it but it was from New Zealand...and was something that looked to be like the obstacles used in the beaches at D-day....very weird. Where I was though was on the road that lead directly to the palace...so I wandered that general direction, but then I found the Bomber crew memorial. It was pretty cool how they did it. Controversial by some but I feel they more than earned it for the sacrifices they made for duty. It was a war of attrition and Hitler started the bombing of civilians and only stopped as he lost the capacity to keep doing it through the actions of bomber command. Churchill said that the fighters stopped the attacks, but the bombers made victory possible. Off I went after paying me respects and taking some pics of course.
The crowds were getting bigger so I knew I was close and voila...there it was...seen it on tv and in pictures thousands of times but...its always cooler in person. There were a couple of guards in front and armed police next to them...upon looking through the fence a pretty noticeable warning sign that read...once I translated it from the political correct wordiness.... "come on in and die, the anti terrorism act says we can kill you, come on...make my day!" Least thats what I read out of it.
I took some pics and then retired to the statue of Queen Victoria in front, found a spot on a wall and parked me butt on it...just sat there for a while ....looking at the palace....and the people...omg...I know I am a tourist but I hope I don't act like a tourist cause the are funny to watch. If you have a tablet or ipad...please for the love of god do not use it as your camera....cuz you look real funny taking pictures with it. Just saying.
So I was entertained for a while by all the people and languages I heard..helped a few with their pictures...and decided time to move on....ended up near Piccadilly....at the Lord Nelson statue...and the square that is full of people. Seems a pro palestine protest formed....loud bunch...not many folks were cheering em. This is Trafalgar square...remember Lord Nelson .... well his statue is here on a very tall column.
Then a beacon became evident on the horizon....I could barely see it through the throngs of people....a pub....wahoo....perfect timing...so had a pint of local....goooooood stuff. Its cool you can stand outside leaning against the building with a glass (made of glass omg crazy huh) and the window sills are the table and you can just hang out there chatting and sipping. Very cool .. kind of felt local and just down the road....a cafe.... time for some lunch...so sat and munched and took in the scenery for a while.
After wandering some more I actually ended up in Piccadilly. Its a busy place lots of shops and people milling about..mostly tourists it seem. By now I had walked a ton.....and seen a bunch...and was pretty much done. So twas time to wander back to the hotel...and it was a fairly long walk, me phone found me a way back. Needless to say I made it back and didn't get hit by a car crossing the street...sounds silly to say but over here you have to look first the other way than what your used to before crossing. Seems a lot of tourist may have been hit as at almost all of the busy intersections if you look down you will see in big letters a note to look left....or right....depending. British sensibility I suspect lol.
It was nice to make it back as I had put a lot of miles on me feet and only had to wander a lil bit further as around the corner I found a row of restaurant / cafes all with patios...tada me new resting place. So found a nice table...had some supper....sipped some beers...then coffees talked to some locals....and eventually called it a day back to me room...man I saw a lot today.
- comments