Independance Day & Sun Sets

(Originally Posted on July 5, 2007)

It’s been 3 days now and I’m still as much in love with London as I was before I started. More so! People were warning me about how rude Londoners are, even at the Bunac (my Visa sponsor) orientation. Yet everywhere I go people are friendly and polite. Maybe it’s because I came from a rude town (Boston) anyways but something about London is cheery despite the gray clouds that never seem to disappear.

Last night I got a taste of America. I joined almost 300 fellow Bunac participants on a cruise of the Thames to celebrate our independence day. Our independence day from England, I should add, and the irony of celebrating in the capital of England was not lost on me. The night was fun and I even came away with a new, hopefully, friend. Despite the cold I spent a good portion of the night on the open aired deck chatting with Chris and Christine (my new friend). IT was a pleasantly cold evening, something that I’m starting to get used to, as we cruised down the Thames. Oh yes.. and we caught a small show of rogue fireworks somewhere along the southern bank of the thames east of the city.

This morning I had every intention of starting my Big Bus Tour of London. (What’s fabulous about this company is that they’ll issue a ticket that’s good for 24 hours, not just the day of purchase.) Before I got around to doing that it seemed like Chris was quite fed up with his sleeping arrangements. Consider this: a young man of 6’4 on a European twin mattress. I assure you it’s as comical as you’re imagining.

Instead of keeping me in stitches, from laughter, Chris decided it was time for a new bed. I decided it was time to actually have a comforter (somehow one was missing on my bed upon arrival). We got the directions to the closest Ikea (close being a loose term) and set out on Chris and Jamie’s Great Adventure.

I’m not kidding.

Three tube lines and any number of stops later we exit the tube station and promptly are circled around the neighborhood in a figure-eight style formation. Leave it to the English to constantly turn us in circles. When we’d seen the map of Ikea in relation to the train station we’d found it odd that it said it would be a 2 mile walk. Sure it was a 2 mile walk but it would’ve been less than half a mile by the way the bird flies. Apparently the English think differently.

Eventually we reach the store. A megastore. The biggest store I’ve seen in my life (yes and I’ve been to Jordan’s Furniture on Rt-9.) So big we got lost quite a few times in the maze of rooms. Chris set off to find a mattress and I set off to find an affordable comforter or blanket. Whichever I could better afford. Hours later, no less than 2, I stumbled out of the maze looking dazed and confused but being the proud new owner of a comforter and duvet cover. (I, of course, went for the cheapest I could find but it was a hideous yellow print that was a throw back from the 70s. I settled in stripes in shades of green and blue which I found to be better on my stomach.)

A little while later I reenter the maze of crazy to help Chris load his new futon onto a “trolley” (carriage for you silly Americans out there) and out we go. At this point I was dreading the trip back to Russell Square.. considering it was a 2 mile hike through suburban London, 3 tube lines and a short trot to our door. Instead we were positively lucky when the delivery guy at Ikea agreed to take us on and bring us home with Chris’s new futon. My savior!

We got back and I was exhausted. I assembled my new comforter (comfy!) and nearly got snuggled it in when I remembered what I’d planned, originally, for the day. I wanted a tour of London! I’d put it off for days and I wasn’t ready to do it anymore. To be fair yesterday I took time to visit the British Museum.. but it’s 2 blocks behind my flat and free entry. I bought a self guided tour book and took one of the 15 tours. I wanted to spread them out and not do them in one day so I’ll probably go back periodically to complete my little book.

Not to get off the beaten track here..

Tours! I wanted my bus tour of London. What better way to get acquainted with a new city? Thanks to my Aunt Mia for that idea. I packed my camera, an umbrella, a little cash and my phone. Then I was off down the street to catch the tour with the Big Bus Company of London (Dubai and Philly too!).

I hopped on the bus and was greeted by a friendly tour guide and driver. However that didn’t last long. They kicked me off to join another bus who would take me around town. And along I went. I saw some of the greatest sights that London had to offer, but tonight was just my appetizer to the bigger menu tomorrow. Tonight I wanted just the bus tour so that I could scout which places I wanted to visit in depth tomorrow.

I saw the London Eye, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Green Park, Marble Arch, Westminster Abbey, St. James Cathedral and many other major London sights. At least now I know where they all are and won’t have to rely too heavily on a map. Eventually I’m dying to get a chance to see each major London site. I’ve even gone so far as to highlight the important ones in my travel guide. Yes, I’m obsessive, anyone who knows me knows that much. I particularly liked all the commentaries on the tour. Needless to say I’ll review more of that tomorrow after I’ve returned.

For now the sun has set on London.. speaking of which the sun sets around 9:30 here. How bizarre! Beyond all other London oddities.. such as driving on the wrong side of the row, accents, and their specialty stores (more coming on this topic) I’ve found the most disconcerting aspect of London to be the late sunsets.