Final Destination
Trip Start
Oct 17, 2007
1
48
49
Trip End
Feb 04, 2008
Where I stayed
London, United Kingdom
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I won't even get started about the hell it was to get there. Ok, maybe I'll go into it a bit, here's the sprint version of the story: took the train to Calais, arrived in gale-force winds, took the bus to the ferry, were told the ports at Dover and Calais were closed because of the weather, waited for a the bus to figure out plan B, no bus came, called a taxi, went to the Eurostar, bought the last tickets available on the train, almost got blown onto the tracks by the winds, jumped on train, got to London and hour and half later. By the way the Eurostar was cramped, dirty and severely overpriced (you have to plan to go on it like a year in advance to pay a normal price). So anyone wanting to experience burrowing under the English Channel in the train don't bother. As I said, we got stuck and had no choice. In fairness, with advance planning, it is an insanely fast way to get from France to London.
We lived in procrastination nation once in London. We officially gave up, knowing that three days were left before the travels ended. We were overcome with a mixture of exhaustion, relief, sadness, apprehension... content to be returning to familiar faces and places and afraid of having to face "reality" again. Having said that, we chose two places to visit in London and just wandered around the rest of the time.
London as everyone knows is notoriously cloudy, miserable and rainy, but since Scott and I were carting the sun around with us throughout all of Western Europe we got four glorious days of blue skies and sunshine! The clouds didn't even considering gathering, it was fantastic. With the incredible views we headed to destination number 1, the London Eye. When we arrived at the base to purchase tickets, there was Pierce Brosnan, 007 himself! I ran over to him at last (other women also waited in a group to sneak over) and draped myself all over him (he's very, very tall), and Scott was a good sport and took a photo of us... by the way, Pierce was made out of wax. Ha! Did I get you? Anyway, back to the Eye. Each pod is massive, encased in glass for outstanding views all around and fits around 20 people. We got clear views for kilometers over the Thames and the surrounding city and caught Big Ben silhouetted in the early afternoon sun.
Destination number 2 was the notorious Tower of London! I've always wanted to go there and it was fabulous. Amongst it we saw the opulent and excessive crown jewels (I have a crown like in storage back in my aunt's basement), and the armories which included King Henry the VIII's monstrous suit of armour. The man was MASSIVE. Dude, a lot of man fit in that suit (mind out of the gutter, that's NOT what I mean), he would have been large in our age. Our tower visit was guided by a Yeoman Warder, the military men that have guarded the Tower since 1066, and continue to do so. However, nowadays their function is also to be absolutely fabulous tour guides through the Tower. He was hilarious, and loud, and loved to intimidate the children in the group (in a funny ha ha sort of way). Now, I personally love reading history texts and historical fiction, so when we went into the ancient Royal Family's chapel, restored by Queen Victoria, and he told us that there, below the altar, lay Anne Boleyn, Henry the VIII's 2nd wife (beheaded by French sword) and the mother of Queen Elizabeth the First, I flipped! It's one thing to read about historical figures and their gruesome and unjust endings, but to be one meter from where she lay felt implausible. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
The rest of our time in London we quickly waltzed through trendy Notting Hill and its Portobello Markets (go there hungry, the food being sold looks sumptuous and smells even better), Kensington Avenue/Earl's Court, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. In addition we fit in a couple of English Pub experiences, one close to the Tower where we were hoping to catch the Manchester United game (wasn't airing on TV. though, darn), but still enjoyed a veggie burger (finally, after a 7 month veggie burger deficit Jenn is satisfied!), and bangers and mash for Scott. I drank a cold, crisp cider, and Scott enjoyed a disgustingly warm beer. Blimey! We really hoped that was a myth! Why, wwwhhhyyyyyyyyyy (fists pumping in the air)?!?! It's wrong, it's wrong I tell you! The second pub experience celebrated our last official travelling night (sigh) as well as Scott's birthday. We found a cool place near our hotel with fish and chips and mushy peas, which are actually pretty good. I once again had a cold cider and Scott learnt his lesson and ordered a Guinness which HAS to be served cold. Or does it? Hmm, a question best not answered.
And so I end this now, feeling a bit choked up. We are now back in Canada, happy rejoining family and friends, but to recount our last days is already making me slightly melancholy... We had the trip of a lifetime, and are grateful for every last experience. Travelling is a phenomenal life lesson, and we have come away with memories, adventures and an improved perspective on life and the world that will not be forgotten. I may write again a bit from Canada, but this is, in an official sense, the two words we could not imagine many, many months ago: THE END.
The last EVER Canaussie rating (unbiased as always):
London Eye: 5
Hanging off Pierce: 3 (he was fake, and too old for me)
Tower of London: 5
Mushy peas: 3
Warm beer: 0! It's bollocks!
English cider: 5
PS: See you all next blog, sometime, somewhere... South America maybe?? HA!!
