Trafalgar to Toulouse

Trip Start Jun 06, 2010

Trip End Jul 30, 2010

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Where I stayed

Strand Palace Hotel London

Flag of United Kingdom London, England, United Kingdom
Monday, June 28, 2010

Let myself sleep in late today, then strolled over to Trafalgar and to the National Gallery. Interesting that anyone can wander in off the street and see priceless art. Not sure it would work out so well in the USA (Smithsonian notwithstanding). It's a good tour through the paintings of the 13th century (Jesus, Jesus, Mary, Jesus) to 17th century (rich people witnessing the birth of Jesus) to 18th century (rich people out for walks or hanging around Classical ruins) to 19th century (working-class people eating lunch). Saw some nice Renoirs that I missed at Mus�e d'Orsay in Paris.

Afterward I had a sandwich and espresso at an omnipresent Pret a Manger, a chain of "real food" quick service caf�s. I noticed the waistlines in London were more similar to those in the USA than those in Paris. I wonder if we're both facing the same nutrition/diet issues

Peace Camp

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Walked past Westminster Abbey (I'm noticing a theme of lots of statues of military heroes). Nearby on a traffic island there was a campground of lots of anti-war protesters (I think they called it a "strike"). Interesting. Not that France lacks conquest and imperialism in its national consciousness, but I'm noticing more of it here. Also, I think I'm more apt to compare London to the USA, and it may be making me a little competitive.

Crossed the Thames and strolled along the South Bank for a while. I was trying to make it over to the Tate Modern but ran out of time and got caught up amongst the booksellers along the Queen's Walk.

I achieved my goal of seeing The Gherkin on the edge of the skyline.

Walked back to my hotel, and caught a cab to Victoria Station (took me a while to find the trains amongst all the stores) and caught the Gatwick Express. Waited around Gatwick (lots more shopping), bought a DVD of The Karate Kid (forgot about DVD regions, damn)

Thames

. Got herded onto my easyJet flight (they're like Southwest, though I hear RyanAir is more so).

Our captain introduced Kate, our trainee pilot who was flying us to Toulouse. The kids in the back of the plain cheered. Rough landing. The kids in the back gasped and screamed a little, and all the adults shushed them.

Caught a taxi to my hotel near the train station in Toulouse. The cab driver actually apologized for being on his cellphone. He was pretty quiet the whole way but struck up a conversation right at the end so he could clear the meter and charge me a few extra Euro.

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