On our second day in London, we organized and cleaned ourselves a bit and ate a big breakfast with toast, cereals, teas and more. Our host had some other guests over that we visited with. One of the guests has family in Vancouver that I know very well, it is a very small world. Tyson fixed the pressure washer and won some brownie points. After sitting and chatting for a while we realized that the clock we were watching was one hour behind and it was actually nearly noon. That put a fire under our arses and we rushed out of the house.
The public transit system here is both wonderful and evil. Wonderful in that there is a tube that can take you anywhere fairly quickly and easily and there is also a wide variety of busses and taxis. Evil in that they want every last penny in your pocket to let you on. We pulled a scam to get on the tram the first night but it was too much stress and work so we decided to go the honest route. We each bought a day bus pass and a loyalty card which we were promised would be worth it in the end. We took two busses to get into Leicester Square and when we got out the sun was shining and the streets were bustling. To some people this may not be ideal but for me it was what I had been waiting for. I love crowds, it makes for a really exciting day. We walked through a bit of the China town area, looked at some souvenier and purchased a few olympic memorial trinkets. We continued on to Piccadilly Circus then to Trafalgar Square where the Canadian Embassy is located. We eagerly tried to enter our home country's embassy because all the other embassies had opened their door and were sharing exhibits, shows, food and giveaways. Our lovely embassy however, turned us away because it was only open to the athletes, their families and friends. We were taken aback and it was the least friendly embassy we visited that day.
We walked to Westminister Abby where we ran into the Christian friends we had met the day before. We walked with them for a while and read a special exhibition put on by some volunteers about human traffiking. We signed a petition pleading with the United Nations to put this multi billion dollar problem at the top of their agenda. We read stories and looked at photos of very young people caught being severly abused, overworked and underfed by their cruel rich "owners". All of these cases were this year in the United Kingdom. It was disgusting and eye opening that this happens in so called developed countries. Many times the criminals in these cases are not convicted. It is the second biggest type of traffiking that happens in the world after drugs.
There was a very hefty admission fee to get into the Westminster Abby but in very small writing underneath the listed prices, there was a statement saying that there is no charge for people to worship and that the fee was a mere suggestion to keep the place looking its finest. Of course, no one reads this very fine print and the prices are big and bold, front and center. We chose not to go in. There were some bobbies (police) working at Big Ben and Tyson forced me to take a photo with one of the guys. I was embarrased but the officer was very friendly indeed.
We walked along the North bank by the water and visited many of the houses for the olympics. We started at the Qatar house which was luxurious, exotic and a lot of fun. We walked through the "relaxation area" where it was set up with fine sofas, televisions and Arabic decor. We then walked through a very technical area that was set up to explain the advancements in technology, environmental health, medical care, leisure, architecture, education, entertainment, cinema and development happening in the country. Following this there was an entertainment and refreshment area. It was set up like a very classy bar and there were adult games available to be played as well as free snacks and smoothies. We spent a while there watching some events before heading to the Brazil house. Here they gave us audio guides free of charge and we walked through their plans for the 2016 games. They are well on their way in preparation for the games and we saw a lot of this when we where there last year near the start of our journey. They also had a lot of art and information about their country set up for people to see. A lot of it was rather strange and we were more confused than interested so we were not there for long. We visited Belgium house for a short time and then stopped at the famous Saint Paul's Cathedral. In the exact same fashion as the fee system for Westminister Abby, they had also had set up admission fees in an attempt to successfully trick the general public. We went inside this church for several minutes and it was very elaborate and beautiful.
We caught a very antique double decker bus to the Tower of London and Tower bridge. A couple of times throughout the day we caught the bus only to be passed by people on foot due to the overwhelming traffic. We were told there is a fifteen pound "congestion fee" that everyone driving into the city must pay at all times but it did not seem to stop people from bringing their vehicles. The Tower of London is where the crown jewels are kept (says Tyson, but I'm not sure) and the Tower bridge is where the Olympic rings are set up hanging from the center. We explored that historic Roman-built side of town for a while and it was very busy. The Tower of London is like a huge castle that the public can visit but we did not have time as it would likely take the better part of a day.
We took another antique bus back to Trafalgar Square and walked to the Italy house. It was not very busy or very fun so we left. We walked into the Methodist church where the Christian guys had suggested we visit. They were there but we did not talk to them this time. We watched the end of an entertainment performance. A harp player was playing soft music and around the room there were very large pieces of religious art work. It was very peaceful and we relaxed there in the positive environment for a while. We caught another bus to Covent Garden Market where there is an outdoor market. People sell all sorts of things but we just caught the end of their day. There were dozens of street performers doing everything from singing and acrobatics to dancing, floating, comedy and dressing up. We made some sandwhiches for dinner and doubled up on chocolates and mentos for dessert.
Back in Leicester Square, we shopped for a bit along the way and then stopped for a rest to eat again. A large Canadian guy came up to us and started talking. We spent an hour speaking with him about his dodgy businesses in the States and Hong Kong and then about his weed fectories near Stave lake. Then he finally told us he just did thirteen years in prison for murder. He promised not to hurt us and his stories were entertaining so we sat with him longer. His prison style clothing and the stickers on his passport proved that he was not lying as if we doubted it.
We met with my cousin near the three story M and M shop and walked through the city at night. As the murderer suggested we walked along the bridge and looked at the full moon as well as the completely different looking city in the dark. Everything including the London Eye, Big Ben and the major buildings are lit up in different complimenting colours. It was a sight that unfortunately our camera could not capture but we will never forget. The three of us walked to the National Theater where they have free performances on throughout the summer. We got seats and I went to get coffees with my cousin at the refreshment stand. They rushed us through the order because they were about to close when an elderly man walked in. The young lady behind the counter told him, rather rudely, to turn around and leave because they were closed. He asked if he could just get a cup of water then. This was obviously very offensive to the coffee shop staff because they raised their voices and verbally abused him. My cousin and I were shocked that they could treat an elderly customer in that fashion. My cousin, who is a high school teacher, very respectfully told the girl that this was not acceptable behaivior. After I got over the initial shock of the abuse, I was able to pipe up and say that there was no need for the situation to escalate the way it did. The old man did not really seem to need our help though because he raised his voice and said "you really are a bitch!" We appologized to the man for the mistreatment on our way out and he seemed to appreciate the gesture. My cousin turned to me outside the shop and assured me that this is the regular behaivior of London people and that I should not be surprised. She was visibly angry.
Things got wierder from there when the performance started and three men with faces painted white like zombies staggered onto the stage and passed out ping pong balls. The show was an hour long and the whole thing consisted of the three men involved in self mutilation. They severely stapled their bodies and toungues, burnt, cut,stabbed and ravaged each other. They also shoved nails and swords down their throats. It may sound like I am exagerating but I assure you that this, as well as more wierd and gross events, took place on the stage. I am not sure why we stayed and watched the whole thing but many others from the audience left part way through. I am sure there has to be easier ways to make money.
After the show we split up from my cousin because she was taking the tube and we were taking the bus home. The ride was quite easy even though it was after midnight. There were still plenty of people out enjoying the night life when we left. Back at the house we ate chicken, rice and chocolate before passing out.
In the morning after another big breakfast of eggs, sweet beans, cereal, toast and coffee we managed to leave the house before noon. After refilling our transit cards back to the top at the News Agent shop, we caught a bus half way to the city. We stopped to buy some groceries and try on some clothes at the neat shops along the way before catching the next bus into Loncon. We watched the weather change from sunny to cloudy to rainy to sunny again throughout our drive. We got off the bus at Trafalgar Square again and went to The Portrait Museam. This is where we saw some pretty average artwork including a video of David Beckham sleeping through the night. We walked around the area for a few minutes and then caught another bus to Hyde Park. This is one of the official venues for the Olympics but there was no line up to get in. Inside, we watched Germany win bronze in table tennis and it was a very thrilling game. The ball was moving so fast that it was hard to see it somtimes but the players were returning it to each other with ease. We walked by several booths sponsored by different companies such as Samsung and Cadburry. There were mini triathalons and badminton competitions set up offereing small prizes. In addition to the big screens showing the games, there were also about five stages set up with different live bands playing their hearts out. There was also a grand stand in the center of the park and at the time we were there, there was a large group of Russian dancers dancing. Decent sized crowds were gathered at each attraction but it was not too busy anywhere. We ate some lunch laying in the grass and then caught a bus to Oxford street to meet a friend. I met this particular friend years ago in Vancouver but she is originally from London. We were horribly late meeting her and I felt absolutely awful but thankfully she was very gracious and forgave us instantly when we met. We walked about town catching up and chatting about life. We walked through Leicester Square to Covent gardens. We watched a few street shows along the way and went into a packed bar for some drinks. The bar had a balcony overlooking a very funny miming show so we watched, talked and drank for a while. It was a very lovely time! The temperature dropped quickly from a warm day to a very chilly evening. We walked to the metro station that my friend takes home and we said good bye until next time. We agreed that she would try and organize a ticket back to Vancouver sooner than later. We parted ways there and Tyson and I carried on to the National Theater to watch a show that was advertised in the schedule we had. We got there and there was no one else there. Upon asking, we found out that there was only a rehearsal that night and the real show was on the weekend. So we used the toilets, rested our legs and walked back accross the bridge to the bus station. During our walk I suddenly turned around and saw a guy running full speed toward me. I was severely startled and jumped and waved my hands around with alarm. The guy was very appologetic and was merely trying to run past me to catch the bus. Tyson laughed and enjoyed himself thoroughly. We rode two busses to get back to the house with no problems and visited with family there.
"If we are not happy and joyous in this season for what season shall we wait"
The public transit system here is both wonderful and evil. Wonderful in that there is a tube that can take you anywhere fairly quickly and easily and there is also a wide variety of busses and taxis. Evil in that they want every last penny in your pocket to let you on. We pulled a scam to get on the tram the first night but it was too much stress and work so we decided to go the honest route. We each bought a day bus pass and a loyalty card which we were promised would be worth it in the end. We took two busses to get into Leicester Square and when we got out the sun was shining and the streets were bustling. To some people this may not be ideal but for me it was what I had been waiting for. I love crowds, it makes for a really exciting day. We walked through a bit of the China town area, looked at some souvenier and purchased a few olympic memorial trinkets. We continued on to Piccadilly Circus then to Trafalgar Square where the Canadian Embassy is located. We eagerly tried to enter our home country's embassy because all the other embassies had opened their door and were sharing exhibits, shows, food and giveaways. Our lovely embassy however, turned us away because it was only open to the athletes, their families and friends. We were taken aback and it was the least friendly embassy we visited that day.
We walked to Westminister Abby where we ran into the Christian friends we had met the day before. We walked with them for a while and read a special exhibition put on by some volunteers about human traffiking. We signed a petition pleading with the United Nations to put this multi billion dollar problem at the top of their agenda. We read stories and looked at photos of very young people caught being severly abused, overworked and underfed by their cruel rich "owners". All of these cases were this year in the United Kingdom. It was disgusting and eye opening that this happens in so called developed countries. Many times the criminals in these cases are not convicted. It is the second biggest type of traffiking that happens in the world after drugs.
There was a very hefty admission fee to get into the Westminster Abby but in very small writing underneath the listed prices, there was a statement saying that there is no charge for people to worship and that the fee was a mere suggestion to keep the place looking its finest. Of course, no one reads this very fine print and the prices are big and bold, front and center. We chose not to go in. There were some bobbies (police) working at Big Ben and Tyson forced me to take a photo with one of the guys. I was embarrased but the officer was very friendly indeed.
We walked along the North bank by the water and visited many of the houses for the olympics. We started at the Qatar house which was luxurious, exotic and a lot of fun. We walked through the "relaxation area" where it was set up with fine sofas, televisions and Arabic decor. We then walked through a very technical area that was set up to explain the advancements in technology, environmental health, medical care, leisure, architecture, education, entertainment, cinema and development happening in the country. Following this there was an entertainment and refreshment area. It was set up like a very classy bar and there were adult games available to be played as well as free snacks and smoothies. We spent a while there watching some events before heading to the Brazil house. Here they gave us audio guides free of charge and we walked through their plans for the 2016 games. They are well on their way in preparation for the games and we saw a lot of this when we where there last year near the start of our journey. They also had a lot of art and information about their country set up for people to see. A lot of it was rather strange and we were more confused than interested so we were not there for long. We visited Belgium house for a short time and then stopped at the famous Saint Paul's Cathedral. In the exact same fashion as the fee system for Westminister Abby, they had also had set up admission fees in an attempt to successfully trick the general public. We went inside this church for several minutes and it was very elaborate and beautiful.
We caught a very antique double decker bus to the Tower of London and Tower bridge. A couple of times throughout the day we caught the bus only to be passed by people on foot due to the overwhelming traffic. We were told there is a fifteen pound "congestion fee" that everyone driving into the city must pay at all times but it did not seem to stop people from bringing their vehicles. The Tower of London is where the crown jewels are kept (says Tyson, but I'm not sure) and the Tower bridge is where the Olympic rings are set up hanging from the center. We explored that historic Roman-built side of town for a while and it was very busy. The Tower of London is like a huge castle that the public can visit but we did not have time as it would likely take the better part of a day.
We took another antique bus back to Trafalgar Square and walked to the Italy house. It was not very busy or very fun so we left. We walked into the Methodist church where the Christian guys had suggested we visit. They were there but we did not talk to them this time. We watched the end of an entertainment performance. A harp player was playing soft music and around the room there were very large pieces of religious art work. It was very peaceful and we relaxed there in the positive environment for a while. We caught another bus to Covent Garden Market where there is an outdoor market. People sell all sorts of things but we just caught the end of their day. There were dozens of street performers doing everything from singing and acrobatics to dancing, floating, comedy and dressing up. We made some sandwhiches for dinner and doubled up on chocolates and mentos for dessert.
Back in Leicester Square, we shopped for a bit along the way and then stopped for a rest to eat again. A large Canadian guy came up to us and started talking. We spent an hour speaking with him about his dodgy businesses in the States and Hong Kong and then about his weed fectories near Stave lake. Then he finally told us he just did thirteen years in prison for murder. He promised not to hurt us and his stories were entertaining so we sat with him longer. His prison style clothing and the stickers on his passport proved that he was not lying as if we doubted it.
We met with my cousin near the three story M and M shop and walked through the city at night. As the murderer suggested we walked along the bridge and looked at the full moon as well as the completely different looking city in the dark. Everything including the London Eye, Big Ben and the major buildings are lit up in different complimenting colours. It was a sight that unfortunately our camera could not capture but we will never forget. The three of us walked to the National Theater where they have free performances on throughout the summer. We got seats and I went to get coffees with my cousin at the refreshment stand. They rushed us through the order because they were about to close when an elderly man walked in. The young lady behind the counter told him, rather rudely, to turn around and leave because they were closed. He asked if he could just get a cup of water then. This was obviously very offensive to the coffee shop staff because they raised their voices and verbally abused him. My cousin and I were shocked that they could treat an elderly customer in that fashion. My cousin, who is a high school teacher, very respectfully told the girl that this was not acceptable behaivior. After I got over the initial shock of the abuse, I was able to pipe up and say that there was no need for the situation to escalate the way it did. The old man did not really seem to need our help though because he raised his voice and said "you really are a bitch!" We appologized to the man for the mistreatment on our way out and he seemed to appreciate the gesture. My cousin turned to me outside the shop and assured me that this is the regular behaivior of London people and that I should not be surprised. She was visibly angry.
Things got wierder from there when the performance started and three men with faces painted white like zombies staggered onto the stage and passed out ping pong balls. The show was an hour long and the whole thing consisted of the three men involved in self mutilation. They severely stapled their bodies and toungues, burnt, cut,stabbed and ravaged each other. They also shoved nails and swords down their throats. It may sound like I am exagerating but I assure you that this, as well as more wierd and gross events, took place on the stage. I am not sure why we stayed and watched the whole thing but many others from the audience left part way through. I am sure there has to be easier ways to make money.
After the show we split up from my cousin because she was taking the tube and we were taking the bus home. The ride was quite easy even though it was after midnight. There were still plenty of people out enjoying the night life when we left. Back at the house we ate chicken, rice and chocolate before passing out.
In the morning after another big breakfast of eggs, sweet beans, cereal, toast and coffee we managed to leave the house before noon. After refilling our transit cards back to the top at the News Agent shop, we caught a bus half way to the city. We stopped to buy some groceries and try on some clothes at the neat shops along the way before catching the next bus into Loncon. We watched the weather change from sunny to cloudy to rainy to sunny again throughout our drive. We got off the bus at Trafalgar Square again and went to The Portrait Museam. This is where we saw some pretty average artwork including a video of David Beckham sleeping through the night. We walked around the area for a few minutes and then caught another bus to Hyde Park. This is one of the official venues for the Olympics but there was no line up to get in. Inside, we watched Germany win bronze in table tennis and it was a very thrilling game. The ball was moving so fast that it was hard to see it somtimes but the players were returning it to each other with ease. We walked by several booths sponsored by different companies such as Samsung and Cadburry. There were mini triathalons and badminton competitions set up offereing small prizes. In addition to the big screens showing the games, there were also about five stages set up with different live bands playing their hearts out. There was also a grand stand in the center of the park and at the time we were there, there was a large group of Russian dancers dancing. Decent sized crowds were gathered at each attraction but it was not too busy anywhere. We ate some lunch laying in the grass and then caught a bus to Oxford street to meet a friend. I met this particular friend years ago in Vancouver but she is originally from London. We were horribly late meeting her and I felt absolutely awful but thankfully she was very gracious and forgave us instantly when we met. We walked about town catching up and chatting about life. We walked through Leicester Square to Covent gardens. We watched a few street shows along the way and went into a packed bar for some drinks. The bar had a balcony overlooking a very funny miming show so we watched, talked and drank for a while. It was a very lovely time! The temperature dropped quickly from a warm day to a very chilly evening. We walked to the metro station that my friend takes home and we said good bye until next time. We agreed that she would try and organize a ticket back to Vancouver sooner than later. We parted ways there and Tyson and I carried on to the National Theater to watch a show that was advertised in the schedule we had. We got there and there was no one else there. Upon asking, we found out that there was only a rehearsal that night and the real show was on the weekend. So we used the toilets, rested our legs and walked back accross the bridge to the bus station. During our walk I suddenly turned around and saw a guy running full speed toward me. I was severely startled and jumped and waved my hands around with alarm. The guy was very appologetic and was merely trying to run past me to catch the bus. Tyson laughed and enjoyed himself thoroughly. We rode two busses to get back to the house with no problems and visited with family there.
"If we are not happy and joyous in this season for what season shall we wait"
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