From Ireland to Austria Series: Oh 'Ello Govna!
This is from a series originally posted on my original blog: Seefahrer Thayer. While I don't recommend it, you can view the original posts here. Because the content had value and useful tips I've decided to repost them here, however, they've since been heavily edited and updated.
I actually did hear someone say that. So basically I can go ahead and leave.
Sooooo last night was interesting...
I managed to get a couple hours of sleep despite having to doze on the one-star ferry bench, and being shuffled between buses and trains. Ugh it was terrible. The first bus was the most rickety thing you could possibly imagine. There was this drunk guy that basically went comatose in the seat in front of me. Yelling at him, picking up his arms, hitting his head, nothing got him up. (I wasn't doing this to the poor fellow).
Anyway, made it into London around 7 this morning... let me tell you, I pride myself in being very comfortable with how I look, but I've never felt so out of place. Coming out of the train, my hair frizzy and poofy, in my beaten up and dirty jeans, with a dumb hoodie, makeup smeared under my eyes, and a look of desperation, hunger and sheer exhaustion. All next to their 7 hours of well-rested slumber, pressed suits, designer clothes, cute dress shoes, leather bags and slicked back hair. Just wow. I wanted to shrink in a corner and admire them and just not be seen.
I made it out of the terminal... after searching for it for about 10 minutes. I made my way around on the bus, and found a hotel for relatively cheap... I really wanted to get something with a decent bed and shower so my body could heal. My lower back has been throbbing out of control, and I felt so grimy after last night. I asked her if I could go shower even though the room wasn't ready. She let me go, I guess she didn't want me to decrease the property value of London.
I decided to take a "hop on, hop off" tour because I had already decided I don't want to stay another day, but I did want to see the sites. Well, I took tons of pictures with my camera, because I thought I had left my phone at the hotel (sleep deprivation works wonders on me).
I saw all the major sites- London Eye, Tower of London, London Bridge, Victoria Tower, Beckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and I'm sure lots more, but my head is whirling with information. Also snapped some pictures of some places Harry Potter was filmed... oh and checked something off my bucket list. Went to Prime Meridian in Greenwich! Also had some tea at high tea, and rode back on double decker buses (which technically I did in Ireland too).
Okay so the people here, they all look pissed off or miserable, which I guess I can understand, because traffic is terrible, London's filthy, and everyone wears black and doesn't speak to each other. Everything is expensive too.
It's awful. Well for me at least. I can understand the allure, but this trip has definitely confirmed for me that I like little towns much better.
And those bikes are all rental bikes- they're developing (or maybe have already) programs like that in America- but it was all over Ireland too. It's a great concept, I'd use it if I knew where the stations are.
It may be hard to see, but the Sphinx outside of "Cleopatra's Needle" is facing the actual needle, while it should be facing away to guard it. The tour guide reminded us of the North and South Korean faux pas at the Olympics, and said, "yeah that's the British for you." It just reminded me of Lucia, mostly. Thinking that she would've pointed it out before anyone else. Though I don't know if she's been reading this blog? All the same.
That black car was carrying someone important. Blah, blah, blah.
And that's my Indian food I had for dinner. I went all day withot eating then got something so spicy I can't eat it. Poor planning.
Anyway, I know I'm leaving out a lot, but frankly I haven't the enthusiasm or energy for it tonight.
I haven't slept more than 4 hours of inturrupted sleep in 2 days, and haven't eaten much in at least a day and a half.
Tonight I'm getting rest and tomorrow starting fresh in a new place- can't wait!
I may have enjoyed London more if I could've worn my normal clothes and actually had gotten the rest I needed, but I really did have fun on the tour and seeing the prime meridian. I highly recommend doing that for these bigger cities too, it was so much easier if you're only going to be there for a short time.
All the same, I hold no ill will towards lovely London and I'm happy I included it on my trip.
I'll give ya'll a better breakdown tomorrow... onto France and Belgium!
