Another train, this one is taking me to Windsor to visit an old friend of mine who is working out here for HP.Â
Well London wasn’t quite as unfriendly as I was led to believe… I had heard that there’s no English folks in London, just immigrants and travelers. I don’t know that that is so true either… I’m also realizing that I have a hard time distinguishing Australians from Brits. I took a walk in Hyde Park on the way to Buckingham Palace today… it was a nice day and the park is pretty. I’d still take Dublin parks if I had to choose. The walk was nice though, quite serene and I had a nice little river next to me. The long, drawn out changing of the guards was just about starting when I arrived. I didn’t finish it. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was just dull! I bet right after I left, the juggling monkeys showed up and the queen did a backflip or something. Maybe Blue Man Group came floating in on parachutes while Hugh Grant popped a wheely on a motorcycle and hopped the gates. Probably not, I’m glad I left early.
From there I went to the Churchill Museum, some Canadians had recommended it. Now that place was cool. Small enough to really examine the place and the location was in the actual bunker that he used in the war. Everything else I’d been to was free, but this cost admission. Oh well. I’ve never been much into history, and I always get Churchill mixed up with Chamberlain, but this man was friggin cool. I felt quite inspired to read about the legendary prime minister. If you ever chance to be in London, check it out! It’s a bit out of the spotlight, but the content was quite interesting. I also toured Westminster Abbey, a couple people told me it was great, but I found it kind of boring. Sure it was beautiful, but most of it was just tombs with old religious figures and royalty. Although the place was a sight to behold, I couldn’t help but feel that the grandeur was extravagant.
I ended up back in Trafalgar Square… although the place is a bit of a tourist trap, it’s a great spot! It’s basically a couple of fountains and a large monument, and a set of stairs leading up to the National Gallery. I loved the communal feeling there. I enjoyed sitting on the steps people watching while taking lunch or a snack. I remember one of my coworkers back at Havi telling me how so many cities in Europe have this idea of a town square that we’ve pretty much abandoned in America… I think this is what he meant. A nice public place where people come to gather, socialize, and enjoy the weather. I’m trying to determine how Millenium Park in Chicago isn’t like that, maybe it’s jus t the location? There’s just a different feeling to the place, can’t put my finger on it. Weird!
One last thing that was amazing to me, the place I’m staying is 1 European block from the tube station in a very affluent part of London minutes from Hyde Park, and I’m paying about 22 US dollars a night to stay here. Which includes a minimal breakfast and free crappy internet. Nutty.
I liked London, but it didn’t feel like a place to stay in for too long… onward! Windsor and then maybe Paris!