windemere | So, The Weekend

Saturday:

Caught another early train (must stop doing that) to London. Arrived at Earl's Court tube station to be greeted by the TARDIS (see http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g242/Aromene/Britain/) and figured that that was kinda going to be my weekend right there. Little did I know it was only going to get better (even if the weather got progressively worse). Found the backpackers without problems; climbed the four flights of stairs to my room; dropped my bag and went off to the hotel to meet the cousins right as they arrived. I'm good with timing. We went off to have a traditional English pub lunch (well, I had a Caesar) and then went up to the Science Museum was just down the road and spent the majority of the afternoon there (the Natural History Museum looked much too busy so we bypassed it). I had geniusly told Rein (18 yrs) that tonight was the DW finale and that it was, quite possible, the BIGGEST THING EVER for the UK, and screw that it was Wimbleton weekend. Well, Rein reacted the way I hoped and thought impossible and told his parents that we had to postpone dinner so we could watch it on the flatscreen in their hotel room. I love my cousin. I mean, I love my cousin.

And they were both quiet as mice, and didn't laugh when I cried and thought it was the Most Amazing Thing Ever (their only previous intro to Doctor Who was "World War Three"). I think I got them hooked on Ten. Aren't I amazing? :D Then we had dinner at Pizza Express (which tasted suddenly better after Rome) while Don and Eha went to a posh restaurant where Kate Moss showed up. Figures. And then there was bed.

Sunday: Took the boys to the London Eye to get tickets for the next day. Then walked all along the river in the rain to the Globe only to find it was closed for dress rehearsal (Midsummer Night's Dream started today). Walked across Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's and then all along Fleet St. and The Strand to the West End (had lunch at McD's on Fleet St. Hee). And then we saw The Lion King. Now, I saw it in Toronto and thought it was the best stage show ever. That has not changed (although the Brit accents were weird). Anyways, the Naylors hadn't seen it and loved it and we had really good seats and there was chocolate ice cream at intermission. And then we walked up to Covent Market and took the tube back because it was raining. And went to the poshest Indian restaurant in Kensington. But it was amazingly good Indian. I mean, real Indian. Yum! And then there was bed.

Monday: The rain held off long enough for us to get around the Eye and get some pretty good shots, even if the visibility wasn't excellent. Awesome that high up! Then we took a two hour bus tour of eastern London (from Leicester Square east) and the rain held off enough that I got some great shots! And then it poured. We had lunch in China town in Soho at a 5P all-you-can-eat buffet (I miss those) and then we split up again. The boys and I went off to the Globe for a tour (OMG. I mean OMG! Even with the construction of the stage for the Midsummer going on it was so cool! And one of the other tourists asked the guide if she was there when Doctor Who was filming. To which she replied, no, but one of the other guides was and she apparently fell asleep sitting up against the TARDIS and was woken up by David. Which is just so unfair.) Bought a replica copy of the first folio for King Lear. They sell the first DVD of season 3 of DW in that gift shop. I am amused. Then we walked back across the river and got caught in another downpour 300ft from the tube station. Stopped at Victoria in order to walk all the way up to Buckingham, take a picture, and walk all the way back. Took the hairdryer to my clothes and hair. Then we went to the flat just down the road the Eha's cousin from Estonia owns (which was gorgeous, I want it) and they took us up to Notting Hill (walked us up through Kensington Gardens) for Italian. Took a taxi back to the hotel. Said goodbye to the cousins (they had a noon flight) and walked back to the hostel wet and cold. Yuck. And then there was bed.

Tuesday: Checked out and caught the tube up to Oxford Circus to meet Alice (my roomie in Rome). Had a nice chat over tea and muffins and then caught the train back to Exeter. All in all a pretty damn good weekend. It was nice having other people spend money on me. It was also nice to eat out in very nice restaurants.

Things still to do in London:
-British Museum
-Natural History Museum
-Tate Modern
-Shakespearean play at the Globe for 5P
-Kensington Palace