Lovely Air Canada cancelled my flight going out, so I had to fly to Toronto and wing it from there. After missing our connecting flights out of Toronto, myself and nine other people including a young girl were exhausted upon arrival. After landing at 12:55 am and getting our bags, we were not in the least surprised to find no Air Canada customer service agents waiting for us. Eventually, two girls came over, and as if they were doing us a favour, called on the "approved list" of hotels.
I was baffled by the fact that the hotel rooms were not ready to go for the 10 of us. They knew we were coming and had missed our connecting flights. It took over 2 hours for them to get rooms for us.
The shuttled picked us up at 3:10 am and by the the time we checked into the hotel, I managed to get ONE hour sleep before having to get up, shower, eat breakfast and shuttle back to the airport at 7 am for my 9 am flight to London. Eventhough, I lost a day in London I was still estatic for my trip abroad. First overseas trip in 4 years!
Upon my evening arrival in London, I took the tube into central London to Euston Station near the YHA St. Pancras where I was staying for 2 nights. The hostel was great, clean and comfortable and included hot British breakfast every day (or contenniental).
The hostel was centrally located and it was very easy to get around London by tube. On Saturday, I went to the South Bank to visit the Tate Modern. There was an incredible slide exhibit in the main hall. Amazing how museums in major cities have free admission. After, I grabbed a baguette from EAT! and sat outside a pub and people watched. Checked out the Southwark Catherdral, the old Clink Prison, Shakespeare's Globe, and then walked west along the South Bank along the Thames River.
Saw a man building a sea serpent sand castle on the beach. I also walked past the OXO Tower, the London Eye, and the Victoria and Albert Museum featuring a Salvador Dali exhibit (I regret not going in to see it--silly me) to Westminster Bridge.
I walked over Westminster Bridge to Parliament, past Westminster Abbey, St. James Park, Admiral Arch, Trafalgar Square, Canadian High Commission, Picadilly Circus
and Leicester Square.
I walked 10 hours my first day in London. I continued on to Soho (I love this area of London) and stopped at Hamburger Union for dinner. Orgranic, grain-fed and hormone-free burgers (Homer drool...).
It was the start of the St. Patrick's Day celebration weekend. Lots of drunken folks wearing big foamy green Guiness hats. I walked along Oxford Street to Tottenham Underground and caught a train back to Euston Station. Lots of policemen everywhere. I grabbed some take-away from the Marks & Spencer in Euston. My feet and legs were throbbing, but I was estatic to be back in the big city.
On Sunday, I started my day with a traditional English Breakfast: eggs, back bacon, sausage, baked beans in tomato sauce and toast. Woo! I was instantly a fan of the hot Brit breakie. I went over to Camden Market for shopping. I remember two great stores in The Stables: Black Rose and Cyberdog. I wanted to shop longer, but I had a limited amount of time (only 2 days in London). I stopped off at the hostel for a break and to refuel with M&S take-away: fruit yogurt smoothie, fruit salad (mango, kiwi, blueberries, pommegranate), and caramel chocolate bar.
I checked out the train time for tomorrow at the Virgin train booth. I tubed over to Nottinghill to check out the Portobello Markets. I had some trouble finding it (as most streets are windy and difficult) when all of a sudden it started hailing.
Decided to skip the market and go over to Oxford Street. Saw the funky window displays at Selfridges. To my dismay, the surrealism exhibit featuring Salvador Dali was not opening for another week. Still regretting not seeing the exibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Went to Marks & Spencer because I was told by a friend that it was the place to get lunch in the basement. I had a great toasted ham and cheese sandwich with a tea.
Walked back through Soho; many bars were having happy hour from 4 to 7 pm. Tried my luck at getting theatre tickets at the Original Half Price Ticket Booth at Leicester Square. Unfortuately, the booth did not sell tickets for Sunday evening shows. Damn shame because I really wanted to see Monty Python's Spamalot with Tim Curry.
I went over to Covent Garden. The markets were on and there were St. Paddy's Day celebrations. After walking 8 hours, my feet and legs were really killing me. I longed for a shower and some scram (food). My camera had died and my cell phone (mobile) was dying. I got some take-away at M&S at Euston (I love this place): grilled salmon, watercress, potatoes, beans and broccoli.
Chilled, read and wrote postcards back at the YHA hostel. Finally got a decent night's sleep after being up for 3 days.
Listening to: The Beatles - Hello Goodbye
