UK Pre-Trip

Before leaving the country I was trying to get my room at my parents' house fully cleaned.  I at least got everything down to what I wanted to keep, but never got to organize it.  So of course new clutter has since built on my floor. 

Wednesday the 16th of April, I had oonh over to update the computer, but we came across a problem that required us to go to Micro Center in Central Square, Cambridge to get an adapter since he needed to take my SATA hard drive home with him and put it in his machine that's made for IDE.  Thursday had him get my machine to a basic level of functionality, but he didn't have time to restore everything that he managed to save.  Corrupted files meant he had to lose 60 Gigs of mostly music.  (At least this takes care of my, disk space is 96% full, problem.)  Hopefully we'll get together soon and finish the job. 

Friday I had to go to my cousin's funeral.  She was buried with the ashes of her cat Snuggles who died shortly after her admittance to a nursing home.  Her granddaughter was glad that I could come (who would be the cousin around 18 and living with her foster parents.)   I got the tune to a song called "Happy Funeral" stuck in my head though.  Afterwards, we went to the deceased's favorite hot dog stand.  There's 80 items on the food menu.

While I had to work a night shift Saturday from 7-11, it wasn't a big deal when my flight wouldn't be leaving till 10 PM the next day.  This did allow me to see the Dresden Dolls paint-up the bodies of two females in the Harvard Square Newbury Comics for the sake of a national record store appreciation day pre-work (or at least as close as I could get through the crowd.) 

Theoretically, I probably could have taken the commuter rail to Providence, RI and found my way to the Rhode Island School of Design and seen Brian Viglione in some kind of discussion on drag on Sunday.  Except that would shaft my boyfriend of a chance to say good-bye. 

So I just chilled at his house for 4/20. 

At 4:20, he was taking a walk with the ex in the nearby woods, but otherwise I was by him most of the time.  Glad things have improved enough that he doesn't have to completely ghost her out of his life like he thought he was going to have to. 

For some reason, he finds it funny that his parents don't get 4/20.  I don't get what's so funny. 

So anyway, I used the Blue Line to get off at the Airport stop and take the shuttle to gate E.  My backpack was of the right dimensions to not be counted as carry-on luggage for Lufthansa.  I made sure to take the Mahabharata out for my travel. 

Pre-trip I had to temporarily put a set of boots aside since they were digging a hole in my right foot.  Initially I was resistant to replacing them with boots with zippers on the side, but I'm glad I did.  When security wants everyone to remove their shoes, zippers makes removal quick.  Bondage wrist cuffs also had to be temporarily removed. 

After a bowl of French onion soup and root beer, wasting time by walking-by all shops, and reading, it was time to go to Frankfurt. 

Boston-to-Frankfurt-to-Heathrow

From Boston to Frankfurt, I slept most of the way since I needed to be as well-rested as I could when I would arrive in London.  This means I couldn't watch Juno. 

At Logan, they just wanted me to get the metal out-of my pockets.  At Frankfurt, they wanted me to get everything out-of my green camouflage pants. 

After we got on the plane, we were delayed.  So I just sat there and read while waiting in my window seat.  As much as I like window seats, I kinda wished I didn't have it since there was a group of school girls who were so damn excited to be on a trip.  I at least made sure I leaned back while watching out of the window so the two to my left could watch Germany below also. 

We landed in Heathrow an hour late to cheers from the school girls. 

London-The Initial Day

Yes I had vouchers to pick-up passes for unlimited travel for two days on the Tube, but first I had to get to the British Visitor Center to get them.  Traveling six zones to get there meant paying 12 quid. 

Also picked-up a Two Day London Pass to see some sites, but never used it and picked-up a Seven Day British Heritage Pass, and never used it.  Picked-up several tourist brochures, but had to get rid of most of them before even getting-out of Whitby since my only luggage was my backpack.  What I did keep describes the Oyster Card, a map of all the higher education institutions in London, a pamphlet for londonhostels.com, a gay tourist guide, and a booklet on Camden. 

When picking-up whatever had to be picked-up on the first floor, I got into a conversation with the guy helping me.  Suddenly information I read in one of those papers that made my reading list in my LJ became useful since we were getting into the fact that the Boston area of the US has most of its place names from either English towns or Native American names.  Specifically, it was useful to know the name Boston came from Botolph's town, as in St. Botolph's stump. 

With pass in hand and after finding a toilet, I went to the Express by Holiday Inn Limehouse and checked-in.  After paying a 20 quid deposit to make phone calls from my room, I called LJ reddragdiva.  Unfortunately Freda was sick so we couldn't follow through on our original plans to meet for drinks and the next night wasn't possible.  We arranged that I would call him and meet him during his lunch break the next day. 

Of course he spent a chunk of the conversation on how boring fathers can be, on purpose, and I had him put the kid on the phone.  He reported that she seemed confused at where the voice was coming from. 

By now, it was past 7 PM and jet lag was setting-in.  First I had to get something to eat.  When taking a walk, I was tempted to just get something at the local Costcutters, but then the desire to get something uniquely British on an Indian menu kicked-in.  The only dish I knew of in that category was vindaloo.  Rajboy's vegetable vindaloo slaughtered me and their lassis aren't thick enough. 

Then it was just back to the hotel for sleep. 
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First impressions of the Tube, hearing announcements to "Mind the Gap."  I want to sample that and put it to a beat.