London-The Initial Day
May. 25th, 2008 01:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenshikurai9Yes 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.
---
First impressions of the Tube, hearing announcements to "Mind the Gap." I want to sample that and put it to a beat.
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.
---
First impressions of the Tube, hearing announcements to "Mind the Gap." I want to sample that and put it to a beat.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-25 01:28 pm (UTC)