First, I forgot to mention our trip up the Eiffel Tower the last night in Paris. I made it to the top. While I'd like to tell this story with the spin that it was a breeze for me, I can't because Lindsay will be back in a week to dispute it. I had some fear issues.
We started out on the second level, because the top was overcrowded when we got there and they wouldn't let us go up until people cleared out. In all honesty, my fear of heights kicked in the moment I stepped on to the second floor, and therefore I spent about a half hour deliberating about whether or not to go to the top (it was a rainy & windy night too) as I gingerly walked around grasping the nearest post I could find. For whatever reason, clutching a piece of the tower made me feel less likely to suddenly go hurtling off the side. Rational thinking disappears a few hundred feet off the ground. After I FINALLY made up my mind to try to overcome my fear, I was really glad that we decided to go. The view is nice, and the best part is that you start off indoors and can choose to go outside if you want. Once outdoors, I was easily distracted helping Lindsay with the camera to get a clear picture of me up there (it's all about me, me, me!), and I dashed back and forth from the edge without a second thought.
Did I mention that in addition to the major flood potential of the shower in the Hotel of Doom, the bathroom door handle is barely hanging on by one very iffy screw? This is the kind of thing you laugh about once you have safely returned to your nice normal bathroom at home.
A couple of nights, Lindsay and I have watched one of our five TV channels, since I can actually understand the language here. Tonight, Boogie Nights is on regular cable, and it's a lot different than watching it on TV in the States. They don't bother to edit out swearing and nudity, which makes watching shows like the Osbournes is a lot more fun. The other night, we got sucked into watching 101 Most Shocking Celebrity Moments, which felt very much like E! True Hollywood Story or something, only much more vicious.
Oh, man. I am exhausted. I think I need a vacation from my vacation. I've had an amazing time, but now that it's time for me to head home, I'm ready. Two weeks isn't a very long time, but it feels like I've been away for quite a while, and I've seen so much.
In London, we have visited Westminster Abbey, Templar Chapel, Greenwich Park (where I stood in the easter and western hemispheres at the same time), British Museum, the Globe, Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge, London Museum, Tate Modern (very cool huge spider sculpture there), Tower of London, London Dungeons, National Gallery, Eltham Castle & Park, Soho, Brick Lane, and a couple of pubs. We've done a ton of walking and have seen quite a few underground stations. And, there is still so much more we could do.
Last night, we went to dinner at a really great Indian restaurant called Monsoon on Brick Lane. A couple of nights ago, Pete made us a really delicious dinner, probably one of the best I've had on the entire trip. We had a yummy squeaky cheese salad. Coffee is pretty good here but not as tasty as in France. My advice is to skip Starbucks and try Cafe Nero if you ever have the chance.
Overall, I really like London, and I would like to return someday. But, I didn't find it as friendly as Paris--which sounds very strange to me, because I've always heard the common stories about the French not liking Americans. I think my impressions will develop even more once I have a chance to step back from it and really process what I have experienced. That means, I'll probably have more to write about my trip once I get home too.
For now, I'm looking forward to seeing and talking with everyone once I get home. Cheerio, mates!
No comments:
Post a Comment