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Owwww!!!! My toes have blisters. It's 10:40 on April 9th 2010.... or 9-4-10 as I would write it here. I've been walking ALL DAY. After walking from my Hostel to more of Central London and updating my blog I headed to Buckingham Palace. After having a nice chat with the ol'queen and sharing a cup'o'tea I moved on and visited the Covent Market. While perusing the many various shops and carts I happened to stumble on some of the freshest strawberries ever... or that's what the heavily accented Londoner selling them said "Get ya Fahresh Stahrawhberries. Fahreshest eva fur just a pound o' box." I would have to say he was almost right. Along with his strawberries his plums and bananas also were superb. Then again how can they taste bad when sitting in an open market watching a street performer rip off his clothes and then get sandwiched in a bed of nails with a guy standing on top? (See photos) Or what about the Opera lady singing her heart out, oh wasn't she beautiful (ehhh... not so much).
What I really appreciated though more than these acts was the wonderful leader of my free walking tour (warning it's not as free as it sounds!). Meeting at 1pm in the park by Wellington arch a large group of us headed off to see the sights. Led by a young guy named Nathan, probably mid to early twenties, and who had lived in London for two years we set off on a whirlwind of a tour... ok maybe whirlwind isn't the right word but he did make it a lot less boring than I'd have expected. He gave interesting facts about Buckingham palace and Westminister Abbey, Big Ben, Palaces, Statues, Fountains, the "invisible" MI6 building, the Prime Ministers house etc. etc. Not only did I learn serious facts but he kept it lively by talking about the Pelicans in the Park that eat Pidgeons (Youtube it), or by giving us the account of a rather drunken Irishman who happened to waltz into Buckingham Palace in the early 80's and set off so many alarms the guard thought it was a mistake and shut them off... so it was still an hour before he was caught... chatting with the Queen! Or about the Parliamentary Building where it is illegal to die. He explained how since the building they hold Parliament in is actually a royal palace if you die in it (as a commoner elected to parliament) you would have to be given a royal burial...which would cost taxpayers millions. Thus... if you so happen to be on your deathbed in there, or do die in there, they secretly will throw you in an ambulance, drive you a few blocks down the road to the hospital and there... pronounce you dead. (Or ideally resuscitate you to life.) Oh and how can I forget his story about the Pidgeons and how they got rid of them... guesses? ... no? Crushed up Birth Control pills! So they can't have babies. Tada! Then there were the assassination attempts and failed terrorist attacks he talked about, or the idiot general who still got a statue. This guy was great. And thus... I digress to why it wasn't free after all. He explained that though it is a free tour, he accepts tips.. and though not usually one in the mood for tipping on free items... he definitely deserved it. 3 Pounds to the man in the Green and white striped shirt. You deserve it. (see photos)
So after seeing all those lovely sights I decided... hey 3 and a half hours of walking, plus the walking I did this morning aren't enough!!! So what did I do? Walk some more. I don't even remember all of where I went, I'll try though....ummm...... Shakespeares Globe Theatre, the Millenium Bridge, some shops, some malls, some markets, London Bridge (but not London Tower... that will be for tomorrow) Oh it was a full day. And THUS... blisters on my toes; did I mention that I carried my backpack this whole time? Oh good. Oh I also had Dinner at umm... Garfunkel's (supposedly world famous) I got their Beef and Yorkshire Pudding (just for you Annie!) it was good but I rather prefer Annie's familys. There Yorkshire Pudding was rather crusty and not soft and gooey like it should be.
Oh and I did more Underground riding. I'm kind of figuring it out... kind of.

And lastly I headed to the hostel I'll be staying in tonight, London Thameside. (It's by the river if ya haven't guessed... but not close enough to see the river... just closer than the last one I was in). It's interesting comparing them all, I mean, I've only been in three, but, they have all been quite different. The first one was so empty and .. alone?(idk if that's the right word) I mean. I had to Call reception and what did he say "oh I'll be there in an hour" haha. Then I got a dorm room all to myself, in fact I heard a person or two while there but NEVER SAW ANYONE.. wait no I lie. I did see one person. We said hi as I was leaving. Anyway, then Hostel two, Earl's Court, this place I showed up at on a Thursday night at 10:30 and though packed.... was rather silent. When I got to the room 6 or 7 guys were already there in their beds .... trying to sleep. Yet as I said... PACKED. Plus it was a homey little place nestled into a downtown neighborhood. Old building/House rather characteristic. TINY TINY bathrooms... two of them.. one toilet, one shower... for like 7 rooms, each with probably 8 people in them. (SAY WHAAAA?) Yet I still enjoyed it. Then this one. Thameside. After riding the Underground as far out to it as possible I hopped off and walked along a canal for possibly 20 minutes... surrounded by brick buildings, newer... like a university.. possibly. Finally arriving it is in a residential neighborhood, windy curvy brick roads with brick walls all around... and brick houses. Newer... Cookie cutter England I guess.... Out of bricks. Haha. Upon arriving at the building I realize... they have an intercom to get through the gate. "hello?" "Hello I'm here to check in." bzzzzt "Ok, Push the gate". Inside there's an elevator, arcade games, soda machines, an ice cream machine, a bar (complete with alcohol served to minors... oh wait no... to 18 and up... that's just in the US that its 21....WOOT PARTY... just kidding) Oh and did I mention the FULL FLEDGED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STYLE CAFETERIA KITCHEN!!!! Thats right... step right up folks its hot and it's sweet and .. home baked? Nawwww... Then when I get to my room it's a 4 person dorm.. with a bag on one bed and nothing in the others. No people, no bags, nada. Cool! Oh and what's this? A private bathroom just for our room. Sweet. Bam. Right then and there I took a shower. Haha.
And that leads me to now. Sitting on my bed posting a blog. On da blogosphere. Yippee.

Tomorrow... London Tower, London Eye, Tate Modern Museum, British Museum, and the National Museum, oh and possibly a night service at Westminister Abbey.

Night!

P.S. If you leave a comment.. please please please put your name. It's nice to know who is telling me hi or to visit something or other... k? Cool. I love and miss you all.

From Europe

From Europe

From Europe

From Europe