Post by Kim on Nov 23, 2001 20:19:33 GMT -5
23 November- 1640 hours
Victoria Station, London
(once again working on a terminal with a defective space bar.....are they all like this?)
Hello one and all! Hope everyone had a good holiday and ate till there was nothing left to do but snooze in front of the television.
London simply overwhelms! I could not imagine living here, not for a moment.
The crowds, the bustle, the traffic.....unimaginable. I thank my lucky stars each day that I chose to stay where I did. I am based in Ealing, a suburb of West London, at the 'end of the line'. Last stop on the underground. A rather
bustling town in it's own right.....Muncie size I would guess with a quite large shopping district. But the house I am staying in is purely middle class residential and beautiful. The train takes about 30 minutes from the heart of town, and a 2 minute walk to the house. A nice time to 'decompress' after the day. I would be mad were I staying in midtown! Do not misunderstand any of the above to say I do not 'like London'.....it's quite wonderful. To visit!
Yesterday I was heading off to a couple of museums, but as been my habit since I began plans changed on a dime. When I arrived in town the sky had turned blue and sunny and clear, so I diverted over to the London Eye. It's the most huge 'ferris wheel' you could imagine. The 'seats' are enclosed pods that hold 25 people each. It is right on the banks of the Thames across from parliament and
something like 450 feet high if I recall correctly. On a clear day you can see everything. Fabulous!
Then I visited the Imperial War Museaum. Mainly centers on the two would wars, but also covers anything since as well. Had to chuckle to myself.....I know this is England, but I had no earthly idea just how very little the Americans
contributed to the winning of WWII! Barely mentioned at all. And I little knew how productive the British defense industries were either! They seem to have manufactured nearly all tanks, guns, artillery, plans, you name it! But the
museum is wonderful with everything imaginable, up to and including V2 rockets and every tank and artillery gun used. I was in 1940's heaven!
Today totally booked out for the Victoria and Albert Museum. THE MOST FASCINATING MUSEUM I HAVE EVER EVER BEEN IN! Spent 5 hours there and had I not been so hungry could have stayed much longer. As it was, I barely skimmed
through half of it. There are over 12MILES of exhibits. The most terrific display on clothing....from the 1600's till now.
No idea what I shall do tomorrow. My last full day here before I move on. Last evening I was stressing a bit over how little I have seen....hell, I've not even made it over to Buckingham palace yet. Finally just said, I've seen the things
that most interested me, and seen them all well. I've spent near to 3 hours minimum anywhere I have gone and not just done a 45minute tour breeze through to say I was there. The joy of traveling alone I think. I can see what I want, for as long as I am interested.
London is very expensive, but I have kept well in budget. Many things are included in the London Pass I bought months ago in anticipation and that helps. But you need plenty of cash to live/operate here. My finances will be glad to
move on.
Need to go...time almost out. I will be in touch once more, like it or not, in a couple of days once I get to Bath....next stop on the agenda. But truth be told, I could almost say hell with the rest of England....Scotland is where I want to go. Would take very little for me to just head on down to the station and get a ticket to Glasgow instead of Bath. And you never know, come Sunday morning that may just be what I do.
till then........
ginger
Victoria Station, London
(once again working on a terminal with a defective space bar.....are they all like this?)
Hello one and all! Hope everyone had a good holiday and ate till there was nothing left to do but snooze in front of the television.
London simply overwhelms! I could not imagine living here, not for a moment.
The crowds, the bustle, the traffic.....unimaginable. I thank my lucky stars each day that I chose to stay where I did. I am based in Ealing, a suburb of West London, at the 'end of the line'. Last stop on the underground. A rather
bustling town in it's own right.....Muncie size I would guess with a quite large shopping district. But the house I am staying in is purely middle class residential and beautiful. The train takes about 30 minutes from the heart of town, and a 2 minute walk to the house. A nice time to 'decompress' after the day. I would be mad were I staying in midtown! Do not misunderstand any of the above to say I do not 'like London'.....it's quite wonderful. To visit!
Yesterday I was heading off to a couple of museums, but as been my habit since I began plans changed on a dime. When I arrived in town the sky had turned blue and sunny and clear, so I diverted over to the London Eye. It's the most huge 'ferris wheel' you could imagine. The 'seats' are enclosed pods that hold 25 people each. It is right on the banks of the Thames across from parliament and
something like 450 feet high if I recall correctly. On a clear day you can see everything. Fabulous!
Then I visited the Imperial War Museaum. Mainly centers on the two would wars, but also covers anything since as well. Had to chuckle to myself.....I know this is England, but I had no earthly idea just how very little the Americans
contributed to the winning of WWII! Barely mentioned at all. And I little knew how productive the British defense industries were either! They seem to have manufactured nearly all tanks, guns, artillery, plans, you name it!
But themuseum is wonderful with everything imaginable, up to and including V2 rockets and every tank and artillery gun used. I was in 1940's heaven!
Today totally booked out for the Victoria and Albert Museum. THE MOST FASCINATING MUSEUM I HAVE EVER EVER BEEN IN! Spent 5 hours there and had I not been so hungry could have stayed much longer. As it was, I barely skimmed
through half of it. There are over 12MILES of exhibits. The most terrific display on clothing....from the 1600's till now.
No idea what I shall do tomorrow. My last full day here before I move on. Last evening I was stressing a bit over how little I have seen....hell, I've not even made it over to Buckingham palace yet. Finally just said, I've seen the things
that most interested me, and seen them all well. I've spent near to 3 hours minimum anywhere I have gone and not just done a 45minute tour breeze through to say I was there. The joy of traveling alone I think. I can see what I want, for as long as I am interested.
London is very expensive, but I have kept well in budget. Many things are included in the London Pass I bought months ago in anticipation and that helps. But you need plenty of cash to live/operate here. My finances will be glad to
move on.
Need to go...time almost out. I will be in touch once more, like it or not, in a couple of days once I get to Bath....next stop on the agenda. But truth be told, I could almost say hell with the rest of England....Scotland is where I want to go.
Would take very little for me to just head on down to the station and get a ticket to Glasgow instead of Bath. And you never know, come Sunday morning that may just be what I do.till then........
ginger