 I ducked back into St. Paul's Cathedral, finding a moment of relief from how big the city was. The moment was short lived as my old friend, metal staircase, was there to greet me. By this time, my legs were like jelly. Keeping up with the line proved difficult, which was moving fast at this point. With the grand total of 1056 steps (255 ft.) of climbing and descending, I reached the ground floor. I sat in one of the provided chairs, resting and acknowledging my accomplishment. I silently reflected as a church service started. While pride swelled in my chest, my abs were contracting in fear, the cold grip squeezing me tight. I was in over my head. How could someone like me think they could handle such a place? London was now more than I had anticipated. Was I worthy? My reprieve was over and I got up to walk down to the basement. Ominously named, The Crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, was a burial place just like Westminster was. Oddly enough, that's where the gift shop was and I completed one of my objectives of buying something for my girlfriend (Princess Di related). I bid adieu to St. Paul's and left.  I reached another destination from Rick Steve's guide: The British Library. It was 5:27pm and the Treasure Room was going to close soon. I hurried into the dimly lit room where glass cases held some of the worlds greatest known treasures. That's the original manuscript of Beowulf! And that's one of the copies of the Magna Carta! And so many bibles from history! And *gasp!* is that...oh, no wait, that's just the security guards chair. As I continued down the displays, one caught my eye the most. It was a case embedded in the wall filled with Beatles memorabilia. There was a jukebox panel next to it with headphones attached and different songs listed: - The Beatles Introduce Themselves (1964) - I Want To Hold Your Hand (parlophone R 5084 from 1963) - Ticket To Ride (5265 from 1965) - Michelle (PCS3075 from 1965) - Strawberry Fields Forever (R5570 from 1967) - And more! I listened to the music until they announced that it was time for closing. I left the library and went to King's Cross Station nearby. Wait! That King's Cross Station? Yes, that King's Cross Station! Being the Harry Potter fan I am, I decided to pop in to find Platform 9 3/4. A large crowd was gathered around and a cart was halfway through the wall. While I wanted to take a picture as well, I didn't have anyone to take it for me and I didn't want to disturb anyone. Just being there was enough for me, plus I was starting to feel hungry again and when it comes to food or fandom, I will choose food. My stomach was growling audibly and my snack of carrots and an apple weren't holding me anymore.  After stepping off at a random stop of the Tube at 6:50pm, I arrived at Zonzo at Maida Vale. The word pizza got my attention and I walked in thirsty and hungry. The server poured water from a bottle into a wine glass (Is this what the people of Bel-nah, I won't sing it). My pizza and sorbette was delicious and I realized how great food tasted when you were extremely hungry. No matter how hungry I was though, I promised myself I would enjoy the meal in moderation. During my dinner, I took time to write in my journal and draw some characters of people I had met along the way. My server, "The Deer", noticed and asked what I was doing. While prying into another's business might seem rude, I was happy to speak with someone. I didn't know much about David from the night before, nor could I have asked him to grab a bite to eat. I let The Deer know that I was a writer and a traveler, on my first trip alone ever. Since the place was empty, we were able to chat for a while and I was able to discover new things. I learned that my server was from Romania and had moved to London about a year before with some friends. She had the urge to explore outside her hometown, the same way I had been before this trip. She also introduced me to the bartender and the head server. The bartender only spoke Italian and while she tried to teach me, I knew by her laughter I was failing. It didn't make me feel bad though, more like a part of the group. The head server recommended some places I should try to go to next, such as Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Piccadilly. It was 9:20pm by the time I left for my hotel. I went to the Tube at Paddington to Glouscester. As I entered, my Oyster card alerted me to low funds. Luckily, there was a ticket master who swiped me through. I took the 87 emergency stairs for the last time that night and got to my hotel. I sat in the lobby in one of the chairs, catching my mind before heading to my room. I collapsed onto the bed. As my mind settled down, I realized I had woken in bed this morning with an excited attitude. The positivity diminished as I looked upon the large city I was temporarily inhabiting, but speaking to those at Zonzo brought my happiness back. I took what last strength I had to email my girlfriend to let her know that she would be getting a gift from England. By midnight, I called it a night and turned off my lights. Crawling into bed, I made sure to keep the positive thoughts as I fell asleep. This was an exciting time for me and I needed to make sure to enjoy every moment of it. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 7:
Back in St. Paul's: Puwappuwari by Elements Garden (My Little Monster Original Soundtrack) Reflecting: Kaisou by Kawada Ruka (Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book: Mata, Aeta ne.) The Crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral: Creeping Up by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online II Original Soundtrack Vol. 1) The British Library/Treasure Room: Marble by Elements Garden (My Little Monster Original Soundtrack) - Beatles Greetings (Spoken Word) [Live at the BBC For "The Public Ear" 3rd November, 1963] (The Beatles Live at the BBC) - Michelle by The Beatles (Rubber Soul) - Yellow Submarine by The Beatles (Yellow Submarine) - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) King's Cross Station: Platform Nine-And-Three Quarters and The Journey to Hogwarts by John Williams (Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture) Zonzo Pizzeria: Friendly Feelings by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 2) Back at the Hotel: At Nightfall by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 1) Time for Bed/Renewed Sense of Comfort: Yui no Ketsui by Kurosu Katsuhiko (Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru. Zoku Original Soundtrack) End Pt. 7: I Feel Better by Gotye (Making Mirrors)
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It was noon by the time I arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral.  I had come to St. Pauls because my girlfriend loved everything Princess Di. I promised to take pictures and bring back something for her. Unfortunately, I found that pictures inside the Cathedral were forbidden. While that didn't stop others, I believed my luck might not be that great. So, instead I had to look online for sites that had pictures (giving credit to them as well of course).
Inside the cathedral stood statues depicting notable people from England's history spread throughout the halls. Wandering around, I ended up at a large spiral stairwell that headed up. As I climbed, I found that my health had improved since when I first arrived. Taking an emergency stairwell up and down 3-4 times a day will do that to you, I thought to myself. Still, my health had only begun to get better. I was winded by the time I arrived at the Whispering gallery (30m/90ft from the ground). It was a small balcony that wrapped around the rotunda. It was named due to the fact that you could have two people at opposite ends whisper and it would sound like they were next to each other. Due to the large group that crowded that, as I now noticed, tilted forward area, the effects weren't too audible.  Image from wikimedia.org  From the Whispering gallery, I ducked through a low hanging door to a stone passageway. There were more steps and I soon found myself on the outside of St. Paul's. This was the stone gallery (119 steps after the Whispering gallery) with statues of stone lined above the open area. I was able to catch the little breath that was escaping me and marveled at the vast city before me. I was in awe of how far it stretched, snapping as many pictures as I could (though not all of them came out good/note to self: get a better camera for the next trip). I came to another set of stairs 180 degrees around the building.  I read the sign that stated these were the 152 steps to the Golden gallery. It led almost to the very top of the Cathedral. What had started as a loving errand for my girlfriend, turned into a nightmare for my body and my fears. A long time ago, I had come to the realization that I wasn't afraid of heights, I was actually afraid of falling from them. The thin metal stairs became even smaller with everyone crowding before me and after me. The railings shook with each step and someone's lingering fart became even more unbearable as the line came to a stand still. The heat of the numerous bodies overwhelmed the area and my grip got even tighter on the rails. After all 152 steps, I managed to emerge stronger and more winded than ever. I was at the highest point allowed in that Cathedral and the City of London became even more overwhelming. 
The city spread out in all directions, no countryside in sight. I found a renewed awe with this man made marvel. I realized how much of a speck I was within the vast metal and the stone that was London City. The line moved around to the other doorway back down. I snapped a few quick pictures before reaching the end. At the entryway, I took one last glance at the seemingly giant world before ducking back into St. Paul's. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 6: Waking for Buckingham: Town in the Morning by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 2) The Changing of the Guards: He's a Pirate by Klaus Badelt (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Original Soundtrack) St. Paul's Cathedral: Genzai, Kanashimi ni Tsutsumareru by Yokoyama Masaru, Tsutsumi Hiroaki (Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku o Ketsui Shimashita Vol. 6 Special CD) The Whispering Gallery: Daily Life, You and Me by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online II Original Soundtrack Vol. 1) The Stone Gallery: In Time of Peace by Kaijura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 2) The Golden Gallery: The Distance by Oomori Toshiyuki (Amagami SS Original Soundtrack) End Pt. 6: Paraffin (Acoustic) by Meadowlark (Paraffin - EP) I woke, not to the sound of seagulls, but to the annoyance of an alarm that was set for 5:45 am. My body was starting to feel the wear from the flight. I turned, pulling the covers over my head and let the clock stop its temper-tantrum on its own. When I truly woke, it was already 8:16 and I spent the next hour reviewing my days plan with the map of London (Thanks, Rick Steves!). I had woken up knowing full well where I was. Articles I read before the trip told me that it took about four days before the body adjusted to vacation mode. I could feel it to be true. I grabbed everything I would need that day. I'll be taking a lot of pictures, so I'd better get a new memory card, I checked my camera. Packing everything in my writers bag, I left the room. I ask for a quick exercise, dear reader. Imagine a task that you set out to accomplish, one that took you a long time to finish maybe. Then think of an easier way you would have been able to do that task. Then imagine that if you had paid attention all along to how it was supposed to be done in the first place (let us say there were very easy to understand instructions along with it) you would have gotten it done even earlier! That is what awaited me after I shut my door, dear reader. Facing the door, I glanced to my right, where I had gotten lost the day before. To my left was, in my mind, unexplored territory. I decided to take my chances and went left. It was a short walk as I turned the corner and found a narrow staircase leading up. I started to climb, finding that only my toes could fit. I reached the top of the stairs and found familiar double glass doors to my left. It was the front lobby! If anyone else knew, I would just crawl back into bed and spend the rest of the trip hiding in my shame. There was no time to wallow in my embarrassment though. I had an important place to get to: The Changing of the Guards! I hopped onto the Tube and headed to Parliament and Whitehall, near Trafalgar. I hurried to the post and saw!...a small crowd. What the heck? I checked the map and my guide again. As some might have known, this was not where the changing of the guards happened to be. It took place at Buckingham Palace, many blocks down and as I checked my wrist watch, I knew I wouldn't be able to make it in time. As if my blunder was obvious, I walked around the area a bit, pretending that I had meant to be there all along. During my enjoyment of the scenery, I came across a sign that pointed the way to the Churchill Bunker Museum.
 From history class, I recalled that the Bunkers had been used during World War II. What I did not know is that many of the rooms had been kept the same as when the war ended. They called the all clear and everyone just got up and left. Like at the end of the work shift when you don't care for the place you work at, I mused in my mind. I received a recorded guide and went down to the underground museum. As I listened to the tapes, I realized how much crunch time teachers have to get things across. One thing I didn't realize was that Joseph V. Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt (nicknamed "The Big Three") joined forced to bring Hitler down. This helped bring the war to an end, but as many know, history doesn't end there. One reference was a perspective of a young East German girl during and after the war (Tilli's Story: My Thoughts are Free by Tilli Schulze and Lorna Collier). I was able to see a map of how Germany was split after the war and a ways down, Churchill's pajamas. Close by was a typewriter that guests could use. I haven't used one of these in ages, I thought as I typed a few sentences. I was glad that I still knew how to use it. Some youngin's watched as I effortlessly typed and slid the paper back, keeping the same margins for each line. After I was finished, I withdrew the paper, placed another in and let the kids have a turn. As I stood a short distance, I overheard one of them say, "This is boring. It doesn't even go to the next line." "Yeah," the other agreed. "Who wants to use this stupid thing?" I do, you little urchins, I cursed in my head. I, a bonafide writer who has an appreciation for the art of words and the tools used for their existence. I felt better afterward and continued through, learning how weak the bunker was. One perfectly targeted bomb could have collapsed it at any time. However, moral was kept up because if Churchill was staying there, why wouldn't it be safe? Towards the end, there was a medium-sized room with a device on one of the support pillars. It was a fag (cigarette)/cigar lighter. As it was explained, someone would press and hold the button on the black holder. Doing so sent an electrical current to the coil on the silver side. It would heat it up and the person would light up. The downside was the fact that ventilation was poor, but if everyone was smoking, who would really care?  Sorry for the hazy picture. Use of flash was not allowed, some got their pictures erased for that. I left the War Rooms into the painful daylight. Letting my eyes adjust, I looked for what was around the area. There was parliament, Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, and Westminster Abbey. The Abbey sounds nice, I followed my map. As I turned a corner, the Abbey loomed in its glory. The giant stained glass windows mesmerized me as I walked toward it. I paused at the side of the walkway to admire the architecture. I imagined how much time and power it took to build something so grand. Continuing forward, I reached the entrance and melded with the crowd. Again, I received a prerecorded tape and was lead through the magnificent building by the voice of Jeremy Irons (voice of Scar from Disney's The Lion King).  Pictures were not allowed in the Abbey and some were escorted out if they were caught. As I walked through the odd pathways, I noticed what I should have realized when I first read the name. There were graves all around and the paths were determined by how far tombs in the walls jutted outward. I can't even avoid stepping on people. I silently apologized every time I stepped on a new grave, even though hundreds, if not thousands of people stepped on the same graves every day. Continuing the tour, I discovered that William Shakespeare (1564-1616) had a memorial statue that informed visitors he was buried at Stratford on Avon. Remembering back to the Bath Spa tour, Avon meant river. I also found a stone that read: Charles Dickens 7th Feb. 1812-9th June 1870. After such a discovery, I paid closer attention to the markers, reading names I had previously done in history classes. I was among those whose stories served as great wonder or lessons to heed. Writers, scientists, royalty, so many that fascinated me. While I wished to stay and soak in everything I could, my stomach alerted me to my starvation.  It was 5:34pm by the time I remembered I hadn't had any breakfast or lunch. I had survived on water all day and my body was getting weaker. I left the Abbey and rode the Tube back to Gloucester, walking across the street to The Stanhope Arms pub. I could hear the roar of laughter and the loud conversations as I neared the door. Having been at a pub before (not considering myself an expert by any means), I ordered at the counter and searched for a place to sit. The entire place was crowded to the max it seemed. I could barely get through without someone bumping me. In the hustle, I found the only table with a free chair. A man was already sitting and drinking a beer. "Excuse me, would it be all right if I sit here?" He leaned towards me, obviously not able to hear me over the crowd. I repeated msyelf. "Of course!" he gestured across from him. I sat, keeping my eyes on the table. This was my first real interaction with someone else. Yes, I had talked to Zoe and the others at the Royal, but I hadn't really had time to sit and eat with them. I knew how different of an experience this was. It's better to eat and leave, I told myself. Don't disturb anyone. After a while of silence on my end, the man sitting across from me asked held out his hand. "I'm David, by the way," he said. "Sorry, I should have introduced myself before." I shook his hand, introducing myself as well. "Your accent, American?" I nodded. "Well, what are you here for, work or holiday?" "What is holiday?" I asked. "You'd call it vacation," David laughed before taking another drink. I started to think that this was a good time to further my understanding of differences in the culture. Our conversation went from views of politics, law enforcement, what we hope for the future, and ending with sheep (an odd ending, I know). I found myself having a wonderful time and how much of a difference it made to have someone to eat with. The loneliness I had felt at the pub the other day was forgotten and I enjoyed my fish n' chips to the fullest. We decided to call it a night and left the pub. David held out his hand once again. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Michael," he said. "I wish you a happy time here." "I hope so, too," I took his hand again. "And thanks for the suggestions on what to visit." We parted and I returned to my hotel room, feeling a soothing presence of being in a foreign land. I was an adventurer and, by my count, my adventure had only just begun. I slid into bed at half pass 10, preparing myself for the exciting day that awaited. As I closed my eyes and started to drift to sleep, a rumble from my stomach told me that my one meal wasn't enough. Maybe I'll get an apple or something from Tesco and then sleep, I rolled out of bed. This was going to be an interesting trip. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 5:
First Morning in London: Akarui Yuurei by Nakanishi Ryousuke (Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. Original Soundtrack) I'm in the Wrong Place: Shino to Taka Toshi by Mori Yuuya (Seitokai Yakuindomo Original Soundtrack - Aria Ban) The Churchill War Rooms: Carry (Instrumental) by Tori Amos (Night of Hunters (Sin Palabras) [Instrumental Without Words]) Westminster Abbey: Kyne's Peace by Jeremy Soule (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Original Game Soundtrack) Talking With David: All My Days by Alexi Murdoch (Time Without Consequence) Night: Remember today by Oomori Toshiyuki (Amagami SS Original Soundtrack) End Pt. 5: Tomorrow by Frank Hamilton (All of #Onesongaweek)  I awoke to seagulls again, this time knowing full well where I was. I got up and pulled the curtains aside, letting my body wake completely. It was 8:35 am as I got dressed and went downstairs for my Full English Breakfast. I sat eating and observing everyone around me. There were some who sounded like they were there for the weekend, others for vacation from afar. So many people gathered in one place. I wondered how much of that I could find where I lived. Had it been that way and I just never noticed? I let the thoughts of home disperse from my mind as I drank my tea. I was on vacation and I needed to enjoy it more. Thinking about home and the work that awaited me would only get me depressed. Of course, if I didn't have my job I wouldn't have been able to travel here, I reminded myself. Still, it was as I told myself. If I thought about anything other than being in that moment, I wouldn't enjoy everything I could. I finished my breakfast and went back to my room. I had to check out that morning by 11 am, but there were still some things I wanted to do. I slung my writers bag over my shoulder and headed into the city. It was a little chilly that morning and I had my jacket on. As I passed two young women, I noticed that they had short skirts on. And here I am shivering, I shook my head. I went around, taking more pictures at the Circus, the Victoria Gardens, Royal Crescent, and anywhere else I could. I looked around me, admiring the beauty that lay before me. Sure, there were historic buildings back home, but I realized that I never appreciated them. It was funny at how much I paid attention to when I was going to leave. It looked at the watch on my wrist and saw that it was time to check out. I headed back to The Royal Hotel, collected all of my belongings, double checked that I wasn't leaving anything, went downstairs and signed out. What should I take? I had come to Bath Spa on the bus, but some of the staff the night before had told me to try the train. I went across the way and looked at the times. It was 11:12 and there was still some time before the arrival of the train to London. Well then what would I do? A memory of the night before flashed through my mind: I would take sweets on the train, if I were to go, Zoe had told me. You should try a Crunchie and a Double Decker. Bounty is good, too. And what are those? I asked. Well, a Crunchie is, well, a Crunchie. That wasn't too helpful. Sorry, I don't really know how to describe it. They are chocolate covered though. Then her eyes lit up. Oh! What you need to get, more than anything else, are Bonbons! Bon? Bons? Yes, they are absolutely delicious! Oh, I love bonbons. Especially coconut bonbons, blue raspberry bonbons, cherry bonbons, oh look at me, I could go on for days! Anyway, a bonbon is a filled candy dipped in chocolate. Sometimes flavored sugar is added to the outside. I was amused at her enthusiasm towards the sweet. Bon is also the French word for Good, Zoe had continued. It also refers to candy in general and I do think bonbons are doubly good! I will look into it, I assured her. I explored some of the shops I had passed by during my two days here. I found a Crunchie, Double Decker, and Bounty at a convenience store. I looked in some sweet shops and couldn't find the number one item I was told to buy. Bonbons seemed rare. I should have asked her where to go. With luck, I came across The Bath Sweet Shop on my way back to the train station. They had American candy bars, but the back wall was filled with shelves of glass jars, round sugary bonbons crowding the space. There were so many flavors to choose from. Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Purple, my mind was overwhelmed by the presentation. Being my first time, I decided to go light and bought a bag of Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Chocolate.
  I looked back at my watch as the man behind the counter bagged my candy. I hadn't realized how much time I had spent looking for the sweets. I was about to miss the train! The man handed me the bag, I paid and rushed out. I arrived at the station, bought my ticket for London, and headed up the stairs to the Platform 2. Not even seconds later at 11: 43, the train rolled in and I stepped on board. After putting my luggage in a storage corner, I found a seat, my back towards my destination. The train pulled from the station and I brought out some of the snacks I had bought. As the green of the countryside sped passed my window, I tried everything I could and wrote down what they were like since Zoe hadn't been able to give me an answer: Crunchie - A honeycomb like bar covered in chocolate. Double Decker - Chocolate bar with fluffy chocolate (think Musketeer fluffy) on the bottom and crunchy wafer spheres on the top. Bounty - Almond Joy under a different name. I ate the candy, thinking back to the joy I had experienced the past few days. I had made it to a land which I had only dreamed of. I got lost, was helped, had tasted new food, and had become acquainted with some of the culture. I was living my dream and it had only just begun. The biggest part of my adventure awaited. London! I looked at the map of where I would need to leave the train. We came up on Reading (pronounced "Redding") by 12:47 pm and to my destination Paddington at 1:31. I gathered my bag and exited onto the platform. The station was huge with a curved ceiling towering over me and crowds of people speed walking through. Trains were coming and going and I was lost in it all. Then I realized that I really was lost. Again! I had to ask a few people who passed by, where the Tube was. I found a window that would give me a ticket to enter. During my research however, I had found that something called an Oyster card was a good thing to have. The website www.londontravelwatch.org.uk, told me that an Oyster Card was a smartcard that would help me travel around London. Of the two types, a season ticket or Pay As You Go, I got the latter. It was a £5 deposit to receive a card and I loaded twenty more for my first travel. Not wanting to hold up the line, I walked away and stood in a corner, observing people going through the gates. The ones with Oyster Cards scanned it to a surface and went through. That easy, huh? I moved forward and placed my card on the surface. The gate didn't budge. Seeing my trouble, the people behind me dispersed to other gates, not wanting to be held up. Burning with embarrassment, I tried again. I got the green light and headed through. It's just not my day.  I traveled through a tunnel out to a large area. It looked like an old industrial tunnel, a curved roof covering half of it, open sky for the other half. Tracked separated the two platforms on either side, a walkway overhead. At one end, two buildings seemed to rise above, creating an open window to the outside world. If I went up to that walkway, I bet I could see beyond, I debated. I knew I didn't have time, though, as I heard my approaching train. I stepped forward with everyone else as the front light came into sight. I covered my ears as soon as the shriek of the brakes echoed off the walls. My god was it loud! I felt my brain wanting to shut down in protest. Finally, it stopped and the doors opened. I shook my head of the dizziness I felt and boarded. There wasn't anywhere to sit. I stood in the corner with my suitcase and people watched. There were a few people talking to each other, but for the most part, everyone was avoiding eye contact. It was a quiet ride as I observed people leave and board. At 1:45, my stop was called. I excused myself through the crowd to the doors that would open and left with a few others. The platform was encased as a tunnel. I had the feeling that I was underground. Following the crowd, I came to a large door and stood with them. The door opened after a minute to reveal a nice sizable elevator. We got on and it slowly took us all the way up to the surface world. Everyone spilled out, heading in a hurry to where they needed to be while I leisurely walked out onto the street. I was frozen in astonishment as I looked at the towering buildings around me. Back home, I lived near Chicago, a tall city as well, but I had never really visited it often. This was starting to feel more of a challenge than I had expected. I checked my map and found that my hotel was across the street. I stood at the corner, waiting for the light to change. Before the sign allowed me to walk, the crowd started forward. What the!? A second later, the walk sign lit up. I walked over with them, unsure of what had just happened. Momma had always taught me to wait for the go. This was a new thing. Weren't people afraid of getting run over? I reached the other side safely and turned left towards the row of hotels that lined the street.  I reached my hotel, The Cromwell (Best Western). The lobby was clean, with chairs over by a bay window, the bar stretching around the corner. "Can I help you?" a woman asked from the reception counter. "Yeah, I had a reservation." I handed her my sheet I had printed out before the trip. She typed the information in and then gave a worried expression. "I'm sorry, sir," she said. "I'm afraid we've given your room to someone else." I was certainly surprised at this new information. I had never heard of this happening before. It also seemed pretty rude to me. "Okay," I tried to remain calm. "What does this mean for me?" She typed more things and then looked relieved. "I can put you in another room. It's in the basement, but it is bigger." Except that I never saw the other room, so I don't know if it is or not, I thought. Still, I didn't want to try an find another hotel. I agreed and she took me through double glass doors to an elevator. We went down one floor, straight forward a few feet and to the first door around the right corner. She inserted the key card and opened the door. It was pitch black, but my guide inserted the card into a device on the wall in the entry hallway. The room lit up instantly. "This will activate the lights when you come in, but you'll need to keep the card in the slot," the woman instructed me. "You have your bed, the desk, a full length mirror, this over here is your closet..." I admired the room. It was spacey, but smaller than the hotel rooms I was used to back in America. I looked into the bathroom. "Um...what is this?" I asked pointing to a metal rung by the toilet. "That is your towel warmer," she told me. "It will help them dry faster and stay cozy when you need to use them." That sounded useful. My guide finished by letting me know that she was sorry about the mix up and if I needed anything, I would just need to call the front desk. I thanked her and saw her out. The door clicked shut and I turned to my new dwellings. Being the mature adult that I was, I ran straight to the bed and leapt onto it. In a scene that would be from a comedy, I had forgotten that my rough, full suitcase was on the top. I collided into it, toppling back to hit the wall. "That had gone very differently in my head," I muttered as I got up. Aware of where things were, I fell back onto the bed and just laid there. I closed my eyes and listened. The city was loudly passing by out my window, the wheels on the pavement, which were buses and which were cars. I smelled the clean sheets of the bed and felt the soft pillow underneath my head. I opened my eyes and stood, realizing that I had forgotten to check for anything wrong with the room. I went through the checklist I had looked up online and found the room to be in perfect condition. With my mind at ease, I went into the bathroom to look more closely at the facilities. I stood at the toilet, checking the basics of its functions just in case I had to do any quick maintenance and felt a new sensation from my body. It was like nothing I had ever felt in a bathroom before. I looked down to realize that my leg was against the fully functional bare towel warmer. "My god, that's hot!" I jumped back, patting my leg. There was a red line forming just below my shorts where it had touched my skin. Note to self, avoid the metal at all costs. I cursed the towel warmer and walked back to the bed. I organized things, collected my writers bag, and headed out. Forgetting which way I had come from, I turned right (from facing the door) and started walking. I turned a corner and found another row of doors. I walked down the hallway and turned the corner again. Another row. NO! I screamed in my head. I cannot get lost in my own hotel. What is wrong with me? This will not happen! A half an hour later, I exited the maze into the front lobby. "How are you, sir?" the woman from earlier asked. "Fine, I'm fine," I felt a little too eager in my answer. "I'm glad, sorry about the room again." I nodded and left, not wanting to break down and ask for a map of the hotels halls, which I was certain they didn't have. I went back across the street to the station I had arrived from, called Gloucester Tube Station. My Oyster Card worked perfectly this time and I was on my way to Abbey Road. While I was a fan of the Beatles, a friends of mine was a fanatic and said, "You have to go there, no questions, just get me as close as you can with pictures!" So, I walked down from the Tube exit and started taking pictures of the area. Up ahead, I noticed a large crowd holding up traffic. That's the spot, I headed over. Sure enough, people were going across in fours, shoes optional, and pausing while a friend stood in the middle of the street and snapped a picture. Cars honked loudly to deaf ears. I snapped a picture of my own of the iconic crosswalk and surrounding area. What should I do after this? I snapped a picture of the studio itself. True, I had come to this location from the Tube, but I didn't quite understand it. Traveling around London on it would probably get me accustomed and it would be a breeze from then on out. I headed to the closest one and hopped on. It was fascinating seeing women put on makeup as the cars jolted back and forth. Strollers made their way onto the floor, groups of teens joined us and hung out near the doors.   I decided to get off the Tube at Westminster and walked out into the daylight to find Parliament looming over me. Big Ben, housed in the tower, named Elizabeth Tower (or Big Beth as I heard it from some), helped mark the location. Even with my neck cranked back and standing across the street, I could barely take in the vast building. They don't do anything half way apparently. I turned right and went around the corner, coming to a long stretch of street. As I followed it, I came across protesters, beggars, tourists, soldiers on horses, and up ahead a tall pillar hoisting up a statue. I looked at the map to discover that I was in Trafalgar Square. I wanted to go all touristy, but hunger started to get the better of me. I popped into the first place on my right, a place called The Silver Cross pub. It was a dimly lit place, seeming to go for mood. I went around the banister and and up to the counter. "Excuse me," I got the bartenders attention. "This is my first time in England and I'm not exactly sure how to order. Do I talk to you or...?" "Yeah, just order up here and we'll bring it out to you," she said as she handed me a menu. As I checked the menu, I peeked over the top to look around. The pub had a low ceiling and alcoves with tables embedded in them, the lighting above them was intimate. People were drinking and laughing away while I, a stranger, stood awkwardly at the counter. "Figured what you want?" the bartender asked me. "Um...I'll have the fish n' chips, I guess." "Mush with it?" "Excuse me, what?" "Mushy peas?" That sounded interesting, but I asked if I could just go with peas. "Of course, find a spot and we'll bring it out to you." I sat at the closest table and reviewed with my travel companion Rick Steves London guide. I found that some places didn't ask for tips from a meal, but I was told to ask just in case. "What's your policy on tipping?" I followed my guide as the food was brought out. "Oh, you're from America?" I couldn't tell if that was because of my voice or because of my question. "No tipping," the server told me. "They pay us well here." I didn't know if that was an insult, but I figured it didn't matter as I ate my dinner. I looked around again and started to realize how lonely I felt. Sure, I was traveling a new place and interacting with some new people, but no one I could go out and have a drink with. I wanted to be able to just text my friends back home, but I knew my phone wouldn't work and calling from the hotel was expensive. E-mail and Facebook were the only options I could think of, but it wouldn't have the same effect. I finished my food around 6:54 pm and decided to head back to my hotel.
From Westminster, I rode the Tube back to Gloucester/Cromwell and found that I had just missed the elevator to the top. As I waited for it to make its journey to the surface world, I noticed a few people kept passing me and disappearing around the corner. I heard shoe against concrete fade upwards. Curious, I peeked around after them and found a stairwell up to the station. Convenient, I approached the steps. As my foot hit the first one, I glanced over to see a sign that read: This stairway has 87 steps. Do not use except in an emergency. My goodie-two shoes personality kicked in for a second, but then I figured missing the elevator constituted an emergency. I started to follow others up the stairs, keeping with their pace. Twenty-seven steps later, I was wheezing and had to stop. Oh, yeah, I'm still fat, I reminded myself. I struggled the rest of the way and finally trudged out onto the street. I made it to my hotel and showered before collapsing into bed. True to my word, I pulled out the Ipad and e-mailed everyone I could. As I sat, waiting for a reply, I had to admit to myself that London was exciting, but a bit scary. There were so many things to discover and so many ways my trip could go wrong. I knew that Bath had been a good choice to get used to some of the culture. London would have ripped me to shreds if I had been there first. I signed off the Ipad and took out a pen and notebook from my writers bag. I made a plan for the next day, hoping that it would ease my worries. Finished, I turned off the lights and lay back in bed. The cars and buses were still passing, people were walking, and the sounds of London sent me to sleep. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 4:
Waking on the Last Day in Bath Spa/Breakfast: こういう気持ちを何て言ったかな (Kouiu Kimochi wo Nante Itta Kana) by 横山克 (Your Lie in April - ORIGINAL SONG & SOUNDTRACK [Disc 1]) Last Minute Pictures: Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Robert's Sermon by Clive Carroll & John Renbourn (Driving Lessons - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Ohayou Gozaimasu! by Yokoyama Masaru, Tsutsumi Hiroaki (Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku o Ketsui Shimashita. Vol.4 Special CD) The Bath Sweet Shop: Yasumi Jikan by Kawada Ruka (Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book - Itsumade mo Issho da yo) Traveling by Train to London/Arrival: Evacuating London by Harry Gregson-Williams (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)) Haikei, Alice desu. ~ Sound Diary "Alice no Tegami" Yori by Kawada Ruka (Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book: Mata, Aeta ne.) Traveling the Tube: Duty of love by Hashimoto Yukari (Toradora! Original Soundtrack) The Hotel Maze: "Hito" Toiu Ji wa Hito to Hito ga by Mori Yuuya (Seitokai Yakuindomo Bleep Original Soundtrack) To Abbey Road: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles (Abbey Road) Come Together by The Beatles (Abbey Road) Exploring London: Shibushibu Shuushoku Shita Mainichi by Yokoyama Masaru, Tsutsumi Hiroaki (Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku o Ketsui Shimashita. Vol.2 Special CD) Up the Stairs: Okashi na Yousu by Nakanishi Ryousuke (Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. Original Soundtrack) Bedtime: Sono me ni Utsuru Mono by Yokoyama Masaru (kimikiss pure rouge Original Soundtrack) End Pt. 4: I Am the Walrus by The Beatles (The Beatles 1967–1970 (The Blue Album)) |
Philip M. WardenI like to write and I like to travel. Why not put both together? Archives
June 2016
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