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I woke at 6am and just stared at the ceiling of my room. There was no hangover, but something was keeping me from rising. Of course, I had felt this familiar feeling in Bath Spa. This is my last day here, I thought. I wondered what I should do? I could visit the Eye or travel on the tube again. Where would I go? Instead, I remained in bed until 9am. When I did get up, I realized that I had to finish packing. While my original pack was ready to go, the extra items from the Harry Potter studios and Harrods had to be packed separate. I found myself having to buy another bag and then double and triple checked so that nothing would be left behind. After all, this wasn't my friend's house where I could just call and say, "Hey, I'll be over in a second. I forgot this." This was a 9 hour flight back. I checked out at 10:20 and caught the tube to Heathrow Terminal 1. At every stop I kept looking at the open doors. They beckoned me to dash out and try to stay a few more days. During one stop, a man got on with his two kids. They were dressed in suits and ties and the oldest son (about 9 maybe) was complaining about something. I didn't pay much attention to them as I gathered my things, ready to leave at the next stop. The doors opened and I stood. I was going to run and get lost. Before I could take a step, the man turned to the boy and said, "What did I tell you? Worries won't help you. You need to stop and appreciate what you already have." The doors closed and we started to move again. I sat back down, those words echoing in my head. They weren't meant for me, but I needed to hear them. I had wanted to run because I was afraid I would never get back here. What I was failing to realize was that I needed to appreciate the experience I had already had. I wouldn't be able to do that while on the run. The tube arrived at Heathrow at 12:25pm. I found that my flight was delayed, so I browsed the shops and bought some last minute gifts. Around lunch, I found my flight was rescheduled for 3:40pm. Originally, I had planned to sit in the middle aisle, but when given the option to change seats, I took a window. With my seat change, I found myself sitting next to young woman who had been to Europe for a college trip. She shared some of her experiences such as when their small cargo plane missed the landing and had to veer up at a steep incline to try again. I made her jealous by telling her about my trip to the Harry Potter Studios and both of us shared the snacks we had brought on board. The announcement was made for take off and I watched out the window as we moved onto the strip. We started forward, faster and faster, the plane angling up. I checked my watch. 3:55pm is when the plane lifted off the England ground. It was my last contact with London. I watched as the city below stretched for miles and miles, their districts indistinguishable to my eye. But in those streets and buildings sat a culture that I had only touched on. I wanted to know more, I needed to know more. As the plane flew up into the clouds and the city disappeared, I felt my journey in England, my first trip by myself, was over. I heard the soulful melody We'll Meet Again by The Ink Spots (Stanley Morgan's Ink Spots Live in London) as we broke through the clouds to the bright sun. I knew the words rang true for me: 'We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when but I know we'll meet again some sunny day keep smiling through, like the world needs to do til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away And won't you please say hello to the folks we all know tell them we won't be long they'll be happy to know, that as you saw us go we were singing this song. We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when but I know we'll meet again some sunny day.'
...Until we meet again, England.
Philip M. Warden
1 Comment
 May the Fourth Be With You.
I woke early at 8:01am and hopped on the Picadilly line to Holborn to the British Museum. I had been told by my family who had visited before that it would be an all day event, so I made sure to get a good start. I was overwhelmed by the noise and the number of people. I decided to explore on my own and walked around to the different areas.
I took in the history of the place, not only the items that were on display, but the history of the museum itself. There were articles I looked up about the start of it and how the displays were handled during World War II. I sat and admired the statues in the Japanese exhibit, looking up the meaning of them.
 Princess Takiyasha at the Ancient Palace of Soma by Utagama Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) I had seen a lot, but what I was most interested in viewing was the special exhibit they had. Pompeii and Herculaneum. I bought a ticket for it at 12:05pm, but it didn't start until 3:20. I had a ways to wait, so I decided to head out and come back. I took the Tube all the way to Baker Street (yes, Sherlock Holmes) and made my way back to the museum, stopping by different shops along the way.
I found my way back to the British Museum after walking all that way (and also, I stopped to get something to eat. It wasn't my goal to starve myself on this trip). I entered the special exhibit and was treated to what life was like for people living in Pompeii (no pictures could be taken). There were many artifacts spread throughout the maze. I came to a wall that showed the events of the last day. Pompeii -Midday - After several small explosions Vesuvius erupts, sending a tall mushroom cloud of superheated rock and gas over 20km into the sky. This blows southwards, plunging everything into total darkness. -2:00pm - Ash and pumice stones rain down at a rate of 15cm an hour. By late afternoon the city is smothered under 50cm of pumice. People are trapped by blocked doors or by ceilings and roofs collapsing under the weight of the debris. Herculaneum -4:00pm - The mountain emits noxious gasses and unearthly noises. Violent tremors cause buildings to collapse. Some people escape northwards by land, many others flee to the beach, hoping for rescue from the sea. But floating banks of pumice prevent ships from reaching or leaving the shore. Pompeii -Evening (8-10:00pm) - The eruption reaches it's peak and unleashes a hurricane of heavier, denser pumice. This causes the widespread collapse of buildings in Pompeii and also destabilizes the volcanic cloud, triggering the first deadly pyroclastic (A fluidized mass of turbulent gas and rock fragments which is ejected during some volcanic eruptions) surge. Herculaneum -Midnight - The cloud reaches it's maximum height of over 30km (19 miles) then collapses spectacularly. A massive 400 degrees Celsius pyroclastic surge cascades down Vesuvius's north-west slopes. It heads for Herculaneum at 30m a second (70 mph), instantly killing everyone it touches. Pompeii -Early morning (8am) - As dawn breaks the eruption lessens and many people try to flee Pompeii. Between 6-8am, huge pyroclastic surges pour into the city, killing everyone still there and smashing remaining buildings. The cloud collapses for the last time and darkness spreads across the bay of Naples. 'Not the darkness of a cloudy night of a night where there is no moon, but darkness as if the light has gone out in a room that is locked and sealed. You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of infants, and the shouting of men.' - Pliny the Younger, letters, VI, 20, 14. About AD 100. This description became all the more real as I turned the corner. There, encased in what looked like amber, was a skeleton. It was on it's back, the mouth open up at me as if in a silent cry for help. The panel next to the display read that this was the body of a woman. She had succumbed to the toxic gasses and collapsed on the steps. Her body had then been encased. A few feet away, in a glass display, was a charred baby crib. The text read that the caregiver and the baby both died in the basement room. Whether it was to the fumes or the actual lava was unclear. Around the last corner, four fossilized bodies lay in a recreation of the room they were found in. A man, woman and young child sat huddled in the far corner. An older boy lay on the ground just outside, trying to escape the room and the possibility of death. The bodies were contorted as if in pain, though I learned that this was a side effect the body has due to extreme heat. I still hoped that they had all gone quickly. I left the museum awed and disturbed at the same time. I returned to my hotel and locked myself in, contemplating life and death. I didn't feel like emerging until around 6:30pm. I had brought a nice outfit mixture for a special occasion and my last night in London seemed like the right one. I turned on Justin Timberlake's Suit n' Tie song and got dressed. Then I headed to The Glouscester Arms. I drank Peroni Nastro Azzurro, ate fish n' chips, and had strawberry ice cream. I remember watching the futbol game with some people. I don't remember if we talked about anything. The ice cream was good. I found my way back to the hotel, apparently giving directions to some tourists (hope they made it to where they were going) and made it back to my bed. It was a memorable day for me. One that even with the strongest of alcohol, won't be erased. To Be Concluded...  Philip M. Warden  These are ducks. Just regular ducks as I was told. Having had such a great time the night before, I didn't wake until 9:47 the next morning. While I had wasted much of the morning, I wasted no more time in getting dressed and out to Hyde Park. I had promised my girlfriend that I would get her something about Princess Diana, but I didn't want to just stop at the book from St. Paul's. My destination was the Lady Di Fountain located somewhere in the park. As I searched for it through the expansive grounds, I noticed I had not only gotten stronger, but had lost a lost of weight. Walking to all the places I wanted to was helping me. Vacations weren't half bad. I took my time getting over to the fountain, taking pictures of the animals and statues as I passed. I arrived at the edge of the fountain, a sculpted fountain that reminded me of a water slide. I sat near the water, observing the people around me. It was a calming place and good to be by during the warm sunny day.
After I had drank my fill, I headed to Harrods, a large mall. I had promised to buy a table runner for my mother back home and she suggested this place. Geez! The prices on everything were mind-blowing. I knew that I wouldn't be able to shop there every day. I searched many stores to see what they had. There were clothes, books, sports stores, and the food court. By the time I finished buying the table runner, it was time to eat. I was used to not eating a lot and chose a sandwich, chips, and a bottle of water. As I stood in line, this sharp voice shouted, "NEXT!". This wasn't just a worker waiting on the next person, this was a worker who had been there for a long time and was tired of dealing with customers. The man in front of me was unfortunate enough to ignore the first call. The second one sounded like a mother scolding her child. Being next, I crouched in the starting position, ready for the starting gun. It came and I sprinted forward, ready to hit that finish line! Okay, so didn't sprint, just paid attention. After paying, I took my food outside and sat in a wide sidewalk area. There was a man a few feet away playing Under The Sea from The Little Mermaid on Jamaican Steel Drums. The festive music rose through the buildings surrounding the enclosed space. I lost myself in the pleasant experience that I almost forgot the time. I was going to be late for the most important part of my journey!  I threw my trash into the bin and rushed out of the alley. Imagine it dear reader, running full sprint down the sidewalk while trying to get the map out of my pack. I dodged the other goers as I searched for the nearest Tube. Dancing down the stairs, I was able to make it to the correct train. By 1:30pm, I arrived at Victoria to catch my bus. The problem was that the station was still a few blocks away. Seeing me in a bit of a panic, someone asked if I was alright. I asked them about the tour bus and they pointed me in the direction. "I'm sure you'll make it in time, just keep a steady run." Following their advice, I did make it in time and spotted the bus that would take me to The Warner Bros Studio Tour - Harry Potter, London. I caught my breath just before boarding and found a seat on the lower floor. I was so excited and the extra stops to pick people up didn't help my rapidly beating heart. About an hour later, we pulled up to...   I was a kid in a candy store. I could barely contain the grin on my face as I entered the studio. To my right was the gift shop filled with walls of sweets from the movie, robes and winter wear of the Hogwarts houses, models, and, of course, wands. It took every fiber of willpower not to head there first. I bought an audio guide voiced by Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and proceeded with the line. We were let into a theater to watch a short intro movie (forbidden to record) starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) (By the way, I'm listing them in the order of how they stood from left to right). Once the intro was done, the screen rose to reveal the Great Hall doors! We entered to the long tables and the costumes set up along the walls. It was amazing standing where they stood (refer to The Deathly Hallows pt. 2). We were able to snap a few quick pictures before the next group was to enter.
 From the Great Hall, the group split and we were able to explore by ourselves. There were costumes, sets, objects, and even a wand dueling class to learn the different forms.
 A scale model of Hogwarts. There are lights in the windows that blink, signaling people walking by. It was a magnificent sight. Posting all of my pictures would take up more blog space than I want to. I can say that this was an experience I would highly recommend to anyone. In my last blog post, I mentioned some tragedy. It's nothing I would consider crippling, but I parted with a lot of money in the gift shop at the end of the tour...I mean a lot, a lot, a lot of money. Harry Potter merch is my weakness. In any case, it was a fun filled trip and I found myself sad when they announced the closing of the studio for the day. I returned to my bus and we left for the station at 7:15pm. As the bus pulled away, I remember looking out the window at the clouds in the sky. It was angled just right to where it looked like a bay and the water was lapping the shore. I blinked a few times before seeing the clouds and as soon as I saw them, the bay was back. I was able to have that little bit of magic, to see beyond something and make it into something new. I smiled, still feeling the high of my experience.  Would you believe me if I said this is how I got home? Once I reached Gloucester, I knew I needed to wind down. Leaving my items at the hotel, I headed to the Gloucester Arms Pub around the corner. After a drink and some fish n' chips, I headed back to the hotel and fell into bed. I paused for a minute, letting my breathing fill the silence. After a moment, I rolled over onto my back. One more day, I thought as I stared at the ceiling. It was painful to think of. I was having such a great time and there was still so much for me to explore. But I would have to head back to America after tomorrow. I would have to make the most of it. I fell asleep planning my day, not wanting my trip to be over. Over...why did it have to be over when I felt like it had just begun? To Be Continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 9:
Exploring Hyde Park: Atarashii Yokan by Nanase Hikaru (kimikiss pure rouge Original Soundtrack) The Lady Di Fountain: Treasured Memories by Squaresoft (KINGDOM HEARTS Original Soundtrack [Disc 1] Harrods: Take Off by Mori Yuuya (Seitokai Yakuindomo Bleep Original Soundtrack) Lunch/Festive Alley: Under the Sea by Bob Lyons (Steel Drum Gold) Hustle to the Buses: It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by R.E.M. (Document) On Our Way: Flight of the Order of the Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) At the Harry Potter Studio Tour/Welcome Movie: Happy Hogwarts by Jeremy Soule (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Video Game Soundtrack) Great Hall: Entry Into The Great Hall and The Banquet by John Williams (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture) Diagon Alley: Diagon Alley and the Gringotts Vault by John Williams (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture) Hogwarts Model: Hogwarts Neutral by Jeremy Soule (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Video Game Soundtrack) Leaving: Leaving Hogwarts by John Williams (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture Soundtrack) The End is Near: Lily's Theme by Alexandre Desplat (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) End Pt. 9: Harry's Wonderous World by John Williams (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture) Another morning waking up at 8am in a foreign country. I had been on many vacations before and felt blessed, but being on my own adventure made me feel so...so...I was at a lost for words. Instead of trying to describe to myself how I felt, I went out to experience the day. First thing on my list that morning was to get a new SD card. I was running out of space on my factory issued 2MB memory card and I knew that the pictures would only increase. I went north on foot from my hotel in the Kensington district. I weaved through closely built flats and found a garden with some benches encased in the brick world. The streets were busy, but having gotten used to the traffic, I was able to cross with everyone else before the walk told us to go. I eventually ran into Curry's PC World, an electronic store that had exactly what I needed. Now armed with a brand new 16GB card, I continued my journey to the nearest tube station, Kensington Tube. The train arrived at 9:35 and was packed. As soon as people left, others scrambled to get a place. Determined not to be left behind, I tried to keep close to the stampede, making sure there was a clear exit for my stop. As I settle into my standing room only spot, I hear a woman shout for her kids to hurry up from behind. I turn to find a tall blond woman in heels and a tighter-than-it-needs-to-be dress heading towards the train. She had her purse on her shoulder, keeping up the pace of a marathon runner at the last stretch and her two kids in both hands, extended out. As soon as they got closer, I realized the horrible truth. She's going to use her kids as battering rams! Sure enough, her oldest kid was shoved into my stomach as she forced her way onto the train. I was pushed into a group of girls behind me and then the shouting started. I kept my head down as people scolded the woman and the group of girls looked at me like I was a pervert who toppled into them on purpose. No amount of apology would save me (I know that look) and I just minded my own until the train arrived at my stop: The Tower of London!   Image provided by freetoursbyfoot.com I arrived at 10:30, just in time for the next Beefeater tour. I learned that a Beefeater was a cerimonial guard of the Tower of London that lived on the grounds and gave tours. One of the coolest things I discovered was that the men and women of the Tower had actually served in the British Military. During the tour, it was told that the guards were known as beefeaters because the original guards of the Tower would get a share of the king's beef supply from the royal kitchens. The guide I had seemed rough, but as the tour went on, he showed his sense of humor. "People come and always talk about the prisoners held in the Tower and the beheadings, which, by the way, were mostly held in the public Trinity Gardens just beyond these walls."  "Here we have the White Tower," our guide gestured behind him. "This tower housed the very first prisoner, the Bishop of Durham." He pointed to the foundation. "The basement was very dark and dank, which was the best place to store the...?" "Prisoners!" everyone shouted. "The wine!" our guide sighed. "Really, ladies and gentlemen, you've got to get over that whole prisoners in the dungeon thing." He continued his story about how the Bishop was given wine during his stay. One night, while in one of the peaks of the Tower (his prison), he invited his guards to drink with him. Soon they were asleep and the Bishop got a rope that was hidden and scaled down the tower to the ground. "So, the very first prisoner the Tower of London ever had escaped!" Next, our guide took us into the Tower chapel. He had us all sit in the pews and stood at the altar. "Anne Boylen was killed on the grounds and her body is buried under this altar." Great, I sighed internally, I was worried about the lack of dead people under my feet. "Please," our guide held up his hands as if to stop someone, "if you are the reincarnation of Anne Boleyn, keep it to yourself. I meet about six of you every day." He took us outside once more and told us that we'd have to part there. "I would suggest taking a look at the crown jewels while you are in the area," he pointed to a building off our left. "And gentlemen, don't be intimidated. They are made to be bigger than what you have." The group parted and I was left to explore on my own. As suggested, I went in to see the jewels and found that pictures were forbidden (not to mention under heavy watch). One of the more amazing stories posted on an information board was the fact that someone had stolen the crown jewels! A man by the name of Thomas Blood and his three companions got into the Tower and attempted to steal the jewels. At the time, the jewels were held on the ground floor with the keepers living above. When the three were caught, Blood was able to convince Charles II to pardon him and give him a monthly stipend. How? Just a smooth criminal I guessed.  Tower Bridge. While London Bridge was a real bridge, it was unstable and collapsed. Yeah, that song you sang as a child, it was a tragedy. Have fun with that realization.
I finished my trip around the Gallery and arrived at Leicester Square by 5:20. Taking the advice I had learned from the Zonzo staff the night before, I looked around for restaurants. A few blocks in, I found my way blocked by a huge crowd. Seeing as how I didn't know my way around or what restaurants to go to, I decided to wander (because that always works in my favor, right?). I ended underneath a red gate with Chinese characters. So this is Chinatown? I followed the crowd and ended up at the Tao Tao Fu restaurant. As I was served, I wondered if I had even eaten at all that day. Could this have been my first meal? I ate everything on my plate and was surprised at my extra fortune cookie. Soon, I was back towards Leicester Square.  Next thing I know, I'm swept up in a crowd going wild. There is a huge screen and then I see it!  I had stumbled onto the London premiere of Star Trek: Into Darkness! While I love Star Wars more than the Trek franchise, I have to admit that I still liked the Trek story line. I went all fanboy and took pictures of the screen when the stars were on (huge crowd, was only able to get so close). The perfect end to an amazing day!...or so I thought.
 The sun had set and I headed back to the nearest Tube around 7pm. A few feet in and I saw it. Right there, out of the corner of my eye! Tokyo Toys Manga Toy Store! As my close friends will attest, I am an anime/manga lover and God help you if you ever try to come in between. They had manga, anime, cosplay, gadgets, pendants, figurines, so many things that I almost had a mini heart attack in the store. I had to give myself a few minutes as I leaned against a wall of life sized pillows called dakimakura (can be explicit content, caution if looking up). I acquired many new items during my stop and held them close as I made my way back to the hotel.  I sat on my bed, admiring my new toys. It had been an amazing day. History in the morning, fun in the evening, surprises everywhere! The freedom to do what I wanted and when. That was what vacation was. I hadn't understood that until now. Not wanting to ruin the great mood, I hopped into bed and sunk into my pillow. I hope tomorrow will be just as fun, I turned off the lights. Little did I know, the next day would not only be special, but tragic as well. To be continued... P.S. - So, Star Trek: Into Darkness was released the very next day and my idiot self was like 'Cool, I'll be sure to see it first thing when I get back home!' Cue to me being back in the States and finding out that the movie didn't come out for another two weeks Stateside. I still beat myself up over that to this day! Music for the Journey Pt. 8:
Getting My New Memory Card: Head in the Clouds by Shiro Sagisu (Bleach Original Soundtrack I) Battering Ram Kids: Great Escape by Hashioto Yukari (Toradora! Original Soundtrack) The Tower of London: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048: Allegro by London Philharmonic Orchestra (The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music) The Nation Gallery: Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: III. Courante by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: V. Menuett by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue by Yo-Yo Ma (Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6) Barrocci Artwork Collection: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier: Book 1, BWV 846-869: Prelude in C Major BWV 846 by Maurizio Pollini (Prelude in C Major - Itunes Discovery Download) Chinatown Food: China Dear China by Relaxation and Meditation (Relaxing Oriental Music) Star Trek: Into Darkness Premiere: Main Theme by Michael Giacchino (Star Trek: Into Darkness Soundtrack) Tokyo Toys!: Mayaa to Ita Kisetsu by Kurihara Masaki (Azumanga Daioh Original Soundtrack) Good Night: Star Trek Deep Space Nine - After 3:00 A.M. At Quarks by Dennis McCarthy (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) End Pt. 8: Rewrite (Live) by (My Favorite Band) Asian Kung Fu Generation (Live Concert)  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)
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))  Why are there seagulls outside my window? I thought as I opened my eyes. Light was stretching across the floor from underneath the curtains. I pushed the sheets off and started to roll over only to find that my bed was smaller than I remembered. I sat up and looked around, still trying to gather my thoughts. On the nightstand was my watch and bag and an empty bottle of water. I looked over to my left to see a high ceiling with a chandler hanging from it. At the far wall stood a desk with Keurig cups and Ipod station clock. This isn't my room. I stood and walked to the window, getting blasted in the face with bright sun. I shielded my eyes to see the old stone buildings stretching beyond the glass, a large abbey in the center of them. Reality came back to me. I was in Bath Spa in England! It seemed that my vacation hadn't sunk in yet and I was still thinking I had to go to work. I showered, dressed, and headed downstairs to the attached restaurant called Brasserie Brunel. Since I was a guest here, I was able to get a free breakfast. I checked over the menu and found an interesting choice. A full or half English breakfast was new to me and obviously part of the culture. I had promised myself to try and fit in as best I could. I ordered a full English and was surprised by what was on the platter. Two eggs any style, bacon (looked like a ham slice, but tasted like the bacon strips in America), sausage, mushrooms, two wedges of tomatoes, baked beans, and toast with jam, all along with tea leaves, a strainer and hot water for the tea cup at the table. I ate it all, though I was also surprised that I did. I don't normally (translate to EVER) eat tomatoes, baked beans, or mushrooms (unless on pizza) for breakfast. The choices opened my eyes to the deliciousness I was missing out on.  A sample of what I ordered. I did not take this picture because by the time I thought to do so, I had already finished it.
 Bath Abbey. With breakfast done, I took a new route as I set out into Bath and ended up at Bath Abbey. My plan was to go in, but I saw something else out of the corner of my eye. A small group was gathering around two people. I inched my way closer and found that it was a walking tour. It was set for 10:30 am. I decided that I could visit the abbey later. We walked back the way I came, stopping in a circle street. Our tour guide gestured to a long archway and told us about how that was the gateway to the original abbey. He went on to say that Henry VII burned the original to the ground because they didn't conform to his beliefs. The city believes that the original abbey stood from the gateway to Orange Grove (a pretty big layout when you look at a map). Continuing the tour, we traveled to the Orange Grove, which was named after the Duke of Orange. The big treat was when we went uphill to a place called The Circus. The Circus was a ring of flats that people lived in. The cost - 1 million pounds. He pointed out one of the flats. "That one was bought by Nicolas Cage, but he had to sell it due to his financial issues," he said. "Fun fact, the man who lives there currently is under investigation for fraud, so everyone believes that flat to be cursed." From the Circus, we walked to the Royal Crescent, a half-moon shaped row of flats. Our guide informed us that the price to live there was the same as the Circus. The Crescent had a large open field of grass, a field closer to it cut off by a pathway. As I looked closer at a sign, it seemed that that patch of grass was only for Royal Crescent residents. The group traveled downhill from the Royal Crescent, to the Victoria Gardens, named after Queen Victoria. "Now, Queen Victoria visited Bath Spa to see these gardens," our guide stopped us. "Bath, at the time, was dirty with soot and the Queen refused to ever come back, even with the restoration." Our tour concluded back at the Abbey. Ignoring my original plan of going inside, I decided to continue exploring on my own.
 One of the selections for Sunday Roast. I took out the map that I had gotten at the Royal Hotel and scanned it as I walked. Today's the day, I told myself. Today I will use this map and won't get...dang it! I was lost again, though this time I was still within the city. I looked around, trying to find anything that resembled the things on the map. I had no luck. Two hours passed me by as I wandered, enjoying the scenery. There were gardens and river pathways, buildings still covered in soot from the old days, and all manner of people walking the streets. At 1:51 pm, I found the edge of familiar territory at The Cork. I walked into the pub to find that it was towards the end of Sunday Roast. I entered to the welcoming atmosphere. The music of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, The Commadores, and Marvin Gaye drifted into my ears as I ordered and ate. Some patrons sat eating at a couch, others joined tables. I listened to the laughter and light-hearted conversation all around me. I ate my food in the relaxing environment, resting my aching body for the adventure ahead.
 I left The Cork and headed to my original destination that day, Bath Abbey. Once again, something caught my eye and I veered away from the Abbey, ending up at The Roman Baths next to it. I had read that the Baths were what the city was best known for. I rented a tour tape and walked through the building. Every once in a while, there would be a number for me to punch in and I would learn the history of whatever piece I was at. The large pool of water below the balcony (see left picture), was a public bath. Men, women, and children would gather and bathe together. Later, when I traveled to the ground floor, I discovered that there were private baths to use as well. Continuing through the chambers, I came across a huge pool. The tape told me that people would throw coins and even gems into it and make a wish. I found that some of the coins and gems had been fished out and put on display. The tour concluded with a chance to drink filtered water from the baths. It was considered healing water and would cure anyone. I took a small cup from the stack and held it under the gentle waterfall. It looked okay to me as I swirled it around. "Bottoms up," I muttered as I tipped it back into my mouth. The warmth of the water hit my tongue and I paused, deciding if I should spit it out. I was surrounded by other tourists and I didn't want to make this part of the attraction bad. I swallowed the warm water, tossed the cup, and left.
Trying to forget the taste, I headed over to Bath Abbey, determined not to be deterred again. The building itself was beautiful, with statues of angels climbing the outside. I entered, paid a donation, and walked onto the floor and paused. There were different sizes of stone tiles on the floor. I walked up to the nearest one and read it. My blood drained as I realized it was a grave. I, who was uncomfortable walking in cemeteries, was standing next to the dead. I moved to the side as I realized I was above a bodies head. I turned my own head and found the entire floor was made of grave tiles, some as large as a person. While I had heard of this in old churches, I wasn't truly prepared. While I walked around, snapping pictures of the beauty, I made sure to avoid the center of the bodies and just walked around them as best I could. Getting hungry, I left the Abbey and searched for a place to eat. I found a fast food type place that served me fish n' chips. Friends and family had told me that I needed to try it, but the experience kind of disappointed me. I didn't know what I was expecting with it, but I knew that this was not what I was supposed to have. Still, food was what I needed and I ate it happily. I looked out the window at the people that passed by. They walked in and out of the buildings, the setting sun casting shadows over their paths. How small I felt, sitting in the restaurant and seeing how many other people were around me. I started to feel lonely. Finishing my meal, I left and joined the thinning crowd in the outside world. I returned to my hotel at 8:35 pm. Zoe was at the front desk, writing something in a book. I inquired about it and she told me that it was a time sheet to log the hours that she had worked. I was surprised. "You don't have to do this at your job?" she asked. "No, we just use a fingerprint reader to clock in or out." She seemed impressed and asked if we used spy technology for everyday life. As the night continued, we discovered the differences in each other's culture. I learned some British lingo, talked about the difference in schooling and bacon (of all things), and some of the other employees joined in. This was the experience I had come for, this was what I longed for. By 10 pm, Zoe and the others left and I went to my room. I dropped my writer's bag and watch on the table. I docked by Ipod to charge and play music as I looked out through the open curtains. The shining lights of Bath Spa illuminated the navy blue sky. This is my last night in this beautiful city, I realized. When morning came, I would be on my way to London. Would I be all right? Was two days enough time to be ready for a transfer to a big city? I can't think like that. It will be fine. You'll do great! I drew the curtains, changed into my sleep attire, and slid into bed. I stared up at the ceiling again, preparing myself for tomorrow. I would finally live my dream of going to London, England. I couldn't, no, I wouldn't let my fear get the better of me. This trip was mine and I would enjoy it 100%. I reached over to the bedside table and turned off the lamp. I curled up in the bed and steadied my breathing. This time tomorrow, I will be in London...I can't wait, I smiled as I drifted to sleep. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 3:
Waking to seagulls: Tsuntsun Kenken by Yasuhiro Misawa (Kotoura-san Blu-ray Special CD 1) Full English Breakfast: Peorth by Hamaguchi Shirou (Ah! My Goddess Sorezore no Tsubasa Original Soundtrack) Walking Tour: Emily's Reel by Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer & Mark O'Connor (Appalachian Journey) Lost Again: Lightning Bolt by Jake Bugg (Lightning Bolt - Single) Chaconne in G Major by Daniel Hope, Lorenza Borrani, Jonathan Cohen, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Stefan Maass, Stefan Rath & Hans-Kristian Kjos Sorensen (Air - A Baroque Journey) The Cork/Sunday Roast: My Girl by The Temptations (20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Motown 1960s , Vol. 1) Ooo Baby Baby by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (My World - The Definitive Collection) Brick House by The Commodores (The Best of The Commodores: The Millennium Collection) Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (The Very Best of Marvin Gaye) The Roman Baths: Carla no Kokuhaku by Yasuharu Takanashi (TV Anime "FAIRY TAIL" Original Soundtrack Vol. 3) Bath Abbey: Heimr Àrnadalr by Christophe Beck (Frozen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Deluxe Edition]) Fish n' Chips: Moment of Rest by Maeda Jun (Angel Beats! Original Soundtrack) Talking with Zoe: Saigo no Yoru by Kawada Ruka (Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book - Hajimemashite Yoroshiku ne.) Last night to look at the city: A Tender Feeling by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 1) End Pt. 3: Runs & Winds by Joshua Hyslop (In Deepest Blue) My plane landed and I followed the crowd like salmon swimming up river. Soon, I was in line to have my passport checked. The attendant asked me about my visit, if I was there alone, if I was bringing anything into the country that was dangerous, and how long I was staying. I was alert enough to find that she repeated the questions in a new way. I was also awake enough to not stumble. My passport was stamped and I continued to follow the crowd. I then found myself apart of a more sparse group that were headed to the trains and buses. I arrived at 6:30 am and headed to the ticket counter. "Hello," I greeted. "Could I get a ticket to Bath Spa?" The woman's response was hard to understand. Her accent was thick and it sounded like she was saying "Bespa." Seeing my difficulty, she repeated slowly so I could hear it. Yep, that was my destination. My confusion returned when she gave me the price. "Twenty-one pounds and eighty pence?" I pulled out some money that the family had given me. I felt foolish that I had done so much research except the basic skill of how to exchange money. I was thankful as she helped me sort it out and explained what I needed to know. I received my ticket and was ready to board...as soon as 8:15 am came around. Since I had so much time to kill, I sat in the terminal and watched people. I listened to the difference in speech, stories (if I could understand the language), and I made friends with the countless pigeons that roamed the floor (one was nestled right next to me on the seat. His name was Greg). 8:15 arrived and I boarded the bus. There weren't many people on. Three elderly people who were asleep and a crowd of three from Spain. Boarding the bus with me was a group of five from France and two teens that hadn't stopped snogging since I had arrived at the bus terminal (I don't think they ever stopped the entire trip). The bus pulled out of the station and the watched the city life turn into country side. As I watched the rolling green hills speed by, I felt the effects of jet lag sinking into my body. My eye lids started to droop and I noticed my breathing becoming slow and steady. I needed to stay awake! I looked down at the ticket in my hand, taking in the information printed. While I had originally planned to just be in London for two weeks, advice from friends and family told me to choose a smaller area. I figured it would help me start an understanding of the culture without the full blast of city life. With that settled, I had chosen Bath Spa, home of the Roman Baths, as a starting point. From the information I was able to gather, it seemed like a nice small town and had good reviews. I felt my mind wandering into sleep again and brought out my Ipod and popped the earbuds in. While I listened to upbeat music, I watched the other drivers on the, what I felt, was a narrow road. I paid attention to the roundabouts and how uniform the driving seemed to be. We reached Sainsbury by 8:54, Chippenham at 10:00, and the bus finally pulled into Bath station a half hour later.  I got up and collected my bags again, exiting the bus with two of the elderly and the couple that stopped making out long enough to leave. I had printed out a map of where my hotel was and was surprised that it was just diagonal to the station. The Royal hotel was on a street corner right across from the train station. I entered to a lobby area of two chairs in an alcove and a fireplace. Around the corner was the reception desk, a small cut out in the wall. The receptionist told me that I wasn't able to check in until 1 pm as they were still getting the room ready. I was welcomed to leave my luggage there under lock and key. I took a sling bag from my back pack, will be henceforth known as my writer's bag, and headed out to explore the town!
I spent the next hour exploring the city of Bath. I walked through alleyways and vertical streets, taking pictures of my surroundings. I discovered that my hotel was at the very bottom of the uphill city. Being the unfit man I was, I had trouble getting from one block to the other, wheezing at every uphill battle. Definitely should have worked out more before coming here, I thought after the fifth block. I came across a blue door during my struggle. It was different than the doors I had seen before. I took a picture of it. It led me to a stained-glass window of a church, T.K. Maxx, and eventually to Hogsmeade Park. I followed the path to a small pavilion and took a picture of the distant hills over the buildings. I checked my watch to find it was noon and I would be able to check into my room soon. I started downhill and ended up in an unfamiliar area. I should try and retrace my steps, I figured. I didn't have a map and I felt that I had asked directions one too many times. It was time to pull up my big boy pants and trust my instincts. I headed back towards the park. When I continued uphill without finding it, I knew I was in trouble. I remembered something like this had happened before. Back home, I had gotten lost with my friend in our hometown state park (I was asked to lead). The embarrassing part of that was the fact that the trails had been well marked! I continued in what I hoped was the right direction. The city started to fade and I ended up on a country path. It was wide and headed in the direction of my hotel (I hoped).  My view from Hogsmeade Park.  By 1 pm I was hopelessly lost. I had traveled the road more than I knew I should have and the sun was beating down on me. My clothes were drenched in sweat, I had finished my rations of protein bars (they were supposed to last the entire trip!), I needed water, and I needed to know where I was! This feels like castaway, I thought as my shoes continued to scrape the dirt road, except that I'm an idiot and not on an island. I scanned ahead for anything I could find to mark my location. I remembered an old castle-like building on a hill as the bus had neared Bath. I couldn't find that anywhere. I couldn't find that, but I saw something else. A bicycle riding towards me! I was saved! The rider approached and noticed my sorry state. She stopped and asked if I was okay. "I'm a little lost," I chuckled. "I'm trying to get to Bath Spa." Her widened eyes told me that I was really lost. "Well, you're almost to Kelston," she informed me. "And if you continue past that, you'll reach Bristol." She pointed back down the road. "Go back the way you came and you'll find a smaller road that will lead you back down to Bath Spa." I thanked her and turned around, her bike going ahead of me. I walked all the way back and found a smaller road that I had missed before. It led me downhill and to a street that was familiar to me. I was back in Bath! I reached my hotel at 2 pm and went to the reception desk. A new girl was there, Zoe, and she checked me in, flabbergasted that I had almost walked to Kelston (4 miles/1 hr at least walking from Bath). I received my baggage and trudged up the stairs to my room. I felt lucky that it was the first room at the first floor and I didn't have to continue climbing. I entered my room. It was thin, with tall ceilings. I don't think I took everything in. I showered, changed my clothes, and fell into the bed. I spotted a bottle of water on the bedside table. Still dehydrated, I grabbed it and drank it in no time at all. Even warm, the water refreshed me. I laid back down in bed and fell into a blissful sleep, my mind and body weary.  I woke to the sound of seagulls. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. Where am I? I looked around at the unfamiliar setting. This wasn't my room. Oh, that was right! I was in England! Information was making its way back to me. I got off the bed and walked over to a desk at the other end of the small room. The clock on its surface read 6:30 pm. I sat in the chair and looked over the brochures they had. Pubs, food, seasonal events, the list continued. My mind was not alert enough to soak everything in. I thought back to my time of being lost. All during my journey, I had come across pinkish-purple signs advertising a comedy walk. I had even taken a picture of it. I went to my camera and flipped through my trip, coming across the subject. "Huntsman Inn," I read. "8 pm..." I glanced at the clock. It was a little past 7 now. I collected my coat and an umbrella and headed downstairs. "Excuse me," I asked Zoe at the front desk. "Can you tell me how to get to the Huntsman Inn?" She pulled out a map and circled both the hotel and my destination, drawing a line for the best route there. I thanked her, took the map, and headed out into the evening air. It was still a bit humid, but a cool breeze was starting to blow. I arrived at the Huntsman Inn a few minutes later (amazing how much time you save when you have a map, right?) A small group was gathering and a man in a purple suit came out of the building. "Welcome!" he was energetic. "Who is here for the Bizarre Bath Tour?" I raised my hand with everyone else. "Wonderful! Did anyone pre-book tickets before coming here?" He paused. "We'll I hope not because then you've been scammed and you'll still have to pay me. It's ten pounds each, seven for students." Knowing the monetary system now, I pulled out £10 from my writers bag and handed it to him. "Now that that is done, please raise your hand if this is your first time." Everyone hesitated. "On the tour," he laughed. "We'll now I know what kind of crowd I'm working with tonight." I laughed with the others as I raised my hand with a few others. He asked each where they were from. There was a couple from Spain, another from China, two from Bristol, another from Alabama, and of course me. "Philip, from Illinois," I said. "Okay, if I need you for something, I'll call out Illinoisssssss," he pronounced the S (the S is silent for those who do not know. Pronounced L-lee-noy). He took us to an alley way with a sign above a door. "Some people think we are all comedy, but this is also a historical tour as well. Does anyone know what this building is?" We shook our heads and he looked up and started reading from the sign. We continued on the tour, making stops along the way. He had small activities set up and jokes abound. At one point, a couple walked in front of the tour while he was talking to us on a soap box. He paused and we all watched them pass by. "Sorry about that," he came back to us. "I was just surprised since that was my fiance there...don't know who that woman was with him." He cracked a grin with the light tone at the end of his improv. During middle of the tour, it started to rain. I was glad I had come prepared. A man asked if I would share the umbrella with his girlfriend. "You can have it if you two need," I offered. "No, that's fine, mate, I'll be fine," he said. Talking with them while we walked, I found that they were the couple from Bristol and while they were aware of the rainy weather, they still had not packed an umbrella. By tours end, I didn't feel so lost in the world. The group parted and I headed back to my hotel. I reached my room by midnight and changed into pajama pants and a white t-shirt before sliding into bed. I turned off the lamp and stared at the ceiling. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I thought of the excitement that I had that day. It had been scary getting lost, but being with everyone at the Bath tour made everything seem better again. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep with the sound of the seagulls shrill calls. To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 2:
-To the Buses: Leon Outo no Machinami by Yokoyama Masaru, Tsutsumi Hiroaki (Yūsha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shūshoku o Ketsui Shimashita Vol. 1 Special CD) - Bus Ride to Bath: Morning Coffee by Kawada Ruka (Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book) Imegir by SILVA (Claridão) Ocean by The John Butler Trio (Searching for Heritage) Finch on Saturday by Horse Feathers (Words are Dead) - Exploring Bath Spa/Lost: Tachikoma No Iede by Kanno Yoko (Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex: Be Human) Bushitsu Nite by Yashurio Misawa (Kotoura-san Blu-ray Special CD 1) School Road by RADWIMPS (Kimi no Na wa OST) - Bizarre Bath Tour: Yahalloo! by Ishihama Kakeru (Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru Original Sountrack) - A Look Back Before Bed: Memory by Maeda Jun (Angel Beats! Original Soundtrack) - End Pt. 2: Behind the Sea (Alternate Version) by Panic! At the Disco (Pretty.Odd - Deluxe Version) I opened my eyes to my mother telling me we were almost at the airport. I stayed leaned back in the car seat, feeling the hum off the vehicle, trying to wake up. When I finally sat up, bringing the back with me, I looked out the window. We were coming up to O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois. I rubbed my eyes, trying to gather my mind as to why I was here. I had stayed up the night before trying to finish writing my first book, Kubrit (A task that would have been much easier had my computer not crashed and half of what I had written was erased). I remembered thinking, If the plane crashes, I at least want the gist of this done. (Positive thought, right?). I saved the file, finished packing, jumped into mother's car, and fell asleep. The rest comes back to me as we near the sidewalk entrance. I was on my first trip alone. My destinations: Bath Spa and London, England. My heart started to beat in my chest, my mind fully awake now. I jumped out of the car as we parked, everything had to be timed perfectly so the crowd of cars behind didn't get annoyed. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and pulled the wheeling suitcase from the backseat. I hugged and kissed my mother and walked into the airport. Did I mention that this was my first trip alone? I was on a lot of family vacations, but everything was done for me. So, there were two options for me. Continue the stereotype of men refusing to ask directions, or swallow the pride I didn't have and ask for help. I asked and was directed to the line I needed to be in, my suitcase small enough to be carry on. I looked ahead to find the body scanners. I had read article on the best way to handle the situation. Demanding that they put your shoes on after making you take them off is not one of them. Still tired, I forgot that I was wearing a belt and the machine beeped at me. As if turning around and facing everyone that I was holding up wasn't embarrassing enough, I had to wait in line in socks until my turn came around again. I made it through no problem the second time and gathered my things, heading for my terminal. It was a long stretch and I found myself huffing and puffing as I reached my area. I should have worked out more, I thought as I sat down, waiting for my flight. An announcement came over the speaker, letting me know that the flight was running late, but would be arriving in half an hour. I twiddled my thumbs and checked my packs every few seconds. My nerves were creeping up again. I shouldn't be on my own, I told myself. I should be back home, perfecting my book. I was crumbling. Forget a sleepover at a friends house for a week, I was staying overseas for almost two weeks! Who knew if I would even make it. The plane could crash! While I was in my worry, the plane landed, passengers exited, and all that was left was to wait until they called my seat. I texted a few friends, called another few. The responses I received made me feel more confident, but also made me wish they were right there with me (some offered, but wanted me to pay for their ticket. Not happening!). My seating was called and I got up into the boarding line. "Where are you headed to?" the woman behind me asked. I turned to find a woman looking to be in her early sixties smiling up at me. "Bath Spa and London." "Bath Spa is lovely." Her voice sounded American, so I figured she was a fellow traveler as well. While the line moved forward slowly, I asked her what she knew about our destination. She told me that her husband was a pastor that was called to a church in England, so they had lived there for a while. "I'm heading back after visiting family," she said. "As for things to do, I would suggest heading into a pub for fish n' chips. Oh, and you need to have Sunday Roast, which is usually served around lunch time." I assured her I would as we boarded the plane and parted ways, making a mental note to look up what Sunday Roast was. I strapped into my window seat, the only other person in my row taking the aisle seat. The plane starts to move and I found my fingernails digging into the armrests. Was it my nerves about my trip? As the plane started to speed up and I was pressed back into my seat, I felt a sickening rise in my stomach. Oh, right, I remembered, I hate take off and landing. While I tried to keep my cool, I couldn't help but look out the window. In a single moment, I felt the gravity of the world disappear around my body as the last of the wheels left the ground. The people become smaller and smaller, the backed up traffic of Chicago becoming a shiny river. The tall buildings that I was in awe of as we got closer in the car were now like Matchbox play sets. The plane turned, making sure to head toward our proper destination. As we broke through the clouds, I could see the sun setting in the distance, its beauty unhindered by city lights or crowded streets. I set the touch screen in the seat in front to the map and then leaned my head against the side. As the clouds flew past my window and the dusk sky turned into a blanket of stars, I found peace within the heavens, my dreams filled with excitement of the future. I awoke to a gentle tap on my shoulder. The other passenger in the row was letting me know that dinner was being served. I chose the beef brisket which tasted much better than the past airline food I had been given during the family trips. I checked our progress on the map display as I ate, seeing we were about half way in our 8 hour flight. I checked my phone to find that I had no service and that my phone didn't carry an international package (I had an old flip phone). Guess I will have to communicate through Facebook, I thought to myself as I turned off my phone's power. After dinner, I fell asleep again, this time waking to an announcement from the captain that we were flying directly over Dublin, Ireland. I looked out the window to find the darkness of night broken by a city of lights. I couldn't make out anything specific, but the sparkle of the city made the sight beautiful nonetheless. I had read articles about jet lag and that once you landed, you wanted to stay up until that night so your body would adjust to the time change. Knowing that, I stayed up the rest of the flight, the dawn finally pulling back the cover of night. A half an hour later at 5:50 am, the pilot announced the arrival to Heathrow airport. I looked out the window again to find the same blanket of clouds we had been over for the last leg of the journey. Every once in a while, I was able to catch a glimpse of a building or a body of water. Before my observations could amount to much, I felt my stomach lurch into my throat. The plane started to drop as if sliding down a hill slide with several bumps along the way. I found myself gripping the armrests again. I tried to think of how to improve Kubrit. What adventures would I have in this new land? We disappeared into the clouds, my vision obscured. The blindness wasn't helping me relax. We broke through the fluffy white and I saw the ground rising fast. "Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god!" I hissed under my breath. The plane evened out without so much as a bump. With the grace of a ballet, the pilots rolled the plane up to the terminal exit. I calmed myself as everyone else started to disembark. My body was not yet used to the idea of being on land again. As the crowd thinned, I gathered my backpack, suitcase, and left the plane as well. You know that moment in movies and TV shows? The one where the main character arrives somewhere new and they take a moment to appreciate the view? They have a smile or a confident smirk on their face, their eyes alight with passion for their adventure. They breath in deep and let out a contented sigh before picking up their belongings and heading out. This was my moment. I was a stranger in a new land. I wore that smile. I had that passion. I breathed in deeply and realized...I was holding up the people trying to get out of the airport. With my ears turning a shade of red, I gathered everything and followed the crowd who looked like they knew where they were going. Even through my embarrassment, I was excited. My first trip alone in an unknown world was truly beginning! To be continued... Music for the Journey Pt. 1:
- Arrival at Airport: Happy Monday by Hashimoto Yukari (Toradora OST) - Flight to England: To the Sky by Owl City - Heroic Pose: Arrival by James Dooley (Position Music - Orchestral Series Vol. 2) - End Pt. 1: Starlight by Muse (Black Holes and Revelations) |
Philip M. WardenI like to write and I like to travel. Why not put both together? Archives
June 2016
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