Pre-trip; London Days

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As my last trip ended in London in March 2010, I'd had a return flight which I took exactly a year later, spending a few days gallivanting around. I stayed at a pretty decent hostel on the River Thames where the best part was free lemonade and soft drinks all day! I got to take the double-decker people carrier (the 2-story red bus) around London- sitting up in the top makes it look like the driver is going to hit everything nearby! But it is more scenic and exciting.

Spent a few hours exploring the British Museum, of course, which satisfied my inner nerd. On the way back, I crammed in the tube with Londoners during rush hour, which is always an invigorating experience. (HA!)

Next morning off to a note-worthy museum on Baker Street, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is really amazing, even though i am not a Holmes follower. It was a very unique and interesting museum, supposed to be where Holmes/Watson 'lived', being an old house-turned museum. There were figures made of that looked very life-like and depicted characters and scenes from the books. Also some chopped off ears, a hand, a voodoo baby, and a few other random objects. My favourite being a legitimate letter from the Inland Revenue saying "I'm sorry to trouble you, but I am trying to contact Mr Sherlock Holmes who I believe used to be at your address. If you have a later address or phone number for Mr Holmes, could you please note it overleaf and return this letter to me in the reply envelope."

I then returned to the British Museum for a few more hours since I hadn't seen some of the exhibits i was very interested in seeing, such as a life in times of people around the world. My favourites being a collection of pharmaceutical information and a clear display table about 20m or so long, full of 14,000 pills, the average number of pills the average Briton takes in their lifetime, according to the caption. Another exhibit in the African arts area really moved me... It was called The Tree of Life, and started in Mozambique in 1990's after the civil war. 4 artists started taking old guns used in war and welded them into artworks. The most magnificent being the Tree of Life, a tree made entirely of old guns and AK47 cartridges which nearly brought me to tears .. Here is a country where estimated 7million guns were shipped into Mozambique (none were made in Africa) during this civil war, each capable of killing a person with each bullet. This country torn by war, they turned weapons into something beautiful and meaningful that can be appreciated worldwide. It was amazing. And as one of the artists said about the guns, they were "symbols of death made powerless to kill" .. i nearly started crying right there in the museum! Very emotional exhibit...

After a jaunt around Trafalgar Square, on to the usual toward Parliament Square .. Outside was a group of tents and Peace flags, peaceful protest notifications, images of brutality caused by western nations on to the rest of the world, etc. A group supportive of Brian Haw who is fighting for Peace for all, among a few wannabe groups who joined him later on - this man has been in Parliament Square since 2001. Out of curiosity, i crossed over to talk to one of the guys and was roped in to a very thought-provoking conversation which i felt i had to cut short as i was chatting with a "protester" outside of House of Parliament; fearful I would be arrested or deported!

My past travel companion, Step, joined me in London for a few days, haven't seen him in a year exactly! We had a cheap meal and drinks at Wetherspoons across Tower Bridge (fish and chips for me!). Then a night visit of Piccadilly Circus (the poor man's Time Square!) and to Soho for a drink... Soho is interesting- lined with "Thai model massages", sex shoppes, dance clubs, gay strip clubs, and the like. The pub we got a drink at had a "lady of the evening" standing out front.

Final night in London at the Museum of Natural History, since i missed it last year .. and frolicking around London. Another meal at Wehterspoons (bangers and mash) and early morning wake up to the train, taking early morning ride to Stansted airport. Flight for Girona-Barcelona, Spain!


From here on, i will be in foreign territory by myself for an undetermined amount of time, with no plan, no itinerary, no time restraint (except my 90 day visa) .. just me and endless possibilities... Oh, and Ralph, my travel mascot!

Into the unknown!


^Út Í Óvissuna^

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Photos

View from the Afternoon
somewhere some place in London :)

View from the bus
London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, etc ..

Look Right
Traffic flow doesn't follow the rest of the world in England

Rush Hour
London Underground

Tall Guards
British Museum Day 1 of 2

Egyptian Tomb
The story of the Pharaoh written outside. But i don't know what it says... My hieroglyphics are a bit rusty.

Stone slabs
Long tunnel full of flat slabs intricately carved images in the rocks

Jacket made of intestine
No, seriously, it's a jacket made of intestine linings. Apparently very effective at being wind/waterproof

Pills
A small section of the 14000 pill display

Pill display table
British museum

Gun Chair
If you sit down, will it shoot your bum?

"Tree of Life"
~10ft tall, made of bits from guns, AK47s, and the like

Tree Trunk
"Symbols of death made powerless to kill"

Jade
This was about 4cmx4cm and extremely detailed

Comments

[Gramma]

Hi & Good Luck!
Glad to see you're on your way again! Good Luck to you in your travels. Keep sending pictures--anxious to see what Spain is like. Love you and praying for you. Gramma & Fred