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Here it is. By popular demand. For those of you expecting the Matt Mayberry, trip to Mars blog, stop reading now. This trip is in no way shape or form like going to Africa, Asia and Indonesia. For starters, it costs more than $5 to get a happy ending here.
So here is a recap of my first days of this trip, which I spent in London. I do not have access to a memory card reader, so use your imagination until the pictures come.
May 7-8:
I was not planning on writing anything about the flight, but I had a conversation with a cool looking guy at the Chili's bar at LAX. While the flavorless meat and lettuce in my grilled chicken salad, the story and sagacious words this guy had for me made the $10 meal well worth it. Hopefully this is an example of the interesting people I will meet over the next two months.
This 35 year old tommy bahama wearing pothead from LA, has a house in LA, Hawaii and France. In Hawaii he grows his own produce, hunts wild boars, spearfishes, and even has solar power for the few appliances he uses. No TV, no books, no muic, he grows his own pot, smokes, and thinks. He conitnued on explaining how he got there, which can be surmised in one phrase: Stay debt free! While this probably was a very bland opening for my blog, it really was a great converstation. Shut up Seidel, I can hear you laughing from here, haha.
May 9:
TIP: Do not take an ambien if there is a chance you will not sleep.
I did not sleep on the plane, and combining that with taking an ambien, and the jetlag, I was absolutely dead when I got here. But, in true University of Arizona fashion, I called my one connection still in Europe ( a third cousin who is from NY but works here right now), and proceeded to head to the pubs on two days of no sleep.
At least 6 beers, one shot of Jameson, one shot of tequilla, and two margaritas. I felt like absolute shit the next day, but that could also be attributed to smoking my first cigarette, f'ing disgusting ( dont tell anyone, and techincally, I still have never had a cigarette, different continent so it doesnt count). Everyone here rolls there own fags (thats what they call cigarettes, very interesting), and they have very interesting disclaimers, check it out: http://www.changingstates.co.uk/images/smoking-packs-new/slow-painful-death.jpg
I hiked all day and took care of the touristy stuff, the London Eye, River Thames Cruise, London Dungeon (which is not a museum, its a haunted mansion, thanks for the tip dad). All of these places are on londons south bank, a very cool area much like garnett in Pacific Beach, or Venice Beach, but a lot more upscale. There a lot of street performers, which is great, free entertainment.
May 10:
Today started off very informative with the double decker bus tour, but got very sentimental.
I found the Synagogue where my grandparents were married. Strangely enough, the area is now Pakistan. Middle eastern, Arab stores everywhere, and then the Temple. The temple goes so far to have no jewish emblems on the outside whatsoever, for security. I walked in, explained the situation, and two older ladies were so happy I was there. But they would not let me in, I had no credentials and they have to be very serious about security because they are located in Dubai. It still meant a lot that I got to see it though.
Soon thereafter, I embarked on the underground to see something I have been looking forward to for a very long time, the ARSENAL CHELSEA GAME! Unbeknowest to me, tickets are only in season ticket form, they do not even have a box office or single game tickets. After chatting with a family from Scotland going to the game, I walked around the Emirates Stadium (even more evidence of the Middle Eastern takeover of London), in an attempt to maybe find someone scalping. After one exhaustive hour I met Bill.
BIll has been an Arsenal fan for his whole life and has had season tickets for 30 years. He offered the one ticket for 100€ and I accepted. I was at the game! Pictures are coming soon, but football is not just sport over here, it is religion, it is culture, it is what defines these people.
May 11:
When you are by yourself, hostels make you check out almost every day, so they can accomodate groups who reserved whole rooms. The first two nights I had two german girls (not cute, but cool), and a mexican guy (when he snored, my bed creaked from the vibrations). I moved to 6 bed room last night, and tonight (the 12th) im in a two bed room. Anyways, today I finally felt better, I got ten hours of sleep and had a great day. I went to the british museum, and saw nothing from Britian. But they had enough stuff stolen from other cultures that filled up a building bigger than the smithsonian. I will put pictures up of my favorite things from there soon.
That night, there was a trivia night in the hostel bar. I teamed up with a Kiwi, two aussie girls, an american, and two canadians. Had a greattt time.
May 12:
Today I hung out all day with my team from the night before, the wind was probably 45 mph.
Im off to a pub crawl right now, they dont let you wear sandals out here, I dont know what im going to do.
Thanks for reading guys, im doing this so you can all see how great the world is and do your own trip.
More soon.
-Scott
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Meghan
non-member comment
Awesome!
Scott, nice little blog! Sounds like you're off to a good start. I'm very jealous of you as I sit here at my desk reading your blog and pretending to write a news release on the most boring event in the world. Thank you for helping me procrastinate. Be safe and I look forward to the pics!