Wednesday 26.11.08
Well two flights done, and two more to go. Meanwhile i have a full day stop over in London, and a full night to catch up on some sleep in a real bed, cool. After a nice hot shower at the Inn in Middlesex, it was just a matter of catching a free bus from across the road back into Heathrow airport bus station, and then catching the underground train, which was down stairs in the same complex. I discovered that they don't accept the international student card, but you can purchase an all day ticket for around $7.00, and use it as much as you like until midnight that day. I bought a map of London from a news stand, and decided to start with the Tower of London, then, time permitting the Saint Paul's Cathedral (i read somewhere years ago that it was built on top of an ancient pagan temple), and find someplace to eat somewhere along the way.

At the changing of train lines at Kensington, i found out that there was a nice little Lebanese cafe not far from the station. Good timing as my tummy was starting to complain. I had such a nice meal, it was fresh and they had all my favourite dishes, and more. It only cost half of what i was told would cost for a meal in London, well done to me! Unlike some places the portions were quite big, so i had the rest later for dinner.

Later, whilst sipping on my delicious Lebanese coffee, and nibbling on my complementary baklava, a man approached me, and asked if i was Arabic. it turns out that he thought i was Muslim because i had a scarf on my head and eating at a Lebanese place. I explained that i wasn't a Muslim, i was just keeping my head warm. Anyway he is an Egyptian banker passing through on his way to his house in Spain, then back to America. We had a chat over some more coffee, and i found him very interesting, intelligent, well travelled, and a very warm hearted person. We later parted at the train station (see below for video pic).

I continued my journey on another train, and got off at Tower Hill station, which is walking distance from the Tower of London. On my way there, i bumped into some roasting chest nuts. I could not resist, besides putting some in each pocket kept my hands warm.

Later, i got to see the Tower for the first time; the size of it was overwhelming, i realised that you could never get this feeling from a picture. I was informed that it was about a thousand years old. The entry ticket was about $160.00. Deciding that it was a bit too expensive for me, i contented myself with the outside.

Can i take a picture of your nuts?

The Tower of London was built in 1066. Then opened to the public in 1894 by the Prince of Wales. Tudor prisoners of state were brought by boat to be guarded by the Yeomen wardens before their trial/execution.

Just imagine Sir Thomas More being brought here for his trial. You might know him from the play 'A Man for all Seasons'. It's one of my favourites from high school, and it was awesome standing there imagining what it was like for him being in a place like this...

Traitors Gate

In front of the tower is the Thames river where there, in its magnificence stood the London Bridge. Again, enormous and being there in person is so different from a picture.





London Bridge

Later, I took a train and got off at Mansion House station, and walked up to St. Paul’s Cathedral. On the way I noticed that there was an exhibition on at the Queen Victoria and Albert museum (see below for video clip), unfortunately I was not allowed to take any photos so I made myself contented with the outside of the building which

Saint Paul's Cathedral was also quite interesting. Opened in

1899 by the Queen's consort. I

remember the date because it's the same

year my grandmother was born. The exhibition was breathtaking it had displays of furniture, oberjet de arte, and period clothing from around Europe dating back to the 11th century. I would have loved to take photos of the clothing to show a friend of mine who collects period costumes.

I continued up the street to arrive at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and was surprised that they charged entry, but anyway it was not too expensive, about $16.00, and just when I was deciding to go in, the bloody thing closed! And it was only 2:30 in the afternoon, what a bugger! Never mind it was not meant to be.

I decided to make my way back to the Inn, as my legs were getting a bit tired from all the walking around since about 7:30 that morning. After asking for a wake up call for 6:00 am, I went to bed at about 7, and the funniest thing some sod called me. Thinking It was my wake up call, I dragged myself down stairs for my complementary breakfast, and to my embarrassment it was 9:30 at night! Oh well, went back to bed. Perhaps I had imagined it from the combination of exhaustion, excitement, and jet lag. Tee hee!

Train station at South Kensington, a really

old interesting underground tunnel

Egyptian acquaintance and my self outside

South Kensington Station.