London Day 2

Today went very smoothly compared to yesterday. I woke up, ate my little English breakfast then set out on the bus, then the tube, and made it back to Westminster with no problem. I wandered around there for a couple hours. Literally wandered and hoped that I would stumble upon something cool. I semi caught the changing of the guards. There were SO many people there, you have to arrive super early to see the actual changing and they didn’t have the parade today, so that was sad. I walked around St. James’ Park for awhile (great people watching), found St. James’ Palace (too bad you can’t go in), found Green Park (boring, but pretty) that lead right up to Buckingham Palace so I decided to walk along the front gate of the palace. Then I kept walking around the side where I found a museum/tour thing of the royal stables! I didn’t have time to do it so I think I’m going to go back for that. I love horses. Such a dork, I know.

Then it was time to go and meet Kate after her class. Things went without a hitch and we found each other perfectly. Then we ate lunch, waited for her roommate to get home and went to Portobello Market, which is a street market in Notting Hill. It was fun to walk around and I wanted to buy things but didn’t want to have to carry them for the rest of the day. My bank account thanks my laziness. After the market, we hopped on the tube and went to King’s Cross which is where platform 9 ¾ is from Harry Potter! I could hardly contain my excitement. Until we got there and walked from the underground station to the overground station and they were doing construction (as they are everywhere to prepare for the Olympics next year) on the platform. It was closed. ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME?! So I asked a guy who worked there and no worries, they moved it outside the building. Not the same, but it will have to do.

Then we went back to near Kate’s and ate at a little pub because it was raining and we didn’t want to stray too far in the rain. After dinner we headed back over to Westminster to ride the London Eye. It was pretty cool. I had my doubts about being locked in a glass capsule hundreds of feet above a river with a tide. We get in our little (actually, quite big) tank and in with us come a family from Pakistan, a trio of middle-aged Asians that each has an injured body part, and a normal American couple. The family from Pakistan asked us to take a picture with their daughter. Who knew we were celebrities? It was pretty bizarre. Especially since you’re literally stuck with these people for 30 minutes. I’ve never seen so many pictures taken in my life…let’s just say, stereotypes were fulfilled.

After the eye, we went our separate ways. I was nervous about having to get home in the dark because the walk between the tube and the bus station is pretty sketchy. But I did it. A bike came riding up behind me and I think if I had had means of a weapon, the poor man would’ve been dead. Let’s just say, I was a tad bit jumpy. Oh well, all’s well that ends well. Tomorrow I’m going with Kate’s class on a tour of some things, so that should be fun. I have to get up real early to make sure I’m there in enough time that she’s not late for class. Then we’re going to a museum and later that night we’re seeing Wicked! Should be another great day barring Jack the Ripper doesn’t get at me in the night while I’m trying to get home. (Good thoughts, I know, but that’s all that goes through my head while I’m walking.)