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Feeding the Travel Bug
Headed off this morning with Chris & Jess to head into the city and find my way to Greenwich. Once at Paddington Station I asked for directions to get to Greenwich and was told to catch the underground to Charing Cross. When I got there I couldn't see a way to Greenwich so I asked another lovely person the best way and was told to take the No. 15 bus to Tower Hill station. I caught this fantastic old double decker bus and wanting to get a Wi-Fi chip for my iPad decided to get off at London Bridge where I saw a Vodafone store, the stop before the one I was told to get,. When I hopped of the bus I was stopped by a Londoner to ask if it was a working bus I just got off because he was amazed that the old style double decker was still working. Now I wish I got a photo of it.
By some miracle when I got to the station I found a train going directly to Greenwich. Once I got to Greenwich I started heading off in the general direction of Flamsteed House and the Royal Observatory only to discover that I couldn't walk through Greenwich Park as planned. It was closed due to the Para Olympics being setup. So after a long trek uphill around the gates of the park I finally made it to the Meridian 1.5 hours behind schedule. Seems to be a recurring pattern, I hope it doesn't last. Wow what an amazing place. The Royal Observatory has such a huge history and was where Edmond Halley discovered his comet and also where he is buried. It was a bit of a buzz to have one foot on the Eastern Hemisphere and one on the Western Hemisphere.
After the photo opportunities I made my way back to the Greenwich Ferry Terminal and saw the unique Ambulance Service in London which I'm sure is the 1st response as I can't see how a push bike could transport a patient. You need to see the photo's. I thought I would take a leisurely cruise down the Thames back to London. Think again! Because this was a taxi service it flew down the Thames. It was awesome fun trying to stay balanced and extremely funny when water came up and over the back of the ferry onto the poor people sitting at the back. One fantastic benefit of taking the ferry service was the photo opportunity of the Tower Bridge, which still had the Olympic Rings on it.
So here I am tackling the Underground but yet again trying to find myself to Baker Street. Managed to find my way and just in time for my Madame Tussaud's ticket collection. While on the Underground I sat across from this really muscular mean looking Negro and had to contain my laughter when he pulled out a Jackie Collin's novel to read. There are certainly some characters here in London. Although I suppose Londoner's could say the same about me considering I keep laughing to myself in public....
I will try and do Abbey Road and Sherlock Holmes Museum after. Two things I discovered today - once you are in Madame Tussaud's you can't get out and the second things is although great to see, photo opportunities are limited being by oneself. My respect for Madame Tussaud's went down a little when I saw the wax figures of Justin Bieber & Shane Warne. I mean really!!!
The 4D experience was awesome. Not only did you get the 3D carton that went for about 5-10 minutes but your seat is also rigged too. It vibrates when giant robots walk, squirts you with water when Spiderman gets pushed in a fountain, air blows from behind either side of your face when Spiderman shoots his web and you get nudged in the back when Wolverine releases his blades. All in all this was the best part of Madame Tussaud's.
As I left Madame Tussaud's I went to take a photo before going to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. While standing there this really nice Indian gentleman came up to me and told me I had a wonderful spirit that it was so nice he had to come to tell me. He then asked me for a coffee (warning signs should have gone off when I had to pay for his coffee) - I thought what the hell it's only half an hour. We were having a nice conversation and he handed me this screwed up piece of paper and asked me to hold it while proceeding to tell me I was blocked. About 10 minutes later he asked my favourite colour from the rainbow was and three pets I would like to own. So I went with purple, cat, ferret and rabbit - side note: it is hard to describe what ferret is to someone who hasn't seen one. After another 10 minutes telling me if I had good luck he could help me... Here it comes (I'm sure Donna, my sister knows what's coming hahaha)... He asked me to open the piece of paper he gave me and low & behold written on it was Purple & Cat... Then thinking I was impressed said it would only cost me £100 to help unblock me... When I said no to the money he proceeded to tell me I was a princess and would like a relationship with me hahaha. Ahhhh, the adventures of travelling, I missed Sherlock Holmes Museum but I could have had my first holiday fling.
It was about time to meet up with my Chris & Jess so I headed off to the rendezvous point. When we all met we head to the Westend and Soho district and found the Theatre for The Jersey Boys. It was fantastic, different from the Sydney performance but still great. I think because it has been running for 5 years on the Westend it was lacking some energy that the Sydney show had, understandably. During interval I went out for a cigarette and watched the streets of Soho. What an amazing place, you get all types of people here. It was colourful both in sights & sounds. The bar beside the theatre was called G.A.Y. and another laughing fit which I'm sure there will be many more before my trip is done. After the show we headed home and got there about 12am and had to be up by 6am because Jess & Chris has the early train to Paris.
Well day two down and so far thoroughly enjoying myself. I wonder what will happen next.
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