After, I made my way to my hostel The Pride of Paddington. I had never stayed in a hostel so I was a bit nervous, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience where I met several wonderful people. I checked in, changed clothes, had a quick dinner with someone else who had just checked in, then ran to the tube with just enough time to head back downtown for a 7:30 show of The Lion King! I had been wanting to see it for a while and final I would be watching my first Broadway play in London!!The costuming was great, it was a smaller stage than I expected, but I'm happy I went.
By the time it was over it was late enough, and I was tired enough from my travel, that I headed back to Paddington for a good nights sleep.
Saturday morning (June 9) I hit the ground running. After a relaxing breakfast with three other girls I met, I headed toward Westminster Abby.
Followed by Big Bed of course and Parliament building
Then I made my way via tube tubes to Tower hill, Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
(Tower of London)
Winding back down through crowds of people and street musician, I attempted to see Shakespeare's Globe theater, but it was closed so I stopped at the London Bridge Experience.... BIG mistake, I thought it would be history of the bridge, photos, information, etc. it was some history combined into a haunted house. I left half way though.
Finally I made my way to London Eye just in time for sunset :)
(London Eye)
I ended the day in the center of all of London Piccadilly Circus, and had a fabulous dinner in China town.
(Piccadilly Circus)
(Gate at Buckingham Palace, you can see the guards through the gate)
(From a distance)
Then after a short train ride, Karren and I (a girl I met at The Pride of Paddington) arrived at Windsor Castle where the queen was at! Although I didn't get to see her :( The tour was very interesting, and although it took up the rest of the day, I felt, was well worth it.
(Windsor Castle)
Making the way back to Paddington I said goodbye to Karren and decided to make my way back downtown to spend some time. Since I had to leave to the airport at 3 am I didn't book a room for the night. My thought was I would leave Paddington take the double decker bus downtown, and then spend from 11pm - 3am having a fun night life in downtown London, boy was that the wrong decision.
I board the bus at Paddington and instead of getting on the East route, I discovered I was on the West route. No problem I thought, I was rather enjoying the ride. Well when the bus finally arrived at the furthest west stop instead of circling back around I found the bus driver was pulling in to the service station for the night! I hesitantly made my way down from the second deck to find the bus driver was as surprised as I was to find he still had a passenger, who clearly had no idea what they were doing still on the bus. He directed me to the nearest bus station.
So in the middle of nowhere London with my hand fixed to my pepper spray, I began to attempt to navigate my way back toward civilization. When arriving at the bus stop it was to my dismay that I then discovered there were no direct routes to my destination. So I had two choices attempt to make several bus switches and slowly make my way, or option two walk another half block and try to take the tube before it closed. By this time it was 11:15 and the tubes closed at 11:30.
I was well versed in the tubes so I decided to take my chances. I rode the route, switching at the proper stop making it with 2 min. to spare for the last tube of the night to Piccadilly Circus (downtown London)! I made my way up from the tubes to my disappointment once more, the once roaring downtown life I had experience the night before on Saturday, was all but a dream. Left on Sunday night was the reminates of people trying to hurry home, and homeless people.
The only two places that appeared to be opened, in all irony, were KFC and McDonald's. I made my way to KFC so I could at least sit for a min., decide what I was going to do for the next three hours, and use the restroom. I stepped in for 5 min., by the time I came out there were coops, and security men everywhere. Not just in KFC but down the entire strip! I decided I would take my chances and head on to the station and wait for my bus at 3 am.
Finally arriving at 1 am, the station was all but deserted at well! So what else did I have to do? I found a set on some stairs bundled up and waited. To make matters worse it was 55 degrees and all I had on was a rain jacket and a T-shirt with jeans.
Thank goodness the bus arrived early at 2:10 and I arrived at the airport an hour later, exhausted. Still having 3 hours now before my plane flew out, I found a stop on the ground and tried to get some shut eye before the flight.
It is an experience I won't soon forget, and despite all the trouble I had on the last night I would't change a thing. Everyone needs some excitement in life and a small walk on the dangerous side of life.
Tips for London:
**Note times the tubes and buses run
**Only the weekend life runs late
**If you have the time go to Windsor Castle, it's well worth the time
**Don't miss changing of the guard, despite the crowds you should see it at least once (daily at 11:30)
I board the bus at Paddington and instead of getting on the East route, I discovered I was on the West route. No problem I thought, I was rather enjoying the ride. Well when the bus finally arrived at the furthest west stop instead of circling back around I found the bus driver was pulling in to the service station for the night! I hesitantly made my way down from the second deck to find the bus driver was as surprised as I was to find he still had a passenger, who clearly had no idea what they were doing still on the bus. He directed me to the nearest bus station.
So in the middle of nowhere London with my hand fixed to my pepper spray, I began to attempt to navigate my way back toward civilization. When arriving at the bus stop it was to my dismay that I then discovered there were no direct routes to my destination. So I had two choices attempt to make several bus switches and slowly make my way, or option two walk another half block and try to take the tube before it closed. By this time it was 11:15 and the tubes closed at 11:30.
I was well versed in the tubes so I decided to take my chances. I rode the route, switching at the proper stop making it with 2 min. to spare for the last tube of the night to Piccadilly Circus (downtown London)! I made my way up from the tubes to my disappointment once more, the once roaring downtown life I had experience the night before on Saturday, was all but a dream. Left on Sunday night was the reminates of people trying to hurry home, and homeless people.
The only two places that appeared to be opened, in all irony, were KFC and McDonald's. I made my way to KFC so I could at least sit for a min., decide what I was going to do for the next three hours, and use the restroom. I stepped in for 5 min., by the time I came out there were coops, and security men everywhere. Not just in KFC but down the entire strip! I decided I would take my chances and head on to the station and wait for my bus at 3 am.
Finally arriving at 1 am, the station was all but deserted at well! So what else did I have to do? I found a set on some stairs bundled up and waited. To make matters worse it was 55 degrees and all I had on was a rain jacket and a T-shirt with jeans.
Thank goodness the bus arrived early at 2:10 and I arrived at the airport an hour later, exhausted. Still having 3 hours now before my plane flew out, I found a stop on the ground and tried to get some shut eye before the flight.
It is an experience I won't soon forget, and despite all the trouble I had on the last night I would't change a thing. Everyone needs some excitement in life and a small walk on the dangerous side of life.
Tips for London:
**Note times the tubes and buses run
**Only the weekend life runs late
**If you have the time go to Windsor Castle, it's well worth the time
**Don't miss changing of the guard, despite the crowds you should see it at least once (daily at 11:30)
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