September 19, 2010
Erin and I got up and ate breakfast at the hostel, which consisted of cereal and toast and then we were lucky enough to be able to check out early and get our deposit back from needing the card to swipe in the door to return to the hostel after ten pm. Totally necessary, but glad I got my five pounds back!
Erin and I then headed to Hyde Park where we looked around for Speaker's Corner and, checking the map multiple times to our location, we finally asked someone and they told us that it didn't start until 11, so we could have totally slept in. To kill time, Erin and I people watched for awhile and then got the brilliant idea, listening to her ipod, to make our own music video for our boy friends back home. So, thus began the running, skipping, puking, laying on a bench, getting prickles in the butt cheeks, climbing a tree, etc. videos to put into Go the Distance by Michael Bolton from Hercules. It's going to be totally amazing!
Having killed enough time, we were then just in time to watch some of the speakers talk. The first guy, an African-American, speaking about how we do not know God, looked like he was doing the disco with his gesticulations throughout his entire rant from his perch on a ladder. Tiring of his speech, which didn't make much sense anyways, we went on to two speaker's who were talking about the need for a global government that represented the people. Good idea, but it will NEVER happen. One of the two speakers for this stand told us the history behind Speaker's Corner, which involves the fact that the corner they hold it on in Hyde Park was one of the bloodiest corners in England and a lot of hangings occurred here. However, before the convicts were hanged (yes, as an English teacher, I hate that it's hanged and not hung), they were allowed to make their final speech and, thus, Speaker's Corner was created. Really interesting.
Erin and I then took a bus to the King's Cross train station, so that we could take a picture with Platform nine and three quarters from Harry Potter. Finally asking where it was at, we found it, took a few pictures and left. Whoo hoo. Thank goodness we paid for the unlimited tube day pass otherwise it might have been a very disappointing trip. But, now I can say I've gone.
We then waited for another bus that never came, but, while we were waiting, we saw a car get pulled over by a cop and we were totally fascinated by the fact that the guy actually got out of his car to give the cop his paperwork, which would NEVER fly in the states. We then just went to the tube instead and headed towards Central London where Wagamama's (a restaurant) and the Globe Theater are. Eating dinner outside and freezing to death, Erin and I decided that, having not slept well the night before (just look at the pictures), we would skip the play this weekend since we'll be back in London next Sunday anyways.
Had a very enlightening LEGAL taxi ride back to base (see #1 in Things I learned today) and then I spent the evening writing Darrick a letter and his postcard from this weekend's adventure, walked down for internet and then, on the walk home, a guy from my building (he lives above me I guess) stopped to ask if I wanted a ride because, wrapped up in a blanket, trudging home, I looked cold. I politely declined, but I am absolutely taken aback by how nice everyone on this base is compared to Bamberg where people wouldn't even smile at you when you walked by.
Things I learned today:
1. White taxis are the only legal taxis. We took a black one last weekend. FML (Our taxi ride with a legal taxi cab cost us 14 pounds from the train station to base.. Last weekend we paid 22).
2. Bicester central station will take us to Oxford for 1 pound. :)
3. When you get pulled over in England, it's okay to get out of the car. That WOULD never fly in the states without being asked first.
4. Heckling is fun.
5. Sitting outside in London when it's cold is probably not the best idea when you have a cold.
6. Getting prickles in your butt is totally worth it for a legendary music video.
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