September 26, 2010
Today was our big London excursion day. Erin and I got up and walked down to the front gate to meet our taxi, who was late, at 9. Finally arriving about 10 minutres late, he took us a completely different (and much longer) way to the train station. However, since we'd booked the taxi in advance, it was a flat rate of 15 pounds and we managed to see the elusive village of Croughton.. Blink and you'd miss it. Literally. ha ha And the taxi driver regaled us with stories that we could only half understand due to his heavy Indian accent with a British accent over it.
Arrived at the train station, bought our twenty pound ticket for the train and full day use of the Tube to London and then discovered that the trains weren't actually running from our station, so we would have to take a bus to another station.
Getting on the bus, we waited for about 15 minutes before we finally departed and then we kept driving and driving and driving. We passed several sheep and, at one point, Erin thought I said, "What are those?" (Referring to the sheep.) So, we now question each other whenever we're unsure of something and say, "Shee-ee-ep??" (Sorry. Long train/bus rides do funny things to your sense of what is humorous and what is not). Finally got to the Denhem (spelling?) train station and literally just got to the train as it was pulling out, so we had to wait another 40 minutes for the next train! Seriously! Not our day!
We FINALLY got to London, jumped on the tube and followed the gorilla clad humans to the race and literally got to the finish line just as the LAST person was finishing. Talk about rotten timing. However, we did get to see some of the costumes and took some pretty inventive photographs with the gorilla statues, so it wasn't a complete waste, but damn those buses, trains, taxis and tube stops!
From the gorilla run, we walked over to the Tower of London and read up on some of the history. Actually saw the drawbridge that Anne Boleyn walked over to her beheading, which was interesting, though sad. We then looped around and walked over the Tower Bridge to the side of central London that has the Globe Theater, etc.
Ended up finding this really funny picture of a cow saying, "Want to squeeze the most out of your day?" and Erin, trying to take my picture in front of it, was stopped by this guy who offered to take a picture of us. However, the guy totally did not get our reason for taking the picture in the first place and ended up taking a picture of us in front of a window. ha ha Oh well. It was thoughtful to stop at least.
Continuing our walk, Erin and I, in search of a bathroom, ended up in this bicycle race called The Rat Race. It was pretty cool. They had a bungee jumping station set up and we seriously considered doing it except the fact that the registration line was sooooo long. However, while we were perusing our options for bungee jumping, we overheard someone say, "Free beer," so we gave up on bungee jumping and went for the free samples. When we took a sample, the guy told us that if we could complete a giant jigsaw puzzle in under five minutes, we would win a half pint of beer. So, Erin, with the help of the guy and myself, completed the puzzle (we're not quite sure if it was actually under five minutes or not) and won a free pint of beer.
We then left and found these giant ball statues, which we decided to climb. However, after several attempts getting up by ourselves, we had to give each other a lift and, taking some pretty hilarious pictures and drawing a small crowd, we set a trend for other tourist's photographs. ha ha
Walking towards the Globe to get our tickets for the play tonight, I came up with the most brilliant idea ever! Erin, having a half pint of beer glass, and me, having a small sample glass, decided to make a love story of our beer. We named the big glass "Big Belinda" and the little guy "Baby Bill." We then went around taking photographs in the cheesy/touristy places and found all sorts of cute things for a "couple in love." Okay. So, we're really big dorks and we find the most interesting ways to entertain ourselves, but it was a lot of fun,
Being on our periods, it was absolutely necessary to find a restroom even we had to pay twenty pents. Waited for the longest time to use the restroom and then, with no idea how to flush the toilet, I had to leave the bathroom lest people think I was doing other things in there. However, I realized that, when the door is closed, it goes into cleaning mode for 2 minutes and flushes the toilet then. Sure would have been nice to know that beforehand! Sheesh!
We then headed over to the Globe to buy our tickets for Henry IV Part 2, which was also another three hours and fifteen minutes. By the end of the night, we could say that we had seen a 6 1/2 hour play in The Globe Theater. That's pretty bad ass!
We then hopped on the tube, went to Boots where Erin and I, lured into a really good sale on make-up, bought blush, eye shadow and lip gloss for 5 pounds. We then went to our favorite little bakery and got a chocolate muffin and a really delicious donut for a treat later in the night when we were hungry. Then we went to Sainsbury's (a grocery store) and bought a bottle of wine to drink at the Globe as we watched the play and, of course, had to try these cookies Erin just swore by. Then stopped for a quick bite at KFC (classy, we know!) before heading back to the tube station.
Watched the play and befriended some theater students from Chicago who were visiting. Got their input on some plays we just have to see. Nice to meet these random people. ha ha Erin and I, wanting a picture of us drinking wine in the Globe, started taking pictures (you can only take pictures before the play begins) when we were told by a lady that works there that we can't have glass bottles in the theater. Asking if we could just put it away, she told us to put it in our backpack and leave it there and she never saw it. But, then I had the idea of putting it in our water bottles, so we could still drink during the play. ha ha So, I got the picture with my wine in the water bottle (super classy) and Erin got a picture with a bottle of wine in the theater. ha ha
The first half of the play, we got to experience what it's like to stand in the rain. Cold and wet, we appreciated the full Globe experience, but were relieved when the play was actually over. It was not as good as the first half by far and we were so numb that it was kind of a blessing when it was done. It was still a totally awesome Birthday present and experience.
Arriving at the train station, we just missed the early train by 10 minutes and had to wait for the 10:45 train to Denhem to show up. Calling the taxi company to set up a taxi ahead of time, the phone just rang and rang, so we really had no idea how we were going to get home. Took about a 20 minute train ride to Denhem and then hopped on a bus that would take us the rest of the way to Bicester North. About half way through, everyone except Erin and I got off the bus. Having to stop at EVERY station regardless of the fact that no one else was on the train, our bus driver just told us to sleep and he'd wake us up when we got there. At about 1:30 in the morning, we finally got to Bicester North and there were no taxis to be found. Deciding to play dumb, we asked the public transportation lady if there were taxis and she and the bus driver, since there weren't taxis, tried to help us figure out how to get home. Both offered to take us home, but the public transportation lady, bless her heart, offered us a ride all the way to Croughton even though she lives in London. Dropping us off at the gate, she wanted nothing in return, but to know that we were safe. I told her that she would be the angel my mom would thank for getting me home safe. Just proves that there really are amazingly good people left in this world. And we totally lucked out.
Gave the guy at the front gate our ID cards and, remembering us from two weeks before, inquired as to whether we'd been to London again. ha ha Guess we're memorable when we walk through the gate at 2 am. Walking back to our dorm, an MP car stopped us and gave us a ride, which was nice. Yes, mom, I got a ride from a total stranger and then got picked up by the MP's who had to open the door for me since we were sitting in the back where the criminals go. ha ha What a night! But, despite all the mishaps, I now have some great stories to last me the rest of my life. :)
Things I learned today:
1. The things that say "ba-a-a-" are shee-e-e-p?"
2. Uttering "do you know where we are" when there is a sign that says, "where you are" is quite ironic and hilarious.
3. Jigsaw puzzles, when completed in under 5 minutes, warrant a surprise flashlight key chain and 1/2 a pint of beer as a prize.
4. The London Tower actually has the bridge where Anne Boleyn walked through before her beheading.
5. Trains, when not working, result in three hours of transportation when, by car, the trip to London is an hour or, by train (usually), an hour and ten minutes.
6. There are strangers in this world who will offer you a ride home at 1:30 in the morning and ask for nothing in return except for knowing that you got home safe.
7. Military Police on a quiet base will give you a ride across base because they have nothing better to do.
8. There's a lot of "old stuff" in London. Thanks, Erin.
9. You can't have glass bottles in the Globe Theater. Instead, you must drink your wine from a water bottle. Ghetto.
10. Taxis, even the illegal black ones, don't run at 1:30 in the morning.
11. Giant balls, with a lift up from a friend, are really fun to climb and dance on.
12. Making love stories for two glasses of Blonde beer is a good time filler. (The love story of Big Belinda and Baby Bill.)
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