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ysobelleIt's 11.20am, and brilliantly sunny. My body says it's just past dawn. But I'm in London.
I'm really in London.
Holy cow.
My hotel room isn't ready. My G-d, is the lobby there gorgeous! For once, the fancy photos on the 'net do absolutely no justice to something. Of course, we'll see what happens when I get a room. But I decided to walk a bit. I wandered up Gloucester Road to Cromwell Road, and down towards the Museum of Natural Sciences. And holding my breath, I turned the corner onto Queensberry Place.
I'm numb. I'm amazed. I don't know what I feel. I stood in front of my old home and just stared. I turned back to the museum, and gulped-- there's the view I remember from 17 years ago. Things are fitting into my brain that I don't remember I remember. I let my feet lead me, and I went instinctively to my old sandwich shop-- hasn't changed a bit. It's still there, for G-d's sake. Then to the Tube-- the cookie shop is still there. The newsagent down the stairs-- I bought a Bounty bar just because I could-- Audrey, there went that five pounds! There was quite a queue down the ticket window, so I went back upstairs, then circled, and did the approach again. I bought a Zone 6 week's travelcard. Yes, it was 41 quid, but I'm not restricted. I can go anywhere.
Accordingly, I hopped on the Picadilly line, chose a direction, and now I'm sitting in a Starbuck's in Leicester Square, still moderately unsure where I am or how I got here. I mean, the flight was great. Much faster than I thought it would be, and much lightened by the fabulous Doug the Flight Attendant. He made me show the corset photos I'd brought to the other crew members, and even a few fellow passengers. That made me feel fabulous, even through the hour of standing in line to get my passport stamped, and half an hour of waiting for my transfer bus. But now I'm in London alone, and a little disoriented. There's a group of very thin, very made-up, very reality-TV-dressed blondes having some kind of meeting, and I can't figure out if they're starting an accounting firm or a porn-for-hire business. They were briefly joined by a darkly handsome Italian man who spoke like an oracle or motivational speaker for a moment, then kissed them on each cheek and left. On second thought, no. I don't want to know.
Everything's changed here. Well, some things are absolutely the same: the Tube stations, the telephone boxes, the Boots in Picadilly Circus. But the Tower there is now a Virgin Megastore-- and some guy just came up to me begging for change for a coffee. Jeez. There's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm too tired to follow it.
Bizarrely, I'm most excited today about browsing in Boots and The Body Shop. Small things, little bits of someone else's home that used to be mine. Maybe it'll feel that way again.
And holy cow again. I keep forgetting it's my birthday!
I'm really in London.
Holy cow.
My hotel room isn't ready. My G-d, is the lobby there gorgeous! For once, the fancy photos on the 'net do absolutely no justice to something. Of course, we'll see what happens when I get a room. But I decided to walk a bit. I wandered up Gloucester Road to Cromwell Road, and down towards the Museum of Natural Sciences. And holding my breath, I turned the corner onto Queensberry Place.
I'm numb. I'm amazed. I don't know what I feel. I stood in front of my old home and just stared. I turned back to the museum, and gulped-- there's the view I remember from 17 years ago. Things are fitting into my brain that I don't remember I remember. I let my feet lead me, and I went instinctively to my old sandwich shop-- hasn't changed a bit. It's still there, for G-d's sake. Then to the Tube-- the cookie shop is still there. The newsagent down the stairs-- I bought a Bounty bar just because I could-- Audrey, there went that five pounds! There was quite a queue down the ticket window, so I went back upstairs, then circled, and did the approach again. I bought a Zone 6 week's travelcard. Yes, it was 41 quid, but I'm not restricted. I can go anywhere.
Accordingly, I hopped on the Picadilly line, chose a direction, and now I'm sitting in a Starbuck's in Leicester Square, still moderately unsure where I am or how I got here. I mean, the flight was great. Much faster than I thought it would be, and much lightened by the fabulous Doug the Flight Attendant. He made me show the corset photos I'd brought to the other crew members, and even a few fellow passengers. That made me feel fabulous, even through the hour of standing in line to get my passport stamped, and half an hour of waiting for my transfer bus. But now I'm in London alone, and a little disoriented. There's a group of very thin, very made-up, very reality-TV-dressed blondes having some kind of meeting, and I can't figure out if they're starting an accounting firm or a porn-for-hire business. They were briefly joined by a darkly handsome Italian man who spoke like an oracle or motivational speaker for a moment, then kissed them on each cheek and left. On second thought, no. I don't want to know.
Everything's changed here. Well, some things are absolutely the same: the Tube stations, the telephone boxes, the Boots in Picadilly Circus. But the Tower there is now a Virgin Megastore-- and some guy just came up to me begging for change for a coffee. Jeez. There's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm too tired to follow it.
Bizarrely, I'm most excited today about browsing in Boots and The Body Shop. Small things, little bits of someone else's home that used to be mine. Maybe it'll feel that way again.
And holy cow again. I keep forgetting it's my birthday!
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-30 12:10 pm (UTC)I can only imagine what your eyes see, having never been to London but it's quite high on my list.
Tea this afternoon is on me. Bill me when you get back. ;)
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Date: 2006-04-30 02:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-30 02:12 pm (UTC)Can I say just how jealous I am? heehee Scary part is I knew exactly where you were and what you were seeing at certain locations. BOOTS! Overpriced but they had everything. There was a loocation right across the street from the Glouchester tube stop. I stopped there frequently as well as the yuppie quickie market a couple doors down. GAH! I'm jealous. I so wish I had the money and time to be there with ya! heehee
Again.....HAPPY HAPPY Birthday!
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Date: 2006-05-02 10:24 am (UTC)NEXT year!
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Date: 2006-05-02 12:40 pm (UTC)Hey...tell me if St Martins in the Field (I think that is the name of that cathedral at Trafalger Square) still has the Cafe in the mosoleum. It's wicked cool.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-02 12:41 pm (UTC)*hugs*
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Date: 2006-04-30 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-30 02:51 pm (UTC)Enjoy it.
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Date: 2006-04-30 02:58 pm (UTC)*snerk*! Who knows, maybe it's both?
Here's hoping you have lots of happy adventures out there. {{hugs}}
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Date: 2006-04-30 04:08 pm (UTC)Enjoy London! It sounds amazing! We'll all be thinking of you and green with envy and happily jumping around for you at the same time.
:) HUGS!!!
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Date: 2006-04-30 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-30 05:53 pm (UTC)Ohhh Happy DAY!!!!
Have a GREAT TIME! Send me ecards too.. I want to travel vicariously through you!
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Date: 2006-04-30 06:50 pm (UTC)Dear God! London!
wow!!
I'm so very happy for you. Do all the things I'd want to do if I were there.
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Date: 2006-04-30 07:16 pm (UTC)Hope all goes well on your trip. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon.
YIS,
WRI
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Date: 2006-04-30 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-30 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-01 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-01 12:18 am (UTC)Can't wait to see pictures.
HUGS
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Date: 2006-05-01 12:35 am (UTC)I SO wish I were there with you!
Date: 2006-05-01 03:10 am (UTC)Wow, didn't know Tower Piccadilly closed - I must have spent thousands there over the years.
Good call with the £41 TravelCard - at less than £4 more than the restricted 3-day one, it's a steal! (And, it can get one to/from Heathrow free!)
A Bounty bar is now five pounds?? Sheesh, inflation. Anyway, talk to you soon, and happy birthday!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-01 03:49 am (UTC)Have Fun babe
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Date: 2006-05-01 12:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-01 08:08 pm (UTC)Enjoying the posts. *smile*