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Chapters |
-Getting there
-First impressions
-Ah, Manch ester
-Man U - Valencia
-Game on
-On to London
-Art & relics
-Shakespeare reduced, Belushi's gets a wake-up call
-Scams, Hard Rock, & free cheese
-Ciao Bella
-Flowers, mushrooms, slugs & lettuce
-Let it snow, Ice Princess
-Fabric, Yazoo, Frijj
-Euston, we have a problem
-The best half I never saw
-Final thoughts
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London |
Read my journal entries from Europe here. |
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2/23/01
A day to scam.
Ah yes, the scam [nothing malicious, mind you). We haven't really had much fun since making up the story of our missed
meeting (which netted us a later flight home). Too little sleep, too early to rise this morning... all makes for the perfect
mood to go a little nuts.
We decided to go for the London Eye today. That's the big-ass ferris wheel that was built as part of the Millennium celebration.
We made it down there okay (it's right across from Big Ben). Unfortunately, tickets for the thing were sold out until Tuesday.
Oh well, hopefully I can make it on the thing before 2005, when it's torn down and moved.
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On the way back past Big Ben, scam #1. As Big Ben hit high noon and started ringing, I went up to someone and asked them for the
time. It took the couple I asked a few moments to catch on. Next stop, Westminster Abbey.
Naturally, since we're near Westminster, we must be close to where they hold the Westminster Dog Show, right? The keys: act
innocent, naïve and Russian, so that if they catch on, you won't look like the ugly American tourist. I asked a couple of bobbies
in a thick accent, but neither had even heard of the show ("Is it a big show?"). Kinda regret not finding someone who would have
caught on...
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Our sightseeing plans for the day ruined (parliament wasn't even in session), we decided to find the Hard Rock Café for lunch.
It was a long wait, but the place is small and it is the original, so I guess it's not too surprising. Part of the wait was taken up
watching a Norwegian guy perform some amazing card tricks. Talking to him later, it turns out that he performs in Norway at restaurants
and clubs, and eventually wants to perform in the US. |
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Our server at Hard Rock blanched at the sight of my Man U hat. She was an Arsenal supporter. We agreed that if I didn't wear the hat
while I was there, my cheese would be free. What a deal. We all traded some good barbs back and forth while we were there... I dunno
why she wouldn't let me pay with my Man U membership card... One disgusting meal later, it was time to head back to the hostel and catch
up on sleep.
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What is it with Madonna? Everyone here loves her. They can't get enough of that damned "Music" song. We heard it 3-4 times last night
and today at the Hard Rock the whole staff was singing/dancing along to it when it came on. Crazy.
Okay, next gripe. The walls in this hostel are too thin. I tried sleeping, I really did... Music from downstairs kept filtering through
the walls. Even with earplugs, I couldn't doze off. I'll be suffering later tonight.
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