London Adventures

So Friday we got to go to London. It started off just any other day and ended like no other. Basically we had to be on the coaches at 7:30 because the drive from Herstmonceux is around 2 hours or so. Everyone slept the whole way there so there is not much to tell. I should also mention that many people (most of my floor included) to stay the night in London and guess what?! I had nothing to do with the organising of it! Pretty cool and exciting! Anyway most people were all staying in different places as there were many different groups of people staying, but our group was 7 girls from our floor and 5 guys from various parts of the building.

Let me get back to chronology (spelling?). So when we get to London they stop at Cleoptra`s needle which is on the Thames for a washroom break and to inform us that in future that will be the meeting point for all field studies. We meander down to thebathroom and I am kicking myself and at the same time rewarding myself for not bringing my camera. I didn`t want to risk anything happening to it but at the same time the view and weather was magnificent! So I decide the next disposable camra I see is mine. Can you imagine I am resorting to disposables! Oh my what England has done to me. So we get to the "award winning public washrooms," literally that is what it said on the sign outside, and it turns out it is a pay washroom. . . with staff! 50p (thats pents) to releive ourselves and a 80£ fine for releiving oneself in public (we were told by some police who did a presentation for us). The guy had to put the coin through for me because I got confused, and beleive me it was confusing. "Did the sign really say award winning?" Sophie asks. "It had better be," I reply "after 50p." I know thats only a dollar, but honestly that could have gone towards my disposable camera fund.

When we were waiting on the Thames I saw this big boat that was called the Queen Mary tethered/docked next to the street with a gang plank going out to it. It turns out it is a bar/club. Can you imagine! No we didnt go there but it is a definite for next time. So we get back to our seats and get a tour of London with this guide telling us about the history and the sights. Now we were at the back, our group, and we could not hear a thing of what the guy was saying with the air conditioning on. So we asked to have it turned off. Well after about an hour, and the our was still going strong, it began to get a little stuffy. SO one of the girls at the very back started this chain message toward the front to ask for the air conditioning back on. It was basically like playing the game telephone. I could only wonder how much the message changed by the time it would reach the front. Like would it say can you turn off the funny talking man or could you stop at the next pub or could you buy us all fans or something. So they turned on the air conditioning and guess what? All the people at the back fell asleep because we could not hear a word. It was Netherlands Canal tour all over again! (for those of you who remember the occasion, for those who dont let me just say 7hour night flight to netherlands, transporting luggage accross the city and ending in a lovely rocking canal tour).

Next was the Globe Theatre for a play. We had a short time in the gift shop so I looked around and picked up for myself a book on /about all the shakesperean plays, a poster for my room and a program. As I was walking away guess what I should see!? A disposable camera! So of course I now have picture that will eventually be sent to my parents for ffurther evalution. So I went in with Melanie and Alison and we got the best seats/spots you could think of. We were right of against the stage, we could have touched the actors! Everyone said it felt like we were back in the times watching from the commoners perspective. For me it felt like I was in the movie Shakespeare in Love, in the last scene where everyone is watching Romeo and Juliet and leaning on the stage, watching with amazement. Well we saw the Merry Wives of Windsor. They had an extended stage kind of. it was a path-platform going in a semi-circle out from the original stage and there was a space in the middle for people to stand there or on the outside of it. We got the inside and were locked in, basically surounded by stage on all sides. The actual play was amazing. Every single last actor down to the smallest part was amazing. They are truly the best of the best. Everyone could understand what was going on, even those who arent into Shakespeare or understand it usually. Our group were laughing so hard, it was fabulous.

Afterwards our group of 12 gathered and started walking. Where to to be honest I had no idea, I was the follower for once and it was great. After about wandering for an hour and having the boys stop at least 4 times in hopes of doing some strange activity and being mopily disappointed (example the London dungeons or London bridge experience) we decide to stop and figure out where we were and what we were doing. We werent trying to wander, we were apparently trying to find the hostil. So we all crowd around this map, people walk by and glance at the strange Canadians. "Hi, we`re tourists" Travis points out to them. So we figure out where we are going eventually and make it to the check in. The place/organisation is called St. Christophers and it is a little expensive for a hostil, but it was amazing. Clean and safe.

As we were checking in we say an activity board that the hostil organizes. Guess what was on for that very night? A pub crawl. For only 8£ they would take us around to 4 different bars/clubs, of which we would get in with no fee or hastle and at each we would get a free shot. So we get into our rooms and start eating some food we picked up as well as the slight pre drink (wine and rum) and getting ready for the night. We had out own room except this one poor woman from Brazil was in a room with us. We knew she was probs going to hate us at the end of the night. So we head down to the pub next to the hostil where we are to start and rn into some upper years staying athe same hostil. They decide to join us and follow along. So other people join for the pub crawl including 2 girls from Scotland and 1 from Australia, plus some British boys.

This is how it started. The guide brings us outside and tells us we will be taking the tube to the first bar. He tells us that there is no drinking of alchol on public transport. So what we are to do he tells us is to go into the store accross the street and buy ourselves some sort of fizzy drink and the vodka in his bag would mysteriously fall into our bottles. So we get an oyster card and make our way to the tube. And let me remind you this is a big group. Let me just say by the time we get to the tube I am thick into fluffy land. Also let me tell you there are escelators leading down to the tube, not stairs. You think its fun getting onto those things with luggage, try with two warm up drinks and a vodka-coke in you. No I hadn`t drank all the coke quite yet, dont worry my silly friends. I dont remember what the first bar was called but it was a good warm up bar. We got these pretty wrist band you get at bingemans and sports worldish places to say we are part of the pub crawl. I ordered a drink at the bar and when the bar-tender told me the price I couldnt hear him over the music so he had to repeat himself after which he asks "Are you American?" "No I`m Canadian" "Oh, well that explains it." What? WHAT? Well at least he said it jokingly, otherwise he would have had 6 Canadian girls not too happy with him. Not a good idea, but it was all in good fun, so I didnt get angry.

Next bar we went to was called the ZooBar. It was the best one of the night. I ordered a Sex on the Beach and chatted to some British guys first. Then I went to the dance floor with all the girls. We then noticed there was a little platform near one of the walls. . . with a pole on it! We eventually got up there when these other girls left and we all pole danced together! Oh My GOD! It was the most fun of my night I must say. Eventually the other girls got down and some other people came up and I dnaced with them. I got to meet a few nice people up there, got to know them. I will leave it at that as I am sure you will understand. Wanna know more message me. So we walk towards the next bar, Kevin, me and Angie have a nice chat except they stop to use the washroom and tell me to go ahead and wave them down in front of the next bar. Only problem is it isnt a simple walk away. Basically I spent the next hour trying to figure out where they were. The bar wasnt that great to be honest so I didnt miss out on much. Eventually I got the bright idea to call them on Sophie`s phone and gave the phone to the guide to tell them how to get to the next bar as we were on the way there already.

The last bar was mostly a dance floor with a bar on one side. They played weird dance music and regular dance music as well as rock music like Queen and stuff like them. It was fun dancing, except at one point I found I had no one to dance with. Everyone in our group had paired off or gone somewhere else in the bar. I found myself dancing alone in the middle of a bunch of random people. Then this very tall man (probably mid twenties), very handsome man comes up and asks very charmingly if I would like someone to dance with. Of course I say yes. Two of my paired off friends were dancing near by and could see me and come to my rescue if need be. Let me tell you it was one of the most sexy romantic few minutes of my life. He didnt just grind like Canadian boys, he danced. He spun me and swayed with me and if I got off rhythm (I started to lose my rhythm once and a while for some reason) he would help me find it. It was amazing. And when I had to leave he kissed me on the cheek! Oh was I in heaven. Dark handsome and a very good dancer. But I think he was a charmer if you know what I mean, a bit of a player, a play boy.

Getting home was another interesting story, that will have to wait until tomorow as I have to go to a scavenger hunt for my floor. I will continue the adventure tomorow and you will see the very funny conclusion.