London one

(Prologue)
After a long day driving back from Glasgow and dicking around at the airport trying to get the car’s nav system to take us to the Avis car return center, we finally hopped on the Heathrow express into Paddington – then hoofed it to our hotel. I’d deliberately booked something close to Paddington Station so we could do just this, and it was painless. So installed at the Darlington Hyde Park (good on-line reviews and it lived up to them) we set off for a stroll, up to Edgewere Road then through Hyde Park and home via a little Italian place for dinner.

Next day, and here’s where we threw tourism into overdrive! Awake, breakfasted and into it, we hit the underground station, only to find the central line closed. That was fine by us, as all we were after was tickets, primarily for the buses (on which Indi was free), but all the punters denied the train were up for the same buses…not the greatest of starts. Eventually we were aboard and installed in the front seats on the top level of a London double decker and off to the British Museum. London is a top place to experience from the top of a big red bus. We could nearly see our house from up there!



We squeaked in the rather massive doors of the British Museum just in time for our targeted 90 minute highlights tour (smart money suggested not to try and go it alone unless you had a couple of days – there’s just too much stuff!). Impressive is an understatement. From the Rosetta Stone (which Indi had been keen to see ever since I mentioned the word London five months ago) to the Elgin Marbles from Greece – and everything in between, those colonial Brits sure did like collecting stuff. There’s some controversy over ownership of stuff like the Marbles, but given they’d have fallen further into decay had the Brits not souvenired them, as history has taken the path it has – so the future will decide another one. Our place was simply to look, marvel and then visit the gift shop.

Indi says...

The British Museum was amazing, especially the Mummy Room. It was full of mummified people, up to five thousand years old, including one dude nick-named Ginger, because he would have had red hair. He was all shriveled up and skin and bone. The museum foyer was roofed with six tonnes of glass. It was huge and allowed you to gain access to any part of the museum. There were lots and lots and lots of things that we didn't see, but the things we did see were amazing. No wonder the British Museum is so famous.

We then spent a couple of hours in a free health clinic, me being an asthmatic out of medication. The internet pointed us at Soho’s NHS Walk In clinic, which gave us the chance to see a facet of the slightly seedier side of the West End while waiting for a prescription (not needed in Australia) for a puffer – and a bit of a sit-down. We then wandered down to Trafalgar Square, slack-jawed to catch another bus back to our digs. But the day was far from over. After a little tizzying up we were back to the West End for dinner and a show. Spamalot is the stage interpretation of Monty Python’s Holy Grail – done to music, and it was hilarious! Dad and I have been fans for a long time, but it was Indi laughing loudest – if one is not careful she will fart in one’s general direction at the drop of a hat now!!

Indi says...

Ha ha! That's what I was like for the rest of the night after Monty Python. It was very very very funny - from start to finish. It was even funny outside the theatre with the name of the souvenir shop being "Ye Olde Rippy-offy shoppe". The set was funny in itself. It had a huge portcullis (the iron gate with the pointy bits on the end used to keep intruders out of castles) and two side towers that looked as though they were part of a castle and dominated the whole theatre. We were sitting in the dress circle, which is some of the best seats in the theatre. You could rent opera glasses to see the stage. They were in a coin operated clip on the seat in front of you. It was called Spamalot but it was about King Arthur searching for the Holy Grail - supposedly the cup Jesus used at the last supper, but it started in Finland. I know this sounds mad, but it was actually very funny. The Finnish people were dancing around in pairs, one hitting the other with a pair of little fish. Then the one being hit pulled out a huge fish from behind and slapped the other on the head. The rest of the show was correctly played out in England and incredibly funny - including a scene with God telling Arthur to look for the Grail. The conversation was very funny. It went like this,
God: What are you doing"
Arthur: Averting my gaze, O Lord"
God: Well don't. I hate it when people do that"
Arthur: (looks up) Sorry Lord.
God: And stop looking up my skirt! Jesus!

It might have been offensive to some Christians, but I found it very funny!

Back through a late night West End to Oxford St for another bus ride home and to bed.