It's getting interesting: Days 4-7
I hate:
phone numbers that start with 5 digits then have 3 then have 4
Day 4, when I was walking under Big Ben and getting annoyed that my walk was taking so long, I looked outward to see the hundreds of people looking inward towards my direction, and it finally hit me where I was. Now granted, it was only a short "woah", but it definetly was cool. Then I recieved my pass.
The following should be preferanced by the fact that there are three things I consider truely cool. The first is entrances that the general public looks at and walks passed everyday that they never see anyone enter or exit from, but are forbidden for said public to enter.
The second is being able to walk passed guards with automatic weapons and have them nod at you. The last is being able to walk through small corridors where doors with no handles open for you.
The pass does all those things. Like, I can now legitemately say "I work for the british government." And that, is pretty sweet.
As concerning the entrance, off the subway stop, there are 6 exits. 1 of them leads directly into parliment and can only be accessed if you have a pass. That is just freaking cool.
The other things I can't discuss because it would be a security risk.
Badass.
Day five I went through a pretty normal day, until diner. There I was treated to a reception that comprised 13 members of parliment, my representative included (he chaired), an Oxford Professor, and myself.
That's all.
In one of the most exlcusive hotels in London.
There, they discussed the future of the BBC, and I drank wine more expensive than my plane tickets.
The next day progressed fairly slowly, I attened my computer network training, etc. But I did get an email account that ends with parliment.uk
Again, sweetness.
At night, I went out with a variety of the CUA people and we walked to the Millieum bridge. It was entirely unspectacular. Then we attempted to find London bridge, and let me just tell you, it isn't as easy as it sounds. The night ended with us wandering the alleys of London and realizing that on a Thursday night, people make out in alleyways. Everywhere. As in, 3 couples an alleyway- one of them typically lesbian.
Sadly, I felt left out.
We ended up next to a Chicken place called "Fantastic" where I gave in and had some fish and chips. It actually was pretty good. Even luckier for us, we noticed that next door was "London Dungeon." Our destination for the next day.
On Friday, I had off, so 5 of us returned to the Dungeon, which was a mix of a history lesson of the horrors of the city, a haunted house, and workshop for character actors. I was unimpressed, more so due to the fact that it cost 13 pounds then lack of quality. However, I was vstly dissapointed in myself as I was startled at one point. Fucking character actors... I haven't been startled since the Sixth Sense, after Bruce Willis is realised from Ghostness, and they light a flair as a horror movie cheap shot.
After then, we walked to the Tower bridge, and had the good fortune of actually being able to see it be raised for a destoryer. That is one of the things on my life's to do list that I can cross off. In that respect, the day was not disappointing.
We then went to Covent Garden and had a dinner at a pub. However, I was quite tired from my week I returned and went shortly thereafter to bed.
Yesterday, as a group, we all went to the British Muesem. It was different from what I remembered. Then again, when I'm in a museum by myself I go around and read every bit of information possible, as if it will all stick with me and I'll be a walking encyclopediea of knoweldge- though as of yet, no luck. I was struck, however, by the larger monuments the Britts were able to put there. Entire archeological sites, it would seem.
The night commensed with me going to my first bar/club. "Hurray." I now know I can have two pints and only have a buzz. However, I did not score, as no one there was above an 8, and that's where I draw the line.
Note: Everything here is small. Big Ben should be called moderatley sized ben, tall buildings in general would pale incomparrision to my house, even the tower of London seems to have shrunk since i was last here. It seems that as all my fantastic memories of this country from my youth shall be suplanted by my new realism. Le sigh.
But it is getting better.
phone numbers that start with 5 digits then have 3 then have 4
Day 4, when I was walking under Big Ben and getting annoyed that my walk was taking so long, I looked outward to see the hundreds of people looking inward towards my direction, and it finally hit me where I was. Now granted, it was only a short "woah", but it definetly was cool. Then I recieved my pass.
The following should be preferanced by the fact that there are three things I consider truely cool. The first is entrances that the general public looks at and walks passed everyday that they never see anyone enter or exit from, but are forbidden for said public to enter.
The second is being able to walk passed guards with automatic weapons and have them nod at you. The last is being able to walk through small corridors where doors with no handles open for you.
The pass does all those things. Like, I can now legitemately say "I work for the british government." And that, is pretty sweet.
As concerning the entrance, off the subway stop, there are 6 exits. 1 of them leads directly into parliment and can only be accessed if you have a pass. That is just freaking cool.
The other things I can't discuss because it would be a security risk.
Badass.
Day five I went through a pretty normal day, until diner. There I was treated to a reception that comprised 13 members of parliment, my representative included (he chaired), an Oxford Professor, and myself.
That's all.
In one of the most exlcusive hotels in London.
There, they discussed the future of the BBC, and I drank wine more expensive than my plane tickets.
The next day progressed fairly slowly, I attened my computer network training, etc. But I did get an email account that ends with parliment.uk
Again, sweetness.
At night, I went out with a variety of the CUA people and we walked to the Millieum bridge. It was entirely unspectacular. Then we attempted to find London bridge, and let me just tell you, it isn't as easy as it sounds. The night ended with us wandering the alleys of London and realizing that on a Thursday night, people make out in alleyways. Everywhere. As in, 3 couples an alleyway- one of them typically lesbian.
Sadly, I felt left out.
We ended up next to a Chicken place called "Fantastic" where I gave in and had some fish and chips. It actually was pretty good. Even luckier for us, we noticed that next door was "London Dungeon." Our destination for the next day.
On Friday, I had off, so 5 of us returned to the Dungeon, which was a mix of a history lesson of the horrors of the city, a haunted house, and workshop for character actors. I was unimpressed, more so due to the fact that it cost 13 pounds then lack of quality. However, I was vstly dissapointed in myself as I was startled at one point. Fucking character actors... I haven't been startled since the Sixth Sense, after Bruce Willis is realised from Ghostness, and they light a flair as a horror movie cheap shot.
After then, we walked to the Tower bridge, and had the good fortune of actually being able to see it be raised for a destoryer. That is one of the things on my life's to do list that I can cross off. In that respect, the day was not disappointing.
We then went to Covent Garden and had a dinner at a pub. However, I was quite tired from my week I returned and went shortly thereafter to bed.
Yesterday, as a group, we all went to the British Muesem. It was different from what I remembered. Then again, when I'm in a museum by myself I go around and read every bit of information possible, as if it will all stick with me and I'll be a walking encyclopediea of knoweldge- though as of yet, no luck. I was struck, however, by the larger monuments the Britts were able to put there. Entire archeological sites, it would seem.
The night commensed with me going to my first bar/club. "Hurray." I now know I can have two pints and only have a buzz. However, I did not score, as no one there was above an 8, and that's where I draw the line.
Note: Everything here is small. Big Ben should be called moderatley sized ben, tall buildings in general would pale incomparrision to my house, even the tower of London seems to have shrunk since i was last here. It seems that as all my fantastic memories of this country from my youth shall be suplanted by my new realism. Le sigh.
But it is getting better.