this is just personal reference.
DorianDramaturg: http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E&city=GB|0040
DorianDramaturg: okay, actually I recommend Holland Park. Plus it's a bit cheaper. Sounds like good, historic atmosphere.
DorianDramaturg: if you'd like to meet up with any Brits while you're in London, you should call my friend Rachel. Let me know if you're interested and I'll email her to let her know you'll be calling. She and her husband live on a houseboat (how cool is that?) in central London in Regents Park. I went to school at a college in that same park. Rachel's mobile (dial her from the UK) is: 0207 7872313
DorianDramaturg: if you want to borrow my virgin mobile for the UK and buy pre-paid virgin phone cards at one of their stores, you can come over today and pick it up
goldenblue light: i actually have a phone with cards for the trip
DorianDramaturg: sweet
goldenblue light: ok, if you could email them yeah i might take you up on that
DorianDramaturg: awesome, I'll email Rachel. She's great. She's a Quaker (did I explain all that?) so be sure to tell her about your interest in human rights stuff. Who knows, there might be some big British event on that topic that would give you some insight on the Brit's approach to tackling problems.
DorianDramaturg: I'll email Rachel right now. That hostel look okay for your first night? I'm not sure you can make a reservation online the day before. You might want to call or fax them or something.
goldenblue light: the st pauls one?
goldenblue light: i'm checking on it right now
DorianDramaturg: no, Holland Park
DorianDramaturg: how many weeks will you be in the UK?
goldenblue light: three total
goldenblue light: i'm checking out holland park right now
DorianDramaturg: cool
goldenblue light: so i doubt i'll be able to plan out all my hostel stays in one night
goldenblue light: how best can i really wing it?
DorianDramaturg: do you have a guide book of any sort?
DorianDramaturg: they often have hostel phone numbers and reviews in them
goldenblue light: yeah, i have a hostel guide
DorianDramaturg: oh good!
DorianDramaturg: well you'll just have to wing it with calling hostels when you know you want to show up
goldenblue light: i mean if i call these places the night i need a place to stay, would i likely have any luck?
DorianDramaturg: depends on the size of the city -- as in, the # of hostels
goldenblue light: ah, i see
DorianDramaturg: buses are a good way to get around from city to city http://www.nationalexpress.com
DorianDramaturg: can be cheap
DorianDramaturg: if you decide to go further away, though, get a cheap flight from http://www.ryanair.com
goldenblue light: flights?
goldenblue light: throughout uk?
DorianDramaturg: yup
DorianDramaturg: to get to Scotland or Ireland or Wales
DorianDramaturg: that's how I'd use it
DorianDramaturg: faster and possibly cheaper than the bus
goldenblue light: alright
goldenblue light: man
goldenblue light: i am so overwhelmed right now
DorianDramaturg: I'd bet!
DorianDramaturg: I'm emailing Rachel and looking to see if there are any events I know about that would be good for you to do this week
DorianDramaturg: I'd recommend spending your first day just walking around, getting a sense of the city
goldenblue light: absolutely
goldenblue light: luggage
goldenblue light: i'll probably bring a just a duffel
DorianDramaturg: you don't have a large backpack?
DorianDramaturg: you're backpacking through Europe. I'd really recommend it.
DorianDramaturg: even just so people know what's up when they see you with luggage
goldenblue light: alright. where can i find such a backpack?
DorianDramaturg: REI
DorianDramaturg: where do you live?
goldenblue light: new lenox
DorianDramaturg: this is the place you need to go: tp://www.rei.com
DorianDramaturg: http://www.rei.com
DorianDramaturg: there's a location 25 West Golf Road, Niles, IL 60714 if that'd be closer for you
DorianDramaturg: also one at 17W160 22nd St
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
goldenblue light: DAMN
DorianDramaturg: and one at 888 Willow Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
goldenblue light: haha
goldenblue light: alright, i'll check out those locations
DorianDramaturg: do you know what your phone number will be if Rachel would try to call you from the UK?
goldenblue light: i don't know, i'll have to query my mom, but i can text it to you tonight
DorianDramaturg: I was just thinking it'd be a good idea to give that to Rachel in case her mobile # has changed
goldenblue light: ok
goldenblue light: yeah, i wish i knew it
DorianDramaturg: I'll email it to her later
goldenblue light: do you still want me to text it to you or sometheing when i figure it out?
DorianDramaturg: yes
DorianDramaturg: and what's your email address that you'll be checking when over there?
DorianDramaturg: I'll give that to her, too
DorianDramaturg: I really like your screen name btw
goldenblue light: theweb87@gmail.com
goldenblue light: thank you!
goldenblue light: oh man
goldenblue light: my mom works in oakbrook
goldenblue light: thats not too far
DorianDramaturg: so when you arrive in London it'll be Thursday? or will it be Friday?
DorianDramaturg: the people at REI are very knowledgable. they'll know what kind of backpack you should get
goldenblue light: thursday
goldenblue light: i believe
goldenblue light: i'm leaving at one, then arriving in manchester then switching planes to get to london
DorianDramaturg: okay I'm CCing you on the email to Rachel
goldenblue light: 1pm*
DorianDramaturg: hey Joe, what's your last name?
goldenblue light: ha
goldenblue light: weber
DorianDramaturg: got it. Thus the email address.
goldenblue light: yours?
DorianDramaturg: Hadley
DorianDramaturg: Dorian Hadley
DorianDramaturg:
DorianDramaturg: I'm gonna call my friend Anna and see if she knows anybody who is studying at the college we both went to in London. They'd be good to hang out with, too. hang on a sec.
goldenblue light: excellent
goldenblue light: i got the email
DorianDramaturg: http://www.hadrians-wall.org/
DorianDramaturg: hiking around here is a good idea
DorianDramaturg: you'd take the train to Newcastle
DorianDramaturg: my friend Anna recommends doing the Hadrian's wall thing and staying at this hostel: http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/northumberland-north-pennines/hostels/once-brewed/index.aspx
DorianDramaturg: you might want to save some of this info in an email to yourself or something so you can have these links later
goldenblue light: yeah
goldenblue light: i may just print out this conversation and keep it in my pocket
goldenblue light: ha.
DorianDramaturg: awww
DorianDramaturg:
you should definitely go to Camden market, even if to just people watch. http://www.camdenlock.net
DorianDramaturg:
this website will help you plan taking the tube to get places: http://www.tubeplanner.com
DorianDramaturg:
once you have a place booked to stay, you'll want to figure out how to get there from the airport via the tube
goldenblue light: ok
DorianDramaturg:
or actually this is the official travel planner for the tube: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en
DorianDramaturg:
I think this has info on discounts on tube fares: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1067.aspx
goldenblue light: excellent
DorianDramaturg:
so Joe, what are some of your interests/hobbies? Might help me better know what you might be interested in while travelling
goldenblue light: man
DorianDramaturg:
haha quite a question, eh?
goldenblue light: what do i do? i write. i like jazz. i take photos.
goldenblue light: artsy shit
DorianDramaturg: niiice.
DorianDramaturg: and that helps
DorianDramaturg: would you be willing to stand all through a theater production? I know a really cheap place with excellent theater that does that.
goldenblue light: oh hell yeah
DorianDramaturg: sweet
DorianDramaturg: yeah, anything about theater I can help you with
DorianDramaturg: oh, btw. When you arrive at the airport -- get a copy of Time Out London
DorianDramaturg: that will have all of what's going on in the city
DorianDramaturg: music, theater, etc.
DorianDramaturg: tube stations listed and price of entry
goldenblue light: tube stations listed in the time out london?
DorianDramaturg: yup
DorianDramaturg: tube stations for each event
DorianDramaturg: as in, the nearest tube to the theater
DorianDramaturg: the theater that does standing room cheap tickets is http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/calendar.asp
DorianDramaturg: and I want a full review 'cause they do great, edgy work and I wish I'd seen more there.
DorianDramaturg: realize that for student discounts, etc. you have to get there 30 mins before the show starts -- or earlier. Bring your student ID
DorianDramaturg: if it ends up that Rachel is out of town when you're in London or something, let me know 'cause I have other friends there who I could refer you to
goldenblue light: ok
goldenblue light: well i do have a phpone so i could call you but i'm pretty likely to find a computer there right?
DorianDramaturg: are you confident that your phone will work abroad? you've tried it before?
goldenblue light: not mine, we bought one specifically for the trip
DorianDramaturg: you'll find computers at internet cafes but you have to pay for how long you use them and I'm not sure all would have AIM. I'll try to be on AIM more in the next month. I'm usually just on yahoo
DorianDramaturg: oh good and the place you bought it from said it'd work for abroad?
goldenblue light: yeah
DorianDramaturg: cool
DorianDramaturg: yeah, you can always call me
DorianDramaturg: doesn't matter what time. I'll try to remember to keep my phone near by bed.
DorianDramaturg: realize I'm totally living vicariously through you here
DorianDramaturg: I miss my London friends and the theater scene there sooo much
goldenblue light: haha
goldenblue light: yeah
goldenblue light: well i won't have quite the experience you did
DorianDramaturg: well I'd hope not
DorianDramaturg: you shouldn't date a British man
DorianDramaturg: haha
goldenblue light: umm
goldenblue light: i'm pretty sure i wont
DorianDramaturg: hehe good
DorianDramaturg: if you want to meet a ton of people who knew me really well three years ago, go to Friends House on a Sunday morning at 10 am. Euston Station tube stop. I'm not sure the exact address but Rachel would know. That's my old church/ Quaker meetinghouse. Extremely friendly folks there, very resourceful
DorianDramaturg: and you'd get a cup o tea and a biscuit (cookie) afterwards