The continuing Adventures of Americans in England
At one point during this vacation I had planned on visiting Cardiff, Wales. If you have to ask why you really aren't paying attention to how geeky I was being on this vacation. First off, Millennium Center and second, Doctor Who exhibit.
Well just before I arrived in England I found out that there were several Doctor Who exhibits in England as well as the one in Cardiff. And that it would cost a silly ass amount of money to travel to Cardiff from London. We checked it out when we got there and yup. Silly ass amount before we even translated that to American money. It would have been cheaper to fly as we found out from Connor (but that would had to have been booked in advance) Luckily one of the exhibit happened be in Earl's Court. Walking distance from our hotel. Score.
So Monday morning had me completely geeking out at the exhibit and dragging Xander along. He kindly agreed to go and I gave him a very brief run down of my shiny new obsession. Now he understood my weirdness over the Police Box. Somehow he became enthralled with the Dalaks. Figures.
This would be a good time to note I was wearing a blue shirt and Xander was wearing a green one. Why is this relevent. Oh you'll see..uh read.
So pretty cool exhibit. I would have liked more with the Ninth Doctor but alas it was all about Ten, who I also like. All sorts of buttons to push and make things talk and of course one button that says "Do Not Push" - knowing better I push that one and suddenly the Cybermen are all chatting and talking about deletion. So very cool!!!
Then at one point there was an area where you stand and it looks like you are on the Tardis. Well I try it first and I'm wondering why I look so weird. Oh yeah, I'm wearing a blue shirt against a blue screen. Duh. My torso is washed out. Works fine with Xander of course.
Afterwards we wandering around. And just because we were on the Jubilee line on the tube and I noticed that stop going other way was Canary Wharf (honestly do I still need to tell you people why? Take a guess!) I convinced Xander to take the tube there just so I could walk around in a business district taking pictures.
After than 15 minute side trip we heading off to London Bridge to decide on whether we were going to check out the London Dungeon or the London Bridge Experience. We choose the London Bridge. It was a cross between a Larp and a house of horrors. First part we along with a father and son met up with characters and interacted with them. We threw in with all the gusto of module. "Hell yeah let's defeat the Danes!!!" And we actually learned a bit of history too. See fun and educational.
The second part was purely a maze of horrors. They give you a hard hat and yellow vest and tell you not to hit the actors:) But first they take your pictures up against a green screen and tell you to act scared. Well apparently we did such a good job at it the guy taking the pic was impressed and commented on it. So off into the maze and making the actors feel like they are earning their money. It was a cool looking mod set up let me tell you! At the end...like every other exhibit you end up in a gift shop. How does that happen?:) So we go check out our photo and decide to buy it. The guy who took the pic is there too once again saying we looked really scared. I like it but I'm wondering why Xander looks a little funny. Well remember how I said he was wearing a green shirt? In between all the Zombies (freakin' Zombies!!!) that appeared in the picture it looks like Xander's shirt is transporting out of the photo!! Nice.
The rest of the day is spent walking around and then back to Liecester Square for dinner. The place is crowded around the movie theater. Barricades and police everywhere. Turns out the Sex and the City movie premiere is in London right in front of us. I try to climb up on stuff in hopes of seeing anyone. But no luck and after a few minutes of this I realize, I don't even care about that show or have any interest in any of those actors. So I give up and we eat dinner in a tasty restaurant right next to the theater. At this point Xander keeps taunting me with the potential of any other celebrities I might want to see being at the premiere. Nice.
The next evening I picked up the free paper they hand out during rush hour near the tube and got photos of the entire thing. I didn't miss much but it funny being that close to all the hoopla and not being able to see anything because of the massive crowds!