In which Rebecca overdoses on Peter Pan and fast food...
Note to self: Find out what Boxing Day is and why the English celebrate it.
Well, all the London traffic outside my window sure didn't bother me last night. I slept like the dead, didn't even wake up when my roommate came back from a pub (and I usually would have - I'm such a light sleeper). Must have been all the walking I did yesterday. I woke up feeling very refreshed.
The weater today was infinitely better than yesterday. No drizzle, and there was even some sun and blue sky in the early afternoon. Of course it would rain the day I had to do all my walking and then stop when I could use the Underground again. Today I took the tube from Earl's Court (across the street from my hostel) to Russell Square. From there, I walked to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital (GOSH). I'm so glad I got to see it. I took some pictures of their Peter Pan statue - I think it's better than the one in Kensington Gardens. Kensington Gardens Peter is too delicate, wearing a dress-like thing and playing sweetly on his pipes. GOSH Peter is more mischevious and playful, looking right at you and blowing fairy dust in your face. It's a great statue.
I went inside the hospital, but only briefly, and I didn't take any pictures inside. It would've felt too weird. I mean, this place isn't some museum or tourist attraction - it's an active hospital for seriously ill kids. I wanted to make a donation to the hospital, because I feel that's something Barrie really would've wanted, but I'm on such a tight budget here. I've practically got my spending planned out down the last pence. GOSH's motto is The child first and always - they had it on their doors.
From GOSH, I walked to King's Cross station and took the tube to the Tower Hill stop, right across from the Tower of London. I saw as much of it as I could without going in (which costs 10£). It wasn't quite as scary as I'd expected - maybe because the sun was shining and there were tourists with their camera and maps everywhere (myself included). I have to wonder about the two princes, Richard and Edward, who disappeared there. I think that's the most tragic thing in the history of the Tower. I walked across Tower Bridge and back, and I saw crests with Domine Dirigus Rus (Nus?) on them (I think - not sure I remember that correctly). I want to find out what that means. I was thinking the whole time I was at the Tower of London and on the bridge about how much Sara would enjoy it. Damn, it would be awesome if we could go to London together, but I don't know if that'll happen. This trip has been expensive; it cost 220€ just to get from Villers-Cotterets to London.
From the Tower of London, I walked to St. Paul's Cathedral. That was really nice, because I reached it just as it was getting dark and all the lights were coming on. I was worried it would be sprawling with loud obnoxious tourists like the Notre Dame in Paris, but it wasn't. It was very quiet and peaceful, especially inside where they had a strict rule about no photography/video. They also had, in big letters on every door, This is none other than the House of God. It is the gate of Heaven, to remind us all that this is a somber place. It smelled so nice. In the churchyard there was a circular plaque in the ground that said Remember before God the people of London. I saw that the last time I visited (in 2004), and I really loved it.
From St. Paul's, I walked to St. Paul's station and took the tube back to Earl's Court Road. I rested in my hostel room for a while, then went to McDonald's for dinner. I've had practically nothing but fast food since I got here (I ate KFC near the Tower of London for lunch). But I get fast food so rarely in Villers-Cotterets - all I ever eat there is the cantine food - so I figure I should overdose on it now. Tomorrow is my last full day in London, and Peter Pan's birthday. 103 this year. It will suck when my trip is over, but I am looking forward to being back in France. I'll have my own room again! And Internet access! Paradise!
Well, all the London traffic outside my window sure didn't bother me last night. I slept like the dead, didn't even wake up when my roommate came back from a pub (and I usually would have - I'm such a light sleeper). Must have been all the walking I did yesterday. I woke up feeling very refreshed.
The weater today was infinitely better than yesterday. No drizzle, and there was even some sun and blue sky in the early afternoon. Of course it would rain the day I had to do all my walking and then stop when I could use the Underground again. Today I took the tube from Earl's Court (across the street from my hostel) to Russell Square. From there, I walked to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital (GOSH). I'm so glad I got to see it. I took some pictures of their Peter Pan statue - I think it's better than the one in Kensington Gardens. Kensington Gardens Peter is too delicate, wearing a dress-like thing and playing sweetly on his pipes. GOSH Peter is more mischevious and playful, looking right at you and blowing fairy dust in your face. It's a great statue.
I went inside the hospital, but only briefly, and I didn't take any pictures inside. It would've felt too weird. I mean, this place isn't some museum or tourist attraction - it's an active hospital for seriously ill kids. I wanted to make a donation to the hospital, because I feel that's something Barrie really would've wanted, but I'm on such a tight budget here. I've practically got my spending planned out down the last pence. GOSH's motto is The child first and always - they had it on their doors.
From GOSH, I walked to King's Cross station and took the tube to the Tower Hill stop, right across from the Tower of London. I saw as much of it as I could without going in (which costs 10£). It wasn't quite as scary as I'd expected - maybe because the sun was shining and there were tourists with their camera and maps everywhere (myself included). I have to wonder about the two princes, Richard and Edward, who disappeared there. I think that's the most tragic thing in the history of the Tower. I walked across Tower Bridge and back, and I saw crests with Domine Dirigus Rus (Nus?) on them (I think - not sure I remember that correctly). I want to find out what that means. I was thinking the whole time I was at the Tower of London and on the bridge about how much Sara would enjoy it. Damn, it would be awesome if we could go to London together, but I don't know if that'll happen. This trip has been expensive; it cost 220€ just to get from Villers-Cotterets to London.
From the Tower of London, I walked to St. Paul's Cathedral. That was really nice, because I reached it just as it was getting dark and all the lights were coming on. I was worried it would be sprawling with loud obnoxious tourists like the Notre Dame in Paris, but it wasn't. It was very quiet and peaceful, especially inside where they had a strict rule about no photography/video. They also had, in big letters on every door, This is none other than the House of God. It is the gate of Heaven, to remind us all that this is a somber place. It smelled so nice. In the churchyard there was a circular plaque in the ground that said Remember before God the people of London. I saw that the last time I visited (in 2004), and I really loved it.
From St. Paul's, I walked to St. Paul's station and took the tube back to Earl's Court Road. I rested in my hostel room for a while, then went to McDonald's for dinner. I've had practically nothing but fast food since I got here (I ate KFC near the Tower of London for lunch). But I get fast food so rarely in Villers-Cotterets - all I ever eat there is the cantine food - so I figure I should overdose on it now. Tomorrow is my last full day in London, and Peter Pan's birthday. 103 this year. It will suck when my trip is over, but I am looking forward to being back in France. I'll have my own room again! And Internet access! Paradise!