A Weary Traveler

I have learned quite a bit from my night in London:

1. Don't plan to use money that you [technically] don't have. (I forgot that checks take time to clear - I've been spoiled with direct-deposit for so long! So when I left town on Saturday, I had no money in my account - thank goodness for credit cards.)
2. Have SOME idea where you are going or what you are trying to find. (Walking in circles around Victoria Station, looking for a particular street should not take an hour and a half!)
3. Don't leave your "London A to Z" at home! (Despite what you think, you really do need it!)
4. Don't be too proud to pull out your map and use it! (You look silly walking in circles for an hour and a half!)
5. Always carry a book with you when you are alone for dinner (staring at the wall sucks!)
6. I SUCK AT READING MAPS!!

I won't call it a bad trip. I really did enjoy myself... Just learned a lot in the process!! Saturday I took the Bus Tour - you really do see a lot of the city that way! By the time I got off the bus, I was starting to get hungry, so I thought it'd be smart to find a place to crash for the night and freshen-up for dinner. I knew Belgrave Road was on one of the sides of Victoria Station, but as I walked around the perimeter, I could not for the life of me find the street! I found lots of neat shops that I stopped in, but no Belgrave. Finally, after an hour and a hour of wandering, I took a long, hard look at my map and found the street. Now, as you walk down this street in London, there are hundreds and hundreds of hotels, B & Bs, even hostels. But, if you walk down the street on a rainy Saturday at 6:30 in the evening, you MIGHT have a hard time finding a room for the night. I walked about 8 long blocks until I got to the end of the street, thought I'd try the opposite side of the Road and finally found a place. It was a cute little B & B. The catch was that the room, nicknamed the "closet," was tiny! It was literally the size of a full-size bed (with a twin and a small television table - that's all that would fit!). It did have a bathroom en suite, so at least I didn't have to stumble down the hall in the middle of the night.

I had dinner at a pub around the corner. I was so happy to have a beer and a hot meal, but when you're eating alone, you can only look at the menu for SO long. I had just bought a book at Victoria Station when I was wandering around earlier, WHY did I not bring it with me!? No matter how much fun you think you want to have, always carry a book with you, just in case the place is dead. Instead, I finished my meal and stopped in the corner market for a bottle to drink while I watched the tele, laying in my tiny bed, in my tiny room. Now, mind you, I am not complaining about any of this, because in all honesty I was as happy to watch TV as I was for a wild evening in a London Pub!

I woke up this morning (7 AM) and had a nice Continental Breakfast at the B & B (met some nice Tennesseans that shared a table with me - Nashville), then found the Radical travelers Office. I hopped on the tube and found an Arts Festival at Trafalgar Square, then found Oxford Square (lots of shopping) and Piccadilly Circus, then took a bus to the millennium Bridge where I walked across the Thames to the Tate Modern Museum. The bridge was really cool, as was the museum. By the time I finally found the London Bridge Train Station (around 5 PM) I was ready to come home. My backpack was starting to feel heavy on my shoulders and I was ready to sit for a while.

It was a definite learning experience. Would I do it again? Hell yeah - that's what I'm here for, mistakes and all!! I couldn't have spent more than £100 this weekend (including £45 for the room). For as expensive as London is, you can get around here pretty cheaply, if you try. I also took lots of pictures with my new camera - I'll share them soon.

This morning, waiting to check out of the B & B, the owner made a comment about "what a nice day" it was going to be. I looked out the window and I'm sure the look on my face must have said it all - the skies were gray and there was not a spot of sunshine. the guy next to me leaned over and said, "In England, this time of year, a day without rain is a nice one!"