Rode the train from Brighton Station to London Victoria for almost an hour. Starting to get the hang of inserting the tickets into the slits so I can safely pass through the gates and remember that it gives you the ticket back if you're on a return.
(Train ticket side note: One time Yummy forgot to tell me that when you're ticket is done, it doesn't come back to you which is why it wouldn't come out again. Guess who was panicking? Little details..)
The Victoria and Albert Museum became first on our agenda in London. What sections we were able to mill around in were great. Would've seen more, but portions of the museum were closed because of a worker strike? Something like that. I haven't been to a proper museum in a while so this was exciting. Yummy made sure I got to see the Fashion section which I loved.
Snapshots in front of the building and a plaque commemorating it.
This was in the lobby and I immediately recognized it as Dale Chihuly's work. He is famous for his ceiling work at The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. He's also done numerous installations around the world. Some of his work were just shown in a gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The following are plaster casts of the original.
You can't say you were not warned in the ladies' room.
We decided to skip the Kylie Minogue exhibit (yes, that's right) and peruse the gift shop before lunching at Cafe Daquise. This place served Eastern European food and Yummy made a remark upon entering that I will not repeat. He enjoyed Polish beer and bigo (hunter's stew) and I ate the stuffed cabbage.
AGOL had a rare yet complete blond roots moment... We had just gotten out of the tube and went up the stairs and outside to London proper. I saw this building IMMEDIATELY in front of us and thought -- what a pretty building...pretty clock. Then Yummy reminds me that it is Big Ben. Oh.
Tube sign. Just before you "alight" off the tube, you hear an authoritative male voice intoning "Mind the Gap" (between the train and platform) so much so that you find yourself reciting it repeatedly in your head.
Westminster Abbey. If you do not know this place, you might as well have the aliens pick you up now and agree to have your Earth citizenship revoked. I didn't know it would be so close to the House of Parliament. Pictures inside are prohibited so I have outdoor shots which are just as nice. Inside were place markers in history for royalty, the titled, the decorated and the talent of different eras. It was like a mausoleum surrounding the church portion. You see names like Queen Elizabeth I, Chaucer and Byron. It was a strange feeling to be in the same place that the current queen had her coronation.
We veered towards Downing Street so we could peek at Number 10. Was Blair in? Did he know the AGOL was in the city? The guard box was strategically placed so you don't get a "clear shot" of the door. More accessible than the White House that's for sure. Look what we're guarding. I am not saying anything -- I am just saying.
No, the giant carnival was not in London. This is a permanent installation celebrating the millennium. This is called the Millennium Wheel or British Airways London Eye which has one full revolution of about 30 minutes and is so smooth that you feel no butterflies in your tummy at all riding in the capsule and you get a 360-degree view of London. Passengers can walk around or sit at their leisure.
Sprinkles & Yummy. Some guys just take you to a dinner and a movie. This guy takes you on top of London.
We did the Queen's Walk along the Thames. When we strolled under a bridge, we encountered a man with an accordion playing "Besame Mucho" (Kiss me a lot) and we stopped and kissed. Very romantic moment. It was very Parisian like.
Yummy's Favorite Pub. It is painted black inside, has a fireplace and tiny! You can almost imagine yourself bundled, crunching into snow and ducking in off the side street to get warm by the fire. By this time I was very thirsty and ordered a matching pint with Yummy. Yup, it was cold and delicious. I downed it like a sailor on shore leave. Someone was surprised that a girl was outdrinking him...only on this pint though! I was disappointed; no cheese as advertised on the sign.
Last pic of the day. After a hearty a pint and a half on an empty stomach, it made walking around to catch the tube and train back innaressin let's just say. I forgot about the stairs.
Playing footie (not soccer, ya bloo'y yanks!) tonight was Chelsea v Liverpool. We got to watch some of the game while waiting for Chinese take away in Brighton and then hustled home for overtime. This stuff is serious business. Unfortunately, Yummy's team Chelsea didn't make it further in the finals.
I quickly remembered why I no longer watch sports: I get too involved even as tired as I was from London. I stick to watching golf which Yummy says is a good walk spoiled. Double-bogey. Still an outstanding day!
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