We stopped in at a Pub that I think was called the Goat, thinking that it would serve food and realizing after we'd both ordered a drink that they didn't after 10 and it was 10:15 maybe. So eventually we just found a McDonald's. I promise, only fast food was open. Even the pizza hut was closed.
Our friends had gone out but were pretty much back when we'd gotten back. I was a little buzzed from my single beer and everyone was tired so we just headed to bed.
I woke up around 8 and was out of the hostel at 9. Our hostel was very close to the Royal Albert Theatre, and I thought I'd just start my day an hour earlier than planned. I walked down to Hyde corner and saw Wellington Arch and the Aspley House (from the outside). Then I continued on towards Buckingham Palace. The palace itself actually seemed a bit drab to me and not as impressive as I thought it could be. The gates and the Queen Victoria Memorial were more interesting to look at to me than the actual building. I got there at 10 and heard the changing of the guard was at 11. That didn't seem like something I wanted to get caught up in, since I'd already seen the changing of the guard at Windsor, so I just continued on to Charing Cross Station to catch the number 15 bus.
On my way I think I walked past the Ministry of Defense and the Horse Guards Army Headquarters. When I walked through the arch to The street on the other side, police blocked off part of the street for a movie that Tom Cruise was filming. Apparently the movie is called "All You Need is Kill." I walked to Trafalgar Square and was not even aware I was in Trafalgar Square. I was wondering why there was a really tall column with Napoleon on top of it (Nelson's column, lol) and then I saw that there was a museum. I would have been able to see Big Ben if I'd been looking. But I saw it later so it's not a huge deal. Finally I got to a bus stop that the 15 bus would stop at and I got on and rode on the second level. The ticketmaster asked for my ticket but I hadn't bought one in advance because I was so used to paying the driver when I stepped on. The ticketmaster was kind of annoyed but I paid for my ticket and he gave me a receipt and that was that.
I got to the Tower of London. I think I will write a new entry just about the Tower. I spent a lot of time there are there's a fair amount to say about it. I think seeing the crown jewels was worth the £22.
I then explored All Hallows Church, the oldest Church in London, for a bit. It has the oldest Saxon arch in London as well. Roman roof tiles were used in the top of the arch. (Recycling at it's finest).
After climbing down, I finally found a pub that was within my price range. So I had a cheap (£2) beer (Reinbeer...lol) and some fish and chips at an Irish pub and a rugby game of Wales vs France came on. I tried watching it for a bit but when I realized no one seems to score I decided it was time to move on and that I'd learn the rules of the game later.
It was pretty much dark now, so I walked to St. Paul's Cathedral and called Illiana to figure out where she, Erin, and Matt were. They were looking for Picadilly Circus and had just gone through Trafalgar square. I said I didn't know where Trafalgar square was, and I didn't at the time, and I mentioned that I hadn't seen Big Ben yet. So then began the search to find my friends and also Big Ben.
I walked to the river because I knew they'd been at the eye earlier, so I thought they were across the bridge. I saw Millenium bridge and decided to cross it, even though I'd be backtracking a few blocks, so I could say I crossed Millenium Bridge. Some kids on bikes were lost and asked me for directions and I told them I couldn't even find Big Ben so they told me to just keep walking towards the eye and I'd get there. I thought about making a detour to The Globe after walking over Millenium bridge but instead walked toward Blackfriar bridge and crossed it when I called Illiana and realized I was on the wrong side of the Thames. I then walked all the way to Big Ben in search of a "stringy bridge" as Illiana referred to it as. (Hungerford Bridge). I saw Big Ben and the houses of Parliament and the Eye and Westminster Abbey and my feet were so entirely sore at this point since the only rest they'd had was the bus ride and the pub, so I decided to just walk to Victoria station, catch the 52 bus back to the hostel, and meet my friends there.
I feel like there are very few days when I have seen that much.
A large group of about 13 of us went back to The Goat and had a few beers and ciders. We didn't feel like going to a club because the covers were all so expensive. I couldn't have stood and danced with my feet being so sore anyway. The average age of the place besides us was like, 50 though. But we still had a good time.
That was my Saturday. I'll talk about the Tower and Sunday at a later time.
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