Sunday, May 12, 2013

A Pretty Pence in London


LONDON – When we entered Room 7 of the Emyln House Hotel in the West London section of the city, we thought we’d been handed the key to the storage closet/furnace room. The stifling hot and narrow dwelling held twin beds that ran the length of one wall. The floor space between the beds and the opposing wall was wide enough to set our bags but not much else.  In front of the only window in the room, a tiny (inoperable) TV sat atop a (operable) mini fridge, and both were tethered to the wall by a short leash. With hardly any elbowroom in our confined roost, we took turns sliding past one another to use the even smaller bathroom. Which, by the way, you couldn’t close the door to without catching the atrocious green bedspread in the jamb. Other features of our luxury room included: a heater cranked on high (worth mentioning twice – it was THAT hot), cracked and brown tiles in the bathroom, soiled carpet, and an assortment of other people’s hair in the shower drain. But when we arrived in London after a long flight, three train connections and two subway rides, all we wanted for the night was a bed and four walls. So, under those terms, the mission was completed. 

Despite all of the aforementioned awesomeness of the room, the best part (READ: most ludicrous) was its nightly rate of $70. Now, that number may not seem high to some, but given the amenities (WIFI? Forget about it), or the lack thereof, and comparing this lodging to other stops on our EuroTrip, 70 doll hairs was pretty steep for two well-seasoned shoestring travelers. However, this WAS the most economical option for our stay that weekend, not to mention our ONLY option hostel-wise for a last minute booking. Besides, even before planning the trip to London, we were well aware that Britain has never been considered a bargain destination. Yes, the United Kingdom is rather small, but it cost a pretty pence to navigate through. Okay, enough talk of our budget being obliterated. I just really wanted to use the word ‘pence’ in a sentence. (Pence – unit of British currency)


Saturday - May 4
My first word after we hit the pavement Saturday morning was “coffee,” and by now Juston knows I’m not kidding when I express the need for caffeine. It was 6:30 in the morning and we were en route to the Hilton Olympia Hotel for our scheduled pickup to embark on the tour to Stonehenge. The bus was to pick us up at 7:40 am, but first we had to find a place to print our tickets (last minute) on a Saturday morning, and I refused to get on the bus until coffee was in tow. Fortunately, by the grace of God, we were able to print our tickets at the swanky Hilton hotel AND we spotted a small breakfast stand around the corner to cure our java jones. The coffee tasted like instant that had been reheated twice, but it didn’t matter – we had a long day ahead of us and I had to believe that somewhere in there was caffeine.

After walking 2.5 miles to our pickup location, we were was happy – nay, elated – to be spending the next two hours in a reclining seat on a first class coach bus to Stonehenge. Generally, we avoid any organized group tours, as we prefer to venture and wander on our own. But seeing as how Stonehenge was two hours away from the city, we gave in and booked the guided tour for $80 USD.

Hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Stonehenge is an ancient marvel that is both fascinating and perplexing.  (Read more info here: http://www.history.com/topics/stonehenge)


After returning to the city, we headed toward the Royals and Buckingham Palace.
On the way there, we took a stroll through Kensington Gardens to see Kensington Palace and Round Lake. We also stopped for a little window-shopping at Harrods, the world’s most famous department store.  Then, wandered up Constitution Hill to view the Wellington Arch. This commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s victories in the Napoleonic wars. His impressive mansion, Apsley House, was also just across road.




Following our tea and crumpets with the Queen, Prince William and Kate, we went for a glimpse at Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms – home to Churchill during WWII. (Side note – in college I had the privilege of meeting a granddaughter of Churchill, who shared with our class some of her grandfather’s daily routines which included his love of taking daily baths and working in bed. So, to honor Sir Winston, I am composing this blog post snuggled up and in the comfort of my own bedstead as well. The bed I’m borrowing in Germany, that is)

After Churchill was paid respects, Westminster Abbey was in our view. As London’s most prestigious religious building, the Abbey is the setting for coronations, state funerals, and the burial place of many celebrated kings and queens. Not far from there, we found Big Ben (not the quarterback) towering into the sky, in all of its clock-face glory. It’s cliché, but seeing the big guy for the first time really did send a shiver up my spine and plant Goosebumps down my arms.



Next to Benny boy, we found Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament. Not far from there set Trafalgar Square, home to one of London’s most famous landmarks – Nelson’s Column. The National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery are also housed there.

By this time, all the tea and crumpets have worn off and it was time for fish and chips - although, we sprang for chicken and chips instead. Let’s be honest, London isn’t known for it’s delectable cuisine, so we really didn’t feel like we were missing out on too much by opting for the chicken over fish. Anyways, we enjoyed our lunch at the small café situated directly in front of the world-famous London Eye, the largest observation wheel in the world. Crossing the river that evening, we went to see one of London’s best-loved landmarks, the Tower Bridge (or London Bridge). Nearby was the Tower of London, originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th-century and now one of London’s two World Heritage Sites.



Sunday - May 5
After pounding the pavement Saturday to hit the tourist attractions, we did what we always do on Sunday – Relaxed. Rested. Observed the Sabbath.  We spent the day leisurely strolling through the area of Notting Hill (sorry ladies, there was no sign of Hugh Grant), wandering through the many gorgeous parks of London, and stopping for the obligatory pictures in and around the red telephone booths. For lunch, we stopped at this amazing organic grocery store where we meandered through the aisles for a good hour and a half before deciding on a lunch option. Everything looked SO good. Our organic chicken wraps, blue corn chips, and vegetable mix weighed in at a whopping $42 meal. We even scooped up some gluten-free cupcakes to take with us to the park, where we spread out a blanket and parked our behinds for the remainder of the day. Juston catnapped while I read and watched the locals. Before catching our train back to the airport, we caught a glimpse of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the heart of the financial district – Bank of England, Royal Exchange and Lord Mayor’s home – Mansion House.   What an appropriate area to end the trip, don't you think? Pound-less and without pence in the England financial district. Haha, okay there really is nothing to draw from that. I just had way too much fun speaking of and carrying pounds and pence that weekend. Cheerio, friends! 


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