UK Day 1!!

Really, it was more like “UK Afternoon 1!!” since I only left the airport at about noon. (See picture from my arrival: Here!!!) Despite this somewhat delayed start, I was able to take over 100 pictures yesterday afternoon. Now I am happy to share them with you as evidence of some of my adventures.

Can’t wait for more!

xo xo,

Mission One: Get to the hostel. I did this via the London Underground, also known as the Tube. It was about an hour long ride and involved one transfer.

View coming out of the underground at Finchley Road.

I had walking instructions to turn at the BP and North Star Pub.

First view of the Palmers Lodge – my hostel for the evening.

The 21 bed female dorm at the very top of the building - one bonus: no noise from upstairs neighbors! — The 21 bed female dorm at the very top of the building – one bonus: no noise from upstairs neighbors!

Walking back downstairs for my first adventure sans suitcase.

Mission Two: Obtain a BritRail pass. This proved to be far more of a challenge than I had anticipated.

Victoria Station – they do not sell BritRail here, but the ticket attendant was very nice and gave me directions with the nearest tube station to the office where I could buy one.

I rode the underground to Leicester Square, which the Victoria Train station ticket attendant told me was the nearest station to where I could purchase a BritRail pass.

Of course, then I had to find the Golden Tours ticket office. Another complicated task that involved asking multiple people for directions. In the meantime, I observed that the Leicester Square area appears to be the theater district. If I had wanted, I could have seen Lion King, Mamma Mia, or one of half a dozen or more other shows. (I passed.)

Now, this next picture is going to take some explaining. First, I finally found the ticket office and was all set to buy my BritRail pass when I realized I was about three pounds short. ‘No problem,’ I thought, I would go to the bank up the street and take more money out. The attendant pointed me in the direction of the nearest ATM and off I went.

An hour or more later, after visiting four ATMs, and making a call to my bank from an Internet Cafe, I returned with the three additional pounds. It was a bit of a traumatic experience, and I will explain more at a later date, but for now, all you need to know is the internet cafe man was very nice and helped me to feel better when I was pretty down-trodden.

WIN! After significantly more struggle than I anticipated, I had secured a BritRail pass.

I celebrated by going to the National Portrait Gallery which was just around the corner. My visit was brief as I had other things I wanted to do, but nevertheless it was a good moment to think about the importance of faces.

Continuing my journey around the corner, I found myself in Trafalgar Square. Convenient, right?

I also found some lions for the front yard for my mom. Big enough? But seriously, how did they make these?

I continued my art exploration in the National Gallery (it was also free). Again, a short visit, I have more thoughts on the gallery, but will save them for a later post.

Big Ben - I definitely have an affinity for clock towers. — Big Ben – I definitely have an affinity for clock towers.

The London Eye - I bought my ticket to ride at about 6 PM, but opted to return closer to sunset/dark, which the ticket attendant recommended. — The London Eye – I bought my ticket to ride at about 6 PM, but opted to return closer to sunset/dark, which the ticket attendant recommended.

Just a beautiful walkway across from the parliament building (which is my favorite building so far). I would have walked more if my feet weren't hurting so much. Instead, I embarked on an ill-planned bus ride... — Just a beautiful walkway across from the parliament building (which is my favorite building so far). I would have walked more if my feet weren’t hurting so much. Instead, I embarked on an ill-planned bus ride…

So here is how the ill-planned bus ride started: it is 6 PM and I have been on my feet since about 2 PM (not to mention having only slept a few hours on the plane). I am understandably tired. Wishing to sit for a while, I decide to get on a bus. My original goal was to go back to Leicester Square where I had seen a restaurant I wanted to try for no other reason than it was called The Porcupine. Well, I learned that one should not simply get on a bus and hope for the best. At first it seemed to be going the way I wanted, then things started to look unfamiliar. I was able to follow our progress on my map and The Porcupine was looking more and more like a no-go. Eventually I departed the bus at one of the numerous entrances to the park surrounding Kensington Palace. At least it was a park, right?

So I found myself cheering my weary feet across the park to a tube station (a form of transportation I understand) to go back to the London Eye.

It was a beautiful park, one I would enjoy running at if I have time when I return to London.

Unexpected moment: seeing a lovely statue of Queen Victoria.

Here she is in front of Kensington Palace.

So my ill-planned bus ride turned into a nice walk in the park. After my park crossing, I consulted another map and saw I was not far from Royal Albert Hall. I figured, ‘why not? I’ve already walked this far.’ And thus I continued.