Flight from Philadelphia to Las Vegas: Cancelled. Had to stay in a crummy hotel with an airline voucher for 10 bucks each for dinner and 5 bucks each for breakfast. Didn’t pack extra clothes, so we had to wash underwear in the second sink. Philadelphia looks and smells like an armpit, by the way. Got on a plane at 7 the next day (today) to Phoenix. They stuck us in an exit row so we had to cram our carry-ons in the bin. We then had to catch a connecting flight to Vegas, that was delayed for 40 minutes because some stewardess got sick. Sorry, flight attendant, whatever. I don’t need a fucking flight attendant for a 50 minute hop where i don’t get any drink service anyway. I didn’t see a flight attendant ONCE, except for in the first class section where they got wine and blow jobs. And THEN they had they nerve to advertise their first class service as an improvement over the “cramped economy class cabin”. WTF. I am weary from travel and smell funny. I want a shower and a sammich.
On Day 12 we went to Dover Castle That’s all we really did because it’s 2 hours there and 2 hours back, plus it’s a huge castle with a lot to see. In addition to the many battles they fought there in the 11th and 12th centuries, they also used it during the Napoleonic Wars and during World War 2 as an evacuation point. There’s a bunch of tunnels under the castle that are pretty cool. On a side note, I have never walked so much in my entire life.
And then, of course, we got stuck in traffic again. We had to get off the motorway and go through little towns to get back to Oxford, and stopped in Henley-on-Thames for upscale pizza.
On day 13 we went to London for the day. We went to the British Museum to look at the Rosetta Stone and old statues and mummies. Also, I did a little dance on film. We also stopped at a comic store outside and I picked up some back issues of stuff my local comic store don’t seem to ever stock.
We made our way to The Globe Theater (a recreation of Shakespeare’s theater) and did the tour. The woman who plays Astrid in Fringe was on our tour, but we decided to leave her alone and let her enjoy her tour. We walked across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral, but they were having a service and we didn’t need any more jesus, so we walked down to The Coal Hole for some Steak and Ale Pie. It was mighty, and I found out that I don’t like rhubarb pie.
Pics are up in the gallery!
Apparently Deb’s little camera did not have the anti-shake thing turned on when the flash is off and that’s why a lot of the photos that I took without flash are a little blurry and some are just totally crap. The photos that I took with the handicam are good, but that thing is bulky and hard to carry around, and the battery does not last long. I can’t win.
Anyway, we took the bus into London. From there we took the underground to some station to switch tubes to get to Tower Hill to get on the light rail to get to the convention center for London Expo. It took way longer than we expected and were unable to get interview time with either Ron Moore or the cast of Merlin. The hall was overcrowded with anime geeks. I’m not into anime so I have no idea what they were all dressed as. It was assholes to elbows in the convention hall and kinda stinky. The T-shirts and toys were overpriced, and add to that the awful conversion rate from us dollars to gbp and you get me buying nothing. The press room was like a closet. We were severely underwhelmed.
After having a pie and mash and peas for lunch, we got out of there and went to the Tower of London. We got there kinda late, so we had to hurry to see a few exhibits. We saw the English Crown Jewels, which were incredibly impressive. A solid gold punch bowl as big as a tub with intricate design work all over it is just an extravagant show of wealth. America (read: I) needs some crown jewels. We also saw an exhibit of royal armor and a medieval tower. I also got to do the Barry Dance in front of one of those guards in red with a furry black hat.
We were hungry so we went to Picadilly Circus to look around and see what’s available. The first place we went to was really loud and we got sat at a shitty table so we left. We settled on a steak place and had a good bottle of wine. It was raining, but we took a long walk to the bus stop instead of using the tube.
Click here to see the photos
No need for explanation. Already did that last post. Go see em in the Gallery!
Photos from Day 6, 7 and 9 are up in the gallery! Day 8 is still uploading (out of order for some reason). Days 7 through 10 are us in Scotland.
Day 7 we went to the Glenfiddich distillery for a tour and a tasting. I now own something awesome I got from there that I can claim as my most prized possession. We also stopped in Dufftown to visit the whisky shop and buy lots of whisky. We made our way to Inverness, had dinner and drinks, and stayed at the hotel next to the one we booked because they overbooked, but it was nicer anyway. I lost one pound in a weird Simpsons themed gambling machine with way too many lights and buttons to get a sense of what you’re supposed to do. I think that’s the point.
Day 8 we drove to Edinburgh and saw Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Crown Jewels. Very cool. Disappointed you can’t take them out and try them on for silly photos. We explored the royal mile and ate at the Tower Restaurant, on the top floor of the Scottish National Museum. We were going to eat at the Witchery but it was fully booked. We almost didn’t eat at The Tower because as soon as we sat down, they sat a family with a screaming baby next to us. It was like an airplane taking off. I think they were murdering the baby with a hacksaw. The manager was kind enough to move us to the far end of the restaurant, and everyone was giving those people dirty looks. The food was good though.
Day 9 we visited Melrose Abbey, the Roman Housesteads, and tried to visit Lancaster Castle but could find no parking. Also, traffic was incredibly awful and the streets of Lancaster were designed by a lunatic. To make matters worse, traffic DIED as we approached Oxford, for 2 whole hours. Some big accident closed off the highway in both directions. When we finally got moving, we got stuck again on the secondary road going like 10 miles an hour, with little gas left. Worst driving experience ever.
The last four days we spent in Scotland, admiring the scenery, exploring castles, visiting a distillery, and generally being without a stable (or cheap) internet connection or the time to use it. In fact, as I type this, I am waiting for deb to get ready so we can make the long journey into London to go to the London Expo (londonexpo.com). It’s a little geek convention.
I’m currently uploading 4 days worth of photos, and will post them when I get back.
Saw the Hellfire Caves on Day 5. Creepy. Also saw Grey’s Court, which was a lovely garden and 17th or 18th century homestead.
We did Stratford-upon-Avon on day 6, the birthplace and hometown of William Shakespeare. Quaint little town, tourist oriented. Had lunch in the town’s oldest pub. Can’t get enough of that Steak and Ale pie. Saw his birthplace, saw the remnants of a house he died in, and the home of a doctor who married his granddaughter. Got lots of pictures of really old stuff. It was a lot more interesting than I make it out to be here. I’ll upload pics tomorrow night when I get settled in Scotland. Tomorrow is the big drive from Oxford to Grantown-on-Spey. I’m not looking forward to 8 hours in the rental car.
We went punting down the river. I punted, everyone else sat there and enjoyed the view. I am really tired. But I will persevere to do pub crawling tonight. Even though I already had 3 ciders. Woo hoo! My legs are killing me. This walking shit is for brits. We americans have moving walkways.
update: the photos are taking forEVER to upload, so i’ll have to put up day 4 pictures later today.
We started the day with eggs and a bagel and went off to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. I think we got there just in time to beat the really bad tourist rush on the highway. I listened to the audio tour but started to fade out as it droned on. I saw many rocks. And sheep. There were sheep nearby. I got to do my Barry Dance in front of Stonehenge. Sweet.
We decided the Hellfire caves were too far away so instead went to find this castle we found in a brochure. We have these British Heritage passes that let us get into big historical stuff for free, so why not. Old Wardour Castle is where they filmed some parts of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and it’s really old and ruiny, so bonus.
I wanted to see old E ngland, and man, I saw it on this drive. Quaint, sleep little hamlets, pubs as old as dirt, one lane roads through the forest.. awesome. We arrived at the castle in time to see a celtic wedding in progress, compelte with fiddler. It’s really gorgeous there. (see the pics)
We then spent forever in traffic getting back to Oxfordshire to meet Tanya’s parents for dinner. I had a Strongbow and my first Fish and Chips in England. The food was good, but the service was shit.
See the Day 3 pictures in the gallery!
