Monday, June 15, 2009

When You're Left, You're Right

From one side of the river to the other we go today as we change hostels to have a better location the next group of sites we would like to see. This new hostel looks like the inside of a crayon box with its lime green painted walls and rainbow colored lights. Definitely not for those over the age of 25. However, this is great because there were tons of students in the "Chill Out Room" to meet.Shockingly though we were more ready for this new hostel than they were for us as our reservations apparently were for JULY instead of JUNE. Oops! There we were, three men, one summer abroad and no place to stay. Luckily enough we sweet talked to receptionist into placing us into a four placed room where we met our second "character" of this trip.

Micah, a high performance motorcyclist from New Jersey, arrived in our room shortly after we settled in for the evening. His story was one of road tripping through Europe meeting different people along the way and entering motorcycle races on the Isle of Man between Britain and Ireland. He was just passing through so this was the last we saw of him.

After we checked in at 14:00 (that's how they tell time here, but their clocks still only go to 12) we walked a few miles to the British Museum. Check this out - there is actually very little British history in this museum as it is almost everything they have jacked from other people over the years while the past Empire attempted to conquer the world!

It was pretty incredible. Pictures are soon to come.

Next up, the London Eye, or big Ferris wheel thingy. Ok, nevermind. No pictures until Florence when we can upload those from Brett's camera that is not compatible with John's computer

Build for the World Fair in London, the London Eye is the place to be is you want to see all of London in 30 minutes...for the fee of 17 Euros. That is the quickest money has flown out of our pockets this whole trip but we do not think it is something to pass up. Overall, it is something we think you have to do when you come to London but is not worth doing twice. John would know, this is the second time he took the most expensive ferris wheel ride in the world. As it turns out another option is also to rent out a whole capsule and they will serve you and your date champagne for a LARGE amount of money. Sounds like the shortest, most expensive date ever.

On another note, we have figured out how to get around very well. It is surprising how efficient and effective public transportation is in London. Levels upon levels of underground trains must have taken years to finish and hours of time to maintain. Once you know how to uses the London Underground the city is yours and you can go anywhere!

We know what you are thinking, "everything is going great on this trip!" But what would a backpacking trip with three men be without a few "bumps" on the unforeseen road? As we said before, the hostel we moved into was not expecting us until July. After some checking, the hostel in Paris is not expecting us until July as well!! Here we are in England, with no place to stay once we take our ferry to France for six nights. Paris is expensive. Hostels lack vacancy. Should we cancel our travel to Paris? Ireland is nice, nearby as well! We can go anywhere. The world is ours. After all we are just Three Men, on One Summer Abroad.

1 comment:

  1. Hey, John! Just wanted to let you know that I'm having a great time seeing one of my favorite cities in the world through your eyes...seems like only yesterday when you were a toddler and I was there buying you a Hard Rock Cafe--London "onesie", & now you're there to buy your own paraphernalia! Where DOES the time go?

    Guys, if you decide to go to Ireland iso Paris, I have this advice:

    1. Get a room at the FOUR COURTS HOSTEL in Dublin. I remember it was very inexpensive, clean and centrally located, AND

    2. Go to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells: an ancient illustrated calligraphy manuscript of the Four Gospels in Latin that is a must see for any Christian in that neck of the woods. Seriously Amazing.

    That's all I've got, Fellas. Be careful and take care of each other!

    Cheers,
    Aunt Alicia

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