Month: October 2010

  • Unng. I guess I’m in the west end on a Saturday night. No, Covent Garden. It’s kinda awful all these people and fancy restaurants and pubs all full of people and serving nothing I want. I went in one place that looked good but it was waaay too hot.

    So I’m at a place where the proprietor came out to advertise the free starter when getting a main. Almost completely empty, no crowd outside. I had chicken and chips. I’m findimg meat and chips, of all the English food on offer, works well for me. What I’d like is some rice with vegetables. Sushi.

    After supper– I’m hanging out at the royal opera house now. If my seat is too precarious I might just leave. Thus the flexibility of the cheap ticket. I’m not the scuzziest-dressed here, which makes me glad. I wasn’t worried but I wasn’t sure. As usual, once I get to the theare everything is comfortable.

    Moments later. No longer comfortable. Seat is really really high. I can see 1/3 of the stage – more if I lean over the railing. But I’m not going to lean over the railing!!!! OK I just checked. I’m here again Wednesday and where I am in the Upper Slips tonight, on Wed I am in the Lower Slips so not so high.

    Edit: third intermission. I spent the last 52 minutes draped over the rail in front of me, trying to see more. There have been many big jumps. I was thinking of leaving now due to the late hour and me being sleepy, but the last ballet is a Balanchine so I better check it out. Also there are more tutus in this one. I like tutus.

  • I’m at the train station in Bath. It’s been school half-term this week so there have been roaming groups of youths wherever I go. Also parents and kids arguing. Special times.

    There are many really old buildings in Bath and if they aren’t actually old, they’ve been made to look old, such as the monstrosity of a shopping centre across from the train station. It’s been given angled streets like the old parts of town, and charming names like ‘new merchant st’ but it’s pure cement.

  • One thing I like about England so far is that toast just arrives dry. There are little pads or containers of butter at the table to be used at your own discretion, or, in my case, not at all. I also like that my breakfast is included with the cost of accomodation. I also like that it is the Full English breakfast that is served. Back home I call this “Dad’s Breakfast”– bacon and eggs with toast. Sometimes with sausage. Here it also comes with fried half-a-tomato and mushrooms. I approach the tomato with caution. I ignore the mushrooms.

    Itinerery update. I travelled to Winchester via Paddingtom Station instead of Waterloo, taking me through Reading. This isn’t the normal route, but is possible. It’s quicker to go through Waterloo, but the Heathrow Express from the airport goes to Paddington. So there. And I took the Heathrow Ex instead of the tube as planned because I was tired and the Heathrow Ex is easy.

    Today if I planned better I might have seen Stonehenge but I missed all tours leaving Bath due to being at the fashion museum. As it is, I’m not especially bothered: ancient rocks vs. Diana’s dresses. It’s a hard decision.

    Now I’ve found a vegan/veggie restaurant at which to eat and am waiting for dessert to arrive. There is dessert I can eat and so I am having some. That’s right.

    Tomorrow I’ll breakfast in Bath and then wait around a while for the off-peak time arrives for taking the train, and then back to London.

  • I started my trip by re-reading my pretty pink version of Jane Austen’s bio. Good.

    I’ve beem awake now, save for the half-dozen naps-that-don’t-count on the plane, for way too long. Will sleep well, I hope. There’s nothing like being too tired to keep me up.