Choose another map, showing:

• England
• Britain & Ireland
• Europe (west)
• Europe
• Eurasia
• Transatlantic
• Eurasia, Africa & Pacific
• The World

Other entries in London

Up all night, sleep all day

Well, after the 5am night, there isn't much to say about the 25th - we both slept until midafternoon, found something to eat and just took it easy that night.

So around came the 26th. Mike had to go to work, so I was on my own for the day. After getting up a bit late, but not too bad (looks like I'm mostly out of jetlag mode), I had to find the Rail Europe office to get my rail pass validated. So I took my first solo journey on the London train system. Turns out it didn't last very long. I got to the stop I wanted and realized that, though I had deliberatly left my passport at Mike's apartment, I needed it for my rail pass validation, so had to turn right back and go get it. So after getting it, turning around again, and then wandering to where the Rail Europe office is, the validation process was actually quite simple - a couple dates, passport number and a stamp. But it needed to be done so I wasn't in violation of of the pass rules when I tried to use it later.

I then proceeded to head down to Buckingham Palace. The Queen is not in residence in Aug & Sept most years (on holiday in Scotland I believe), so they open up the state rooms to public viewing during this time period. Since I doubted I would be back at the same time the palace was open, I decided to check it out. The price was a rather steep 15.50 GBP, but I was able to get a ticket for the 3:15pm group (they send out groups in 15 min intervals). Once my time came up, we went through an airport style security check, then picked up audio guides to talk us through our walk and the 19 rooms, then off I went. Overall it was much of what I had expected. I guess I'm just not the "over-done, ostentatious" castle or church type. I could easily appreciate the workmanship and such that went into the palace, but again, it just seemed too over the top for my personal tastes. Nonetheless, I'm glad I went.

After that I walked for a while, got a bit lost in the roads that go every which direction, found my way again and found an underground station to take me back to Mike's place where we were meeting up after he was done work. Mike got home and we took off for Brick Lane, home of the Bangladeshi community of London and the street of a thousand restaurants. It was likely a good introduction to what I can expect later, as we would make it 5 steps, then be accosted by a salesman selling his restaurant with freebies and discounts. We ended up settling on one that Mike had already been to, but it was excellent. I had the Chicken Tika Masala, which turned out to be spicier than Mike's dish, which was unexpected. Interestingly enough, when a poll of Britain's favourite dish was held, this was the winner. Wierd.

We then headed over to a pub on the Jack the Ripper tour - Two Bells. This pub is "famous" for being the location of a last drink of one of the prostitutes that Jack the Ripper killed. Based on what I saw, they haven't changed much inside since then either :-). But it was a quaint little spot where we met a couple of Mike's friends. We didn't stay out too late, took the bus back, backtracked a bit to try to take some pics of the London Tower Bridge at night, then headed home.

QOTD: Why is Chicken Tika Masala Britain's favourite dish?

Add to del.icio.us Add to reddit

Photos / videos of "Up all night, sleep all day":