2: Exploring the unknown

Distance walked: 13km


Highlights/ Chronological Breakdown:
Leichester Sq (Tkts booth), Billy Elliot RUSH tickets (Victoria Palace Theatre)
Buckingham Palace (10:45am) Changing of the guards. View point from Victoria Statue

Take a break and watch the ending part of the procession on Vimeo.

House of Parliement featuring Big Ben

Walked along the South Bank (WEST side) towards Lambeth Bridge trying to still find artwork from Banksy. No dice! Enjoyed the lovely warm sun as I strolled over the bridge to get to the next destination:
Tate Britain - This museum/Art Gallery houses mostly Artists that have influenced the British art scene. I will have to come back and explore more British artists.

Since I was going to MAX out my oyster card I decided to take the Tube towards Covent Garden and just explore more of that open market. While in London I been on a Fixed bike Spotting crusade.
As my lovely friend SL says. " you know how some people will stare at beautiful ... people, shoes, bags, clothes... PC will loook at bikes."
I just have a fascination with customized Fixed bicycles. It takes a certain creative mind/passionate person to come up with the colour scheme and acquire the parts to get the bike built up. Seeing I was in another urban area I figured that Id try to become a "local" and ask around for the best bike shops in town.

In TO; Id say... Urbane, Sweet Petes, Bike Priates, MEC, and sometimes Bikes on Wheels....

In London; Toyko Fixed Gear - HIPSTER (hardcore), tucked in Soho. I spent a good 15 minutes to try and find this location. Its tucked in between red light streets and on a very narrow street.
Brick Lane bikes - More Urbane style; down to earth people in the shop, and REALLY hott mechanics working in the back (almost felt like it was a made up garage in the back!). I'd shop here if I was in London.
14 Bikes Co.  - located in Truman Brewery is the truest shop to reclaiming unused space. This is where all the hipsters/yuppies hangout! But they have really nice open concept shop with many high end products, and in house anodized connection and powder coating.

Apparently the FIXED gear scene is newish in London. It will cost between £800-1200. Which equates to 1230- 1900 CDN$. That 's DOUBLE what it took me to make my bike! obsurd pricey here inthe UK.
My cover -- I just moved here and was wondering how much a GOLD anodized quill stem would cost. 1", 26.0 . I KNOW the LINGO!
They probably thought I was a poser!

Another trend I've noticed is that the bikes share a lane with Taxis nad BUS (those huge double decked buses).... SCARY. so most rider where this nifty rucksack cover. They also wearh FULL reflective waterproof jackets and pants as well. I felt like it was a high-lighter, commerical. All these bikes whizzing through the streets.


Decided to have dinner from "Food for Thought" Mousaka!!! but in the Green PARK (and just  chill out with my notebook and catch up on the event of the day. Then walked past Buckhingham Palace to go and Watch Billy Elliot.


Ending with the "space invaders" that are all around London. It's great street art.

Billy Elliot is a MUST SEE, its Amazing. Day tickets were £19.50, front row (slightly obstructed view). The singing, dancing and performing was very powerful. I must have cried about 5 times.

Trend: theatres in London are not as huge as toronto

1: We're finally off.

Chonrological breakdown of the days event:
Left the hotel at around 11:30pm
11:45pm Arrival
11:48pm Staking out a spot in front of counter 532.
midnight-2am (waiting with 8 new friends)

2am - first to checkin!!!
3am (had to wait until I could bring my bag over to the over-sized
4am -  Customs (Breeze)
5am - Broading
5:30am - FLIGHT (unscheduled) to Gatwick
5:50pm - Arrival
6:15pm- Luggage claimed and off to Gatwick Express
7:05pm LONDON victoria stn

8pm - Met WW in Camden... my bag is truly heavy!
dinner and unpacking.

LONDON let's go!

sad news: no manchester game.
Man U 3: Spurs :1

SAD
NO ROONEY
NO REDS
Maybe May 9th.. we'll see.


in Camden, getting ready for London Marathon..
no clue about this ankle.

Cheers!

-1: Premature departure?

HAHAHA, jokes on me Iceland volcano.

WOW. 3 hours waiting to check-in (thanks ER for the drive!!!)...., only to find out that it was 2 flights merged onto 1 plane, a much smaller than anticipated plane. Jokes on me. I also liked that they told us this (AS the plane was FULL).... thanks for the communication!

After that ordeal or lining up (queing), I'm a pro-master of ques. check-in, getting a hotel vocher, getting on hotel shuttle, checking into hotel, -- I'm now at the Crown Plaza.... spending internet time and re-booking things.


Had some good $25 worth of pizza and shut-eye for 2 hours, than back to the airport for 12am (so I can brave it with the other ppl, for check-in at 2am.) FML.

I attempted to post photos, but the wireless connection here must be limiting my uploading power.

Keep it locked and positive thinking for getting on this 6am flight. I'm going to be "well-rested" on the plane.

This too Shall Past!

0: Departure!

It's the BIG day that I fly out.

Last night was a Staff gathering. (HI!!!) Fun times, familiar faces, great stories shared. Caught up and ready to roll. Received some lovely plane letters, that I will READ this time and not spoil or cherish forever at the end of my trip ;).

Morning consisted of last-minute packing and booking trains/connection.
Coffee w/ MS. and just waiting to go to the Airport.

I spoke with MS and decided that I'm going to try and create some videos while away -- but with an angle. You know, those kitchy videos that are 3-4min long exposing the world of youtube of something amazing.... I'm going to try that out. We'll see how adment I am about keeping up the process.

Checklist:
-Wicked
-Manchester United
-Stonehenge
-Flying BA?
- exploring!

More espresso, Tea, and cakes!

Flight information:
Friday, 2010-04-23
HOME to London (LGW)
Depart:   17:25  Arrive:   05:10 (LGW)

Coming back
Monday, 2010-05-17
Glasgow (GLA) to Home  
Depart:   14:20 (GLA)  Arrive:   16:35

Pre-Journey

Thoughts that descended upon me as I awoke this morning:
*I'm actually leaving*

To add insult to injuiry, my flight plans have been changed 2 times within 24 hours. Volcano... you are on my hit-list. As such I had to re-book some of my train schedules for the Saturday, it was painful. but it got done.

Great times on the phone with 4 different companies. This meant that I was on hold for a culmulative time of 2 hours. Gosh, what would we have done if they didn't invent the "elevator music" OR the Internet.

Needless to say - everything is now in order, but still gotta sort things out tomorrow morning.

Tasks accomplished:
-Packing
-Confirming travel information
-Passport and cash

** You'll notice a new template. Use the social networking icons in the Right corner to see more. I'm now on Flickr, so that's where I'll be hosting my photos. FB takes too long to upload.**

Volcano, Airline changes, Excitement

If you haven't heard about Eyjafjallajokull, then you need to check yourself and see if you're either in a) denial OR b) on a Mental Fast.

After a A.D.D week of checking with various news sources and keeping up with the various BBC "ash" patterns that were predicted by European bodies, it's now a GO. European Airspace is open.

I've realized that I was suppose to post about my European Adventure 2009. That didn't happen. BUT I'm reviving this blog to chronoical Europe/UK 2010!

Start with Drama, end with memories and take many photos. (Click on my various Social networking links above) To stay on top, I will not promise posts everyday, but I will at least publish everything once i'm back.

Apr 23-May 17, 2010. UK, as best as possible! Keep it locked here for my many adventures.

Things to do:
1) Manchester United game
2) Unlocking the loch ness
3) Eurostar adventure
4) Use Easyjet
5) Everything British :D

Here is a photo to start you off (Adventure in High Park = cherry Blossoms)

EUROPE!

2009 - Two years of non-travel (besides Boston/ typical Buffalo trips)

This summer Europe!

Keep yourself posted on this site.