Tuesday, May 29, 2001

We arrived into London early in the morning of May 29. After getting all our packs and walking the one million miles to the Underground station at Heathrow Airport, we caught the tube into London. Taking over a whole seating section, we stared dumbfounded out the windows while all around us commuters made their way to work. One connection and an hour later we stepped onto Victoria Station... we had arrived.

After settling in at the Holly House hotel, in a very long, very skinny room in the basement, we swiftly decided to hit the town, making our way to the most iconic symbol of London: Big Ben.

House of Parliament & Big Ben. We're in London, baby!
Day 1: May 29, 2001

After a walk up and down the bridge (and our first purchase of souvenirs, flag patches for our packs in this case), we decided to eat (cause airplane food is just not that great) and found Benji's, a most excellent sandwich shop catering to our needs: big portions and small prices. Sandwiches in hand, we settled for a meal in the shadow of Westminster Abbey.

Danny & Yvonne having lunch in the shadow of Westminster Abbey.
Notice the bottle of bubbly water Danny bought thinking it was still water.
That was Danny's Culture Shock #1.
Day 1: May 29, 2001

Westminster Abbey, standing as the stoic sentinel of England it has been for centuries.
Day 1: May 29, 2001

We were in awe of the incredible and ancient structure. We toured the shadowy halls, marveling at the tombs of past kings and queens of England; it was very surreal to stand in front of the tomb of Henry V and Elizabeth I. Unfortunately they did not allow any pictures to be taken inside, so we had to wait until we were wandering the hallways around the inner gardens to take some pictures of the church.

Lucky for us, they had this mortuary statue out in the inner garden!
We figured it was the statue of a great servant at Westminster, but
we could never confirm our theory. 
Day 1: May 29, 2001

After Westminster, we wandered the streets of the city center, trying very hard not to be too touristy about it, but failing miserably; London was just so amazing and incredible, and we were right there. We wandered down one of the streets flanking the river Thames and eventually found our way to Trafalgar Square.

Danny & Yvette at Trafalgar Square.
Day 1: May 29, 2001

We just chilled at Trafalgar, letting it all sink in, observing the people of London go about their daily lives: people watching, the one free attraction anywhere in the world, and the good traveler's #1 sport. After a while we moved on, this time ending up in Piccadilly Circus, which we just wanted to see. Lots of neon and signs and ads and people; pure big city, pure London.

Yvette & Lari and the obligatory Red Phone Booth™ photo.
Day 1: May 29, 2001

Jet lag was starting to get to us, so we made our way back to the Holly House (take the Circle or District line to Victoria Station). By early evening we were riding the tube like locals, except for the goofy grins that would suddenly appear on our faces when we stopped to think we were riding the famed London Underground. 

After a day of wandering we all needed showers, and that meant using the Smallest Bathroom in England!!! It was tiny, with the shower, sink and toilet in an area the size of a closet. What a mission to do anything in there!

At a size of 6 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide, it was a tight
squeeze inside the tiny bathroom.
Day 1: May 29, 2001

The shower experience done, and a change of clothes later, we were sitting down enjoying a beer at the pub at the end of our street, the St. George's Tavern. It was probably at this moment, while we enjoyed our pub grub and lagers, just conversing on a street-side pub in central London, that we finally realized this was no dream, that this was now our Reality.

We were in London. We were in Europe.

To Day 2: London