London Time

London houses

I arrived safely in London last night. With help from a few people, who apparently could tell I was lost confused, I made it to the underground and transferred to the District line to get to Ealing Broadway in west London just fine. Stefano picked me up around 10:30 and took me back to his flat. We talked about our travels, his past guests, our families, his job, etc. After telling him I was trying to get a job at a wine bar back home, he showed me how to properly open a wine bottle and was gracious about it when I broke his specially named bottle opener. He, however, did not let me pour it after the fact.

I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I was out early this morning. I’ve semi got the public transportation system down. Some might disagree since I’ve not gotten anywhere significant and still have to ask half the time about where I’m going. It doesn't help that there's a bus strike going on at the moment.

It was raining once I arrived back at the Ealing Broadway station, so I’ve ducked into a Starbucks next door. One of the first things Stefano told me was not to go to Starbucks, Subway, McDonald’s, or anything else American while I was in London. He said I needed to experience what’s local. And yet, here I am.

I’m not sure what I’ll do from here. Stefano works till around 6:30, but maybe I’ll go see if his flat mate is home.  I could use a rest.

Some pictures from my day so far...

At the Italian Gardens

While waiting for a bus...

Current Status: Fatigued

Food: Since Saturday night—five cliff bars, one cheese & tomato sandwich, and currently sipping a Naked.

Money: 9 pounds left

Sleep: Infrequent hours here and there, Could not fall asleep till early this morning, probably because of the 8-hour difference. Attempts at sleeping on park benches today: fail.

Lost factor: My take on this is as follows—I didn’t really set out today knowing where’d I’d be going or what I was going to see. Therefore, technically I have yet to get lost. (Nontechnically, I’ve been lost all day).

Plans: Stefano, my host, wants to take me out with some friends tonight. Perhaps I will magically transform into the energizer bunny between now and then. Tomorrow, perhaps go to central London to see that stuff that typical tourists come to see. Better luck without the strike.

People:

*Stefano, my host: Italian in every sense of word.

*JC, his Indian flat mate. Not entirely the friendliest of fellows.

*Man on the underground: Sat with me and asked much too personal questions. Did not appreciate my opinions on several matters. Said I thought like a man, and that’s why he’s going to marry a woman from Pangaea—because he’s done his research and those women are obedient and listen to their husbands, not like western women.

*Man in Kensington Gardens: disrupted my endeavor at sleep on park bench #2. To his credit, he thought I was sick. Supposedly he was once some famous athlete. 

I'm still having a wonderful time, really. I just need to catch up on my sleep, and get real food. I feel so sad for bums.