While Boca and Bubba had a very smooth flight over the pond the
Executive Class seats were quite uncomfortable for the large Americans.
Please, no more pod sleeping for poor Bubs. We arrived to rain and
clouds-a real novelty. Only to be topped by the $180 US Dollar ride
from Heathrow Airport to our hotel. As Bubba noted the billboards on
the way in, "it would have been cheaper to fly to Rome". Seriously.
The Cab was large and new, making it particularly comfy to be stuck in
rush hour traffic. Meditation was no problemo.
Bubba continues to guard the luggage. God forbid someone would take one of his flashlights.
Checked in to the River Plaza Hotel on the Thames. Bubba tired, crabby, twisted and hungry as Boca marches around from room to room to decide which room was just right. Too smokey, view of the parking lot, too big, view of construction next door, too noisy-next to the train tracks.... Bubba "patiently" waited in the lobby and when Boca and the Guest Relations came by for a 6th room key he bellowed out something to the effect- "JUST PICK A DAMN ROOM!"
Alrighty then. Our room does have a view of the Thames and Big Ben if you stand in the corner with your head shoved in the space for the drawn drapes. As Boca asked the bellhop to crank up the AC to take the "hot air " out of the room he explained there was no AC. "Madame, after all you
are in England and it's only May." Are ya jokin me Mr. "I'm from Hong Kong"? After 15 mins of explanation Bubs figured out they do have AC but it just wasn't turned on yet. Huh? As he whispered to me "I thought all governments did away with tht 20 years ago?"
So a quick shower later we were on the street....wet and shivering. Bubba didn't understaand why I was wearing sandals. Hello Bubba, remember when I stubbed my toe last week and had to go to the Urgi Care Center- while I suffered no loss of appendage, the doc suggessted I wear open toe shoes to keep it comfy. Should've brought those lame ass airplane socks they gave us...
So jump on THE Big Bus.....hop on and hop off- perfect for a Rainy day in London town
About that Bus ride - Boca and Bubba are the only ones crazy enough to spend rainy day on the bus
Neither rain nor sleet will keep us away from
the Hop On Hop Off Bus. And around and around we went...trying the
upper deck with our plastic ponchos to help us beat our jet
leg...shivering. Honey, I'm getting hungry. Let's grab some pub grub. I'm always ready for a some fish and chips and a cold one.....
Fish and chips to die for, NOT. To top off the cab ride, room reconnaissance and rain, bland fish-no make that beyond tasteless. BAAAAAA for The Goat. Batting a 1000 today Bubs.
Anyway, a bit about England to kick the adventure off....
ENGLAND
is a part of the United Kingdom (Great Britain) along with Wales and Scotland.
Good ol'Ireland used to be a part of the group until they seceded-the Irish Free State- in 1922. England has a population of over 53 million. The country also includes over 100 smaller islands- Isles of this and that....
THE ROYALS
It's all about the Royals. Good Ol" Queen E is looking quite dapper these days. Still going strong at 88.
She so enjoys having her guard parade around and change out all day.... glad I saved a nice photo from the last trip.
But the new buzz is all about the Prince and Princess- England's Power Couple. But the gossip over hear tells me "furious Prince Chas fired the first shots in a bitter war with Prince William over who will succeed the dying Queen on the Throne! Battle Royale? Cruella d'ville aka Camilla the wicked step mom is fanning the fire. Imagine that!
I still think it's kinda creepy wearing his Mom's ring....but hey, what doesn't look fabulous on this babe...
and speaking of babes...
although I did hear one Brit say "Two people have had a baby. Common isn't it?"
Yeah about that BRITISH SENSE OFHUMOR
Would that include sarcasm, irony and healthy doses of surrealism? Yes the Brits have incorporated the "dry sense" of humor with some modern day laughs. Quite funny with their political satire, cynicism and a dose of some cleaver "intelligent" laughs. And hey how is it different from the Scots or the Irish? Is there really "English" humour today? Or have we all blended into Saturday Night Live Tweeters? Bubs still loving the Benny Hill and Monty Python school of chuckles but in his book "you must be a redneck" joke still prevails.
