DAY 5 MAY 30 EYE ON LONDON

LONDON EYE
First thing in the morning and per the weather girl...there may be a peek of sun ....but then again there may not.  Ever hopeful to catch the "25 mile" view from the London  Eye Boca pops on her shades and they head over to the Eye for a ride on the world's largest Ferris wheel.  London's version of the Eiffel Tower..this giant Ferris wheel is located on the south bank of the the River Thames.  How's this for  the opening bell crowd in the morning?  And Bubba groaned.





The wheel is 554 ft tall  and 394 ft wide.  It is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel.  The world's tallest is 550 ft tall...hello Asia High Roller.  This place opened in 2000 and receives 3.5 million visitors annually.  It is the highest public viewing place in the city.  And yes it does resemble a huge spoked bike wheel.  There are 32 cars which hold 25 people.  The cars were refurbished in 2009.  Brilliuant German engineering.  Actually several European countries helped make the Eye.







Boca is hopeful the sun may peek out...ha ha.  Yes, that's Parliament also under renovation like much of the town.  She is asking Bubba why he didn't book the Wine or Champagne Capsule??  While $1700 and $1800 USD to embibe for an hour, might sound pricey to some, to Bubba it was starting to sound like a London Bargain.








 Bubba did the math on the hourly take, the daily take, and the weekly take...3.5 million visitors x $35 a person...not a bad investment.













An engineering marvel...smooth ride and when the sun shines (then 2 days a year) I bet you can see for miles...reminding Bubs of Denali National Park in Alaska and the t-shirt " I saw the mountain"- same idea, as it only show up now and then.






When The Khat's Away....
Khat, the leaves of an Arabian shrub chewed as a mild stimulant, is being banned in the UK in July.  Boca had heard about the Khat shops- called mafrish-  and being hyper curious wanted to check it out .  Ha you're thinking, she gets along better with a bottle of vino than a bong load of Moroccan reefer so what the hay?  The Somalians and Ethiopians she met told her that they didn't use it as a drug.  We use it as a way of bringing us together".  Is that what the Beatles meant in "Come Together?"  Boca heard that earlier this year Parliament voted to criminalise the buying, selling and chewing of Khat.  But when she heard the lips are covered in splattered green flecks and it wasn't pesto she quickly lost interest.  Dear Lord,  don't let those folks in Colorado find out about this stuff.  Please don't let that KHAT out of the bag.


LONDON  Un-real estate!
Bubba  continues his shock of pricing on this side of the pond.  Gas is approx $9.00 a gallon.  The cab ride from the airport is making sense-sadly.  How in the heck does the average bloak make it over here?  Meaning a house, a car and family?









 Never mind the Russian Oligarchy pricing on housing in the city- some of the row houses are going for 50 million pounds= $85 million as in USD.  Holy Mackerel!!!  Did you understand I said ROW HOUSE- not a mansion.  FYI the most expensive- Hong Kong is number 1, followed by Tokyo then London.  Where do all these young professionals I see pouring out of the buildings at 5:00 live?  Now I see why the pubs are packed in the after work "rush"...several beers later they get on one of the many trains and head home to the hinter lands.







Why are rich Russian's so obsessed with buying up London property?  The apartments at one Hyde Park are among the worlds most expensive 6.5 million pounds ( 10 million bucks) to 140 million pounds ( $250 million bucks) and way up from there for random homes in the city.









 Apparently shifting more cash to London Property- nothing like concealing your assets from international sanctions.  Nothing like a Russian billionaire to to get a housing market heated up.  Are they hedging their bets against periodic crisis?  or the over dependence on oil and gas?  Boca so loves the Russian philosophy "We have the money.  We use it.".  Go you Ruskies!



Hmm well said.  And Bubba also likes another of their philosophies "paying a tax is a crime."  Did they invenvt the term trophy property?  Is there a bubble or balloon on the horizon?










EATS, SHOOTS and LEAVES:;,. whatever, .our pal, Lynne Truss met up with Boca and Bubs for a libation or two..

Our fav British writer  has written a new book "Cat Out of Hell".  But darling Lynn, what does the Hoagie say about that!  Hoagie is her ever so fabulous Norfolk Terrier, the love of her life.  How did he take to his Mum writing about a cat?  Hmmm Boca you figure it out...the story is about a supernatural cat that just may have some of Hogies characteristics.  Ah yes, humour vs horror.   While best known for her zero tolerance approach to punctuation the reviews on her new book are terrific.  Way to go Lynne!


We so enjoyed her company and a cracking good time was had
 by all.  Bubs is very fond of Lynne and looks forward to visiting her at her new casa down by Brighton and the sea.  Righto Lynne, I'll make sure he brings his shovel as he will be great help in the garden.  Loved seeing you!  Thinking a book signing in Naples next season a must.  And Lynne said,   "And Keith love, do promise to get some socks that fit."

Amen to that Lady Lynne!  Must have been on a special at Bass Pro Shop last visit....













GAS PRICES
London style...still $9.00 a gallon and not a pick up truck in sight,  Bubba is catching on why...