Hey random readers...I've been in the process of creating a whole new website. It's going to be more interactive where I can converse with my readers. There won't be anything new posted on this site, so check out my new site.
http://gypsychicktravels.com
Thanks for following my story :)
I had a few days on my own while Mike worked in London. Loved it, just chillin in a house, drinking coffee in my pyjamas, watching English TV. Spending time with Mike and friends has held the most familiarity of all my time since leaving. They're a young professional group, suits, ties and BMW's, mortgage rates and friends dropping off to the death...uh...wedding march. But then at the 5 o'clock bell, the rock tee's come on, mohawks are spiked, rock bands meet to practice, goatees are shaved off and it's a different group altogether. It does bring thoughts into my mind that it might not be such a bad thing to go back to my old life after all...all 80 hour weeks of it.
I joined Mike in London on Tuesday as he has a company hotel for a few nights each week so again I take him up on the free accommodation. My girlfriend Clare is also living here temporarily. She's from New Zealand and we met in Thailand while we were doing the detox. So between Mike and Clare and the mllion things to chose from here, I was keeping a pretty steady pace. As I write this on the bus I feel like I missed all of London but you cant see everything here in 5 days anymore than you could in Istanbul.
I pushed through the crowds to see the Westminster Cathedral, Parliament, Big Ben, Thames River, the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, I shelled out the 15 lbs to tour Westminster Abbey where Princess Di's funeral was and all other big important London-elite religious stuff goes down. I went to Covent Garden, Leister Square, Trafalgar Square where Clare and I rode Lion statues. Went shopping to quirky gothic Camden Market and bought funky tights and cheap bangles. Coughed up another 17 lbs to spend the afternoon in London Tower where King Henry VIII reigned and Anne Bolyn and Sir Walter Raleigh were executed. I'm still not sure why people are buying mouse pads and t-shirts with Henry's mug on it. (unless I'm not understanding history here and he actually did have good reason to behead all his wives after his sterility pissed him off)
I met my lovely friend Susana for lunch, another woman I met at the Sanctuary in Thailand. I was really pleased to get the opportunity to hear more of her story, she's a vibrant powerful woman and she had a good one to tell. I had one night on my own so I went to the theater. The best part about going solo to the theater is that you get a better seat if there's jut one...it's always been my argument. I saw “Wicked”, the story of the bad witch in Wizard of Oz. It puts a great spin on it and we see how she just really got a bad rap, explains the Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, flying monkeys and the magic shoes. It really was brilliant, I highly recommend it. Went out with Clare and her friend one night and met up with a few of the nuttiest funniest men ever. We laughed til our cheeks hurt all night and almost took the roof down when the jokes started flying about “I bequeath you my balls”. Long story, inside joke but I don't wanna forget it so thats why it's mentioned. This is not only my public blog but also my personal diary I'll read when I'm 80. I mastered the underground tube in London, I got good with my elbows, and quit apologizing Canuck-style when someone stepped on my foot. I got used to pretty little ladies screaming after the train “F*&k... F*%k...F@%king cu*t!” and their sharp staccato stilettos hell roaring down the ramp. London turns everyone I think. The businessmen sigh impatiently at the tourists but they're as bad as anyone. EVERYONE in London is dragging a suitcase. EVERYONE takes up as much room as they can with it, dragging it 5' behind them instead of tucking it close. The tourists are bad because they have a suitcase and a map. The business people are bad cause they have their phones to their ears or they're madly punching the keys in the Blackberrys. Backpacking is where its at people...we are the only ones not pissing off and offending everyone...unless they get close enough to smell us I guess. But at least we stay out of the way!
I'm not too interested in writing much lately. It's kind of more an obligatory journal rather that inspired prose. Europe has pretty much flatlined all the soft zen-ness I uncovered in Asia. Here I'm just a camera-clicking, map turning, Lonely Planet reading, sightseeing tourist. But truly all the old buildings start to look alike after awhile, be it Paris, Amsterdam or London. I've not given up on it, I think it will find me again in India. So for now it's about reconnecting with so many of the amazing people that I've met on my travels. Maybe thats what this leg is about...teaching me how important relationships and friendships really are. I had no time for them prior but now it's almost forced on me. I need help from people to do this trip and this is not something that I used to be able to accept lightly. Dependence is no longer a weakness in my mind, as long as it's short lived and not the absolute.
Mike took a few days off work so he took me on a roadtrip through Wales. It was a Castle Extravaganza for a few days. I don't remember all the names or places but we went to Caernarvon, Powis, Montgomery and Harlech castles. Mike is a brilliant man and has a great knowledge of history. He was a great commentator for this trip and explained the fortresses and forms of attack and protection. Nothing that I could get out of a guidebook thats for sure. Great little B&B's, tea houses, antique stores and the Welch accent kept us entertained for the weekend. We went to a local pub so I could experience the dialect first hand but I have to admit it was easier to understand than the Newfies of Canada. Beautiful scenery, great conversation, lots of laughs. I appreciated my friend going to such great lengths to ensure I had a great experience in the UK
Mike and I went for a drive out to the countryside to a statue park called the Forest of Dean. It's rich thick forest with contemporary statues that you seek out like treasures. We picked our way through the muddy trails and played with the cameras and statues. After a few hours we jumped in the car and head to the town of Cheltenham to meet up with Mikes friends. We load on a bus to get to the Cotswald Beer Festival where there are literally hundreds of kegs lined up. The venue is a neat old barn with wide doors and timber beams. I went for a little walk to get away from the crowds and climb a tree over a rock wall and watch the sheep as curiously as they watch me. I rejoin the festivities and have a great time getting to know Mikes friends. Wayne and Shaun are a great couple and we have lots of laughs as everyone tries their best to get through the long list of beer.
