You know what's weird? I lived in the UK for a year and a half and never did any of that stuff. No Stonehenge, no Westminster, no Tower. I mean, I walked by Westminster and the Tower, obviously. I think I even took some pictures of them. But every time I went to London I found myself drawn into the British Museum, and by the time I got out it was always too late to go look at the churches and castles and whatnot.
I went to other churches and castles in Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, Austria and Hungary. But London was always about the Rosetta Stone and Roman plumbing, as far as I was concerned.
I have to admit though, I'm kind of sorry now not to have taken a peek inside Westminster.
Well when I first read that you were taking a train to Paris, I thought, "Pffft, isn't England an island?!!!!"
I have never been to Europe and had no idea that there was some fancy futuristic tunnel connecting the two countries. That is just crazy!
If I find you asleep at any other London museums, may I wake you up for an autograph?
Check out the Bag O' Nails on Buckingham Palace Road towards Victoria Station.
Armando Ianucci ?
Yeah, I rarely do touristy things in New York, unless someone comes to visit -- not counting museums. But, you know, here I am a tourist, so why not?
were you on radio four the other morning?
I'm sure somebody was on there chatting about blogs and books but I missed the bit about who it was and why they were chatting!
You probably have everything you need, re: information/accomodation in gay Paree...but if you need anything at all...for example, if you need someone to vouch for your character should you land in a French prison, we're there for you, Ms. Brown. Just a few minutes from the central police station. My boyfriend is very good at charming scowling Parisian administrators. Amuse-toi bien, cherie.
you'll find your money goes much farther in Paris.
mind the gap.
I would've sworn that you said you were going to meet a Jedi at the pub. And a very cool pub that would've been too.
I visited Paris with my wife in December and I highly recommend visiting Versailles as well (y'know, Marie Antoinette, of course you know!) and try the butter. The fresh bread is the mainstay, but the butter is why people rave about Paris.
One of the best days of my life was a hot day last September when Mr. Gleemonex and I bought baguettes, salty butter, brie, a couple of apples, and two bottles of wine at the Rue Mouffetard market and ate them in the shade in the Tuileries.
Focus on the bread, darlin, and all good things will come to you.
So THAT'S what they're saying. I could never figure out that line.
GOD I LOVE ENGLAND! I wish I was there with you!
god sarah, why aren't you spending time in english record stores? that's the touristy thing to do.
Great story about the diamonds.
Am I on drugs or is this your first international trip? It's not your first plane ride though, is it? No! Forgive me if I'm mixing you up with someone else.
Article in The New Yorker on Lincoln made me think of you. I now associate you with our greatest President. I'll bet they tell people to do that in self help books: "Create a subconscious association between yourself and Abraham Lincoln."
I went for London for one night and I wandered around and was walking down this street looking for the Thames to find my way back (no map) and I went past this hideous, horrible building that looked like some kind of medieval warehouse and realized it was Buckingham Palace. They shut down that guard post thingy at night. I love it that the Queen of England lives in that nightmare of bad architecture.
sarah i know a good place to go in france. these naked ladies dance but you don't have to pay to get in because there's this hole you can look through. you can basically see it all.
Please don't miss the spanish peaches available in London in June. They are life changing.
I just got back from a week without phone or internet, and I know you're not home yet, but I just wanted to officially welcome you to the club. Eat it, twenties.
xoxox
best blog entry title ever...
Enjoy London, hope you find some parts that haven't been starbuckified.
nm
At Stonehenge, did you get to see the Aubrey Holes? I've ALWAYS WANTED to see the Aubrey Holes. You know, the Aubrey Holes! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_holes)
Why do I feel so dirty saying that!?
Well, now I don't feel too bad about not emailing you the ENORMOUS list of London suggestions I was going to email you -- chances are, you wouldn't have taken one look at it and fainted.
But! If you can swing it, please get to the Afghan Kitchen on Upper Street in a part of Islington called the Angel. It's a teeny-tiny little place, and you often have to share tables with strangers, but you will have the best Afghan food that you never knew was missing from your life. Plus it's cheap. Plus, if you want, I will tell you which direction to look so that you see my old college dorm while you're walking there. And the pub I worked in during my first year of university. (In fact, you should go there too. I bet my ability to pour the perfect pint of Guinness would still be fresh in their memories. But remember not to tip: I can't tell you how rich I got that year with all the Americans slipping me pound coins when they didn't have to.)