We got to the train station a little early and were able to catch the train before the one we had planned to. This gave us a little more time to walk around Glasgow Central station. We finally got onto the train heading south. The trip south was smooth. It took around 5 hours in total time. We passed lots of sheep, lambs, cows, and calf's. Very green this time of year.
We took the tube from Euston to Waterloo and were able to get on an earlier train once more. The train was delayed a little because the train heading to Windsor was four minutes late. The trains air conditioning system was broken so the windows in the cars were opened up. Then two girls hoped the fence at Stains station and tried to board the train. The operator wouldn't go until they got off. They got off and tried to jump on, finally they left the train. He made an announcement that the police had been called and hoped that they would great the teenage girls.
We had a vegan meal for dinner. I watched the Europa league wrap-up show and then went to bed.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Visiting Scotland - April 6th
Just like the northwest weather wise, dumping rain to start with. We headed out to see a few things around the area. We headed over to do some shopping at a shopping center converted from a distillery. After that we headed over to Lock Less to see the third largest lake in Scotland. It was very rainy, you couldn’t see that far out into the lake. We then headed over to where my aunt grew up and where my uncle met her. The weather improved and the sun actually came and visited. We went up to the top of the hill to look down into the harbor. Very impressive. We drove back to the house and saw a lot of lambs and cows.
We watched the Champion’s League Manchester United vs Chelsea game. Rooney scored to go up 1-0 and it remained the score. Another restful day before heading back down to England.
We watched the Champion’s League Manchester United vs Chelsea game. Rooney scored to go up 1-0 and it remained the score. Another restful day before heading back down to England.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Up to Scotland - April 5th
Today was the earliest day yet. We were up and off to the train station by 740. We caught a taxi from RA's place, the driver shared the feelings that the Michael Jackson statue was very strange. After a quick stop at the post office we waited on the platform. Then the rain started, so we moved under the cover. When the train pulled up we moved to a car that wasn't full. So that we had a seat on the way up to Vauxhall. Which is the station just prior to Waterloo. The train did get full as it was during the morning commute.
We switched to the Victoria line at Vauxhall. We had to wait for the third train before we could get on, it was almost like Shinjuku. Except there were no people pushers, people just shoved there way on. This train was completely packed, most people departed at the Oxford Circus stop. We then alighted at Euston and transferred to the Virgin train up to Scotland.
WiFi was 12 pounds for 3 days, as we will be returning on Thursday I purchased the access. It has made the trip go by faster than it would have otherwise. The speeds are not the fastest, but Youtube works. So that isn't that bad. Several stops were added during the journey. As we travel north the weather gets wetter and wetter.
Finally got into Glasgow Central station at 1410. As it would happen there is a Starbucks right in the middle of the station. So after a quick stop and amazing the Baristas with my Gold Card, it was onto the local service train. While sitting on the train before it left, I felt something crawling on my neck. Without thinking I reached up and grabbed it and threw it. It hit a guy sitting further down the train in the face. Then the bee flew away, in this scenario no one was injured, so that was good. I started laughing with just how ridicules it was.
We finally arrived at our last stop. My uncle picked us up from the train station. They are very funny people, and the dinner was excellent. This was a really relaxing day.
We switched to the Victoria line at Vauxhall. We had to wait for the third train before we could get on, it was almost like Shinjuku. Except there were no people pushers, people just shoved there way on. This train was completely packed, most people departed at the Oxford Circus stop. We then alighted at Euston and transferred to the Virgin train up to Scotland.
WiFi was 12 pounds for 3 days, as we will be returning on Thursday I purchased the access. It has made the trip go by faster than it would have otherwise. The speeds are not the fastest, but Youtube works. So that isn't that bad. Several stops were added during the journey. As we travel north the weather gets wetter and wetter.
Finally got into Glasgow Central station at 1410. As it would happen there is a Starbucks right in the middle of the station. So after a quick stop and amazing the Baristas with my Gold Card, it was onto the local service train. While sitting on the train before it left, I felt something crawling on my neck. Without thinking I reached up and grabbed it and threw it. It hit a guy sitting further down the train in the face. Then the bee flew away, in this scenario no one was injured, so that was good. I started laughing with just how ridicules it was.
We finally arrived at our last stop. My uncle picked us up from the train station. They are very funny people, and the dinner was excellent. This was a really relaxing day.
Monday, April 4, 2011
London Tower Mean Time - April 4th
We headed up early to London again. We have been walking to the train station which has been nice. It is just over a mile and a half to the station from RA's place. We have the trains down at this point. It can be crowded at times, but it is not really that different from Japan, just not as many trains. This trip there has not been a late train as of yet.
When we arrived at London Waterloo we switched to the Northern Line to switch at Embankment. From there we got on the District Line and went out to Tower Hill. The last trip I didn't have a lot of time to look around the Tower of London. So we went through it again. Followed around the one Beefeater that had done the Ceremony of the Keys on my last trip. He was very funny once more. We saw the Crown Jewels, a lot of resources went into making those. We then stopped at Starbucks is as often happens. Then we took the DLR out to the Cutty Sark.
The Cutty Sark is a famous ship that was on display in Greenwich, but had been set alight to. On the last trip they were almost finished with the renovation. Then someone burnt it down to the keel. They are almost finished with the reconstruction now. After walking around the construction site we walked up to the Old Royal Navy College. Very impressive. We went into the area where Lord Nelson laid in state after dying in the Battle of Trafalgar. The painting in that room, aptly named "The Painted Room" was very impressive. From there we walked through the Maritime Museum, interesting pieces of history, they had a Royal Barge. Looks something like you might see in ancient Egypt. We then walked up to the Royal Observatory where Greenwich Meantime is kept. Nice view from the top of the hill down towards the college and the river.
By this time we were hungry so we went and found a Mexican restaurant. The food was not spectacular, but it was a fair representative of what that type of food should taste like. We then headed back to RA's place to get ready for the trip up to Scotland.
When we arrived at London Waterloo we switched to the Northern Line to switch at Embankment. From there we got on the District Line and went out to Tower Hill. The last trip I didn't have a lot of time to look around the Tower of London. So we went through it again. Followed around the one Beefeater that had done the Ceremony of the Keys on my last trip. He was very funny once more. We saw the Crown Jewels, a lot of resources went into making those. We then stopped at Starbucks is as often happens. Then we took the DLR out to the Cutty Sark.
The Cutty Sark is a famous ship that was on display in Greenwich, but had been set alight to. On the last trip they were almost finished with the renovation. Then someone burnt it down to the keel. They are almost finished with the reconstruction now. After walking around the construction site we walked up to the Old Royal Navy College. Very impressive. We went into the area where Lord Nelson laid in state after dying in the Battle of Trafalgar. The painting in that room, aptly named "The Painted Room" was very impressive. From there we walked through the Maritime Museum, interesting pieces of history, they had a Royal Barge. Looks something like you might see in ancient Egypt. We then walked up to the Royal Observatory where Greenwich Meantime is kept. Nice view from the top of the hill down towards the college and the river.
By this time we were hungry so we went and found a Mexican restaurant. The food was not spectacular, but it was a fair representative of what that type of food should taste like. We then headed back to RA's place to get ready for the trip up to Scotland.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Fulham Match - April 3rd
Two football matches in under 24 hours, crazy? Perhaps, but we headed out early to the train station. I went up to the Post Office to buy some snack food and ran into RA's friends that she goes to the Fulham matches with.
We had an early start because they were doing train work by the rail station that you would normally use to get to Fulham. Instead they let you ride a bus that takes around 40 minutes. It was a bus ride! Right before the last stop the bus was crowded with a lot of people who had just been in a Bus Bus accident. Some were still a little jittery from the crunch. We finally got to Putney and headed over to a Starbucks.
We then walked down to Craven Cottage to watch FFC take on Blackpool. One of the players for Fulham is Clint Dempsey, who plays on team USA. Fulham ended up winning the game 3-0, with a player recently off injury scoring two goals. After the game we headed over to see one of the strangest things I have ever seen. The owner of FFC was friends with Michael Jackson and had just unveiled a statue in his honor the same day. It is very weird, most FFC fans are concerned that it will turn them into the laughing stock of the Premier league. It was just very strange.
It was actually Mothers Day in the UK so we went to dinner with everyone. Italian again, it was decent.
We then headed back to RA's place for another full day.
We had an early start because they were doing train work by the rail station that you would normally use to get to Fulham. Instead they let you ride a bus that takes around 40 minutes. It was a bus ride! Right before the last stop the bus was crowded with a lot of people who had just been in a Bus Bus accident. Some were still a little jittery from the crunch. We finally got to Putney and headed over to a Starbucks.
We then walked down to Craven Cottage to watch FFC take on Blackpool. One of the players for Fulham is Clint Dempsey, who plays on team USA. Fulham ended up winning the game 3-0, with a player recently off injury scoring two goals. After the game we headed over to see one of the strangest things I have ever seen. The owner of FFC was friends with Michael Jackson and had just unveiled a statue in his honor the same day. It is very weird, most FFC fans are concerned that it will turn them into the laughing stock of the Premier league. It was just very strange.
It was actually Mothers Day in the UK so we went to dinner with everyone. Italian again, it was decent.
We then headed back to RA's place for another full day.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
London: Changing of the Guard, West End Show, Women's Friendly - April 2nd
We headed back to London, taking an earlier train than before. We went over to see the Changing of the Guard. The area around the palace was packed with people. We walked past where the guards were coming from to replace the ones on duty. Set up on the corner we got some good shots, lots of people around for that. We then switched sides of the street and watched the guards who were replaced coming back. Not as many people. The band played a Beatles song before the changing happened.
After doing this we headed over to meet one of RA's friends and then go to a show. We went and watched Wicked. It is the Wizard of Oz story from a different viewpoint. Afterwards we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. The service was slow, but the food was decent.
Mom and RA went back to her place and I headed off with RA's friends to a football match. It was a match between England and US women's teams. The women's World Cup is this summer. Team USA played very sloppy and got behind 2-0 within 12 minutes. They scored a goal before halftime, and played better for the remainder. Sadly they could not create enough chances to score. The exciting part was that we got on ESPN 2. My sisters friend had it posted on her wall before we got back from London. I looked way to excited after a losing effort, oh well. The trip back took around an hour and a half.
After doing this we headed over to meet one of RA's friends and then go to a show. We went and watched Wicked. It is the Wizard of Oz story from a different viewpoint. Afterwards we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. The service was slow, but the food was decent.
Mom and RA went back to her place and I headed off with RA's friends to a football match. It was a match between England and US women's teams. The women's World Cup is this summer. Team USA played very sloppy and got behind 2-0 within 12 minutes. They scored a goal before halftime, and played better for the remainder. Sadly they could not create enough chances to score. The exciting part was that we got on ESPN 2. My sisters friend had it posted on her wall before we got back from London. I looked way to excited after a losing effort, oh well. The trip back took around an hour and a half.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Reading April 1st
Slept in once more, or to say I woke up and then went back to sleep. Last night was a late one, so a little catch up was in order. We decided to head over to Reading to do some shopping.
Walked to Virginia Water train station. Very nice weather and the walk took around an hour. It was supposed to rain today, but didn't when we were out. The weather has been very nice, in deference to the forecast.
The train ride to Reading took around half an hour and was nice and smooth. After stopping at Starbuck's we headed over to a mall called the Oracle. Just like any other US mall, it did remind me of a mall in north west Sapporo. We then went over to Primark for some shopping. Then it was back to the train station.
We got Indian take-away for dinner and went back to RA's place for dinner. One of the nurses who works at the school came over. We watched the Wizard of Oz as a precursor to going to Wicked tomorrow.
A good easy day to ease into UK time.
Walked to Virginia Water train station. Very nice weather and the walk took around an hour. It was supposed to rain today, but didn't when we were out. The weather has been very nice, in deference to the forecast.
The train ride to Reading took around half an hour and was nice and smooth. After stopping at Starbuck's we headed over to a mall called the Oracle. Just like any other US mall, it did remind me of a mall in north west Sapporo. We then went over to Primark for some shopping. Then it was back to the train station.
We got Indian take-away for dinner and went back to RA's place for dinner. One of the nurses who works at the school came over. We watched the Wizard of Oz as a precursor to going to Wicked tomorrow.
A good easy day to ease into UK time.
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