Tewie's Trip to London
(Excerpt from travel journal)
July 23rd 2006 -- My trip with my wonderful mother to London, England. My 1st time ever to Europe and I can't quite fit all the emotions that I've felt today and last night. It's such a romantic idea to "get-away", but when it comes down to it there are many things -- people's emotions, feelings, thoughts -- to consider. Kind of like any major event in your life -- a marriage, birth, funeral -- partings should be in that list. Leaving people you love -- even when it's a happy occasion. So far I used my new passport, didn't check in any luggage, ate almond crusted chicken salad, talked with CW who is suffering with panic attacks, called his mom to call him, talked to Kevin Anderson who's going to win the olympic triathalon soon, and enjoyed an air filled plane cabin after we didn't have any for a few stuffy minutes. So far so good. I'm a very blessed girl and this is cool.
July 24th 2006 -- It is 3:30 AM UT time and I am looking at one of the most beautiful sites. While my family is all fast asleep I am watching the sun rise over the clouds at 30,000 feet. It is so beautiful and one of my very favorite sites to see so I will gladly give up sleep to do it. I've determined that I cannot sleep on planes or cars. So by the time we get to the hotel -- I'll have been awake with 5 hours of sleep the night before for approximately 20 hours. I did rest my eyes for a bit, but when I reach the hotel my bed will be a very welcome site. -- 2e
July 24th 2006 -- What an experience! My bed was a very wonderful site, but even before that the sites that I saw left me pinching myself that I was truely in London -- I'm in a foreign country -- I am 5,500 miles away from my family on soil that my ancestors were on. As I was walking back to the Marriott after a superb English dinner at Greig's, two double decker buses ruffled my hair & came down the narrow English streets with temperatures around 70 F and all sorts of foreign people -- from all different walks of life crowding the sidewalk I felt a wave of surrealism, or maybe it was realism, wash over me that I am in a foreign (but not so foreign) country. I love the travel, the sites, the sounds, the smells (sometimes) the food -- everything. My dad and mom really are spoiling me too much -- especially when my dad says, as I'm walking back to the Marriott holding his hand that he loves me and he's so happy I'm here and next time both CW & I will have to go! -- 2e
July 25th 2006 -- I feel as if I have seen and tasted and felt over 1000 years of British history. From the Normans at the Tower of London (1080 - 1300 AD) to Picadilly Square/Theatre district with it's flashing neon signs. We have had a veritable schmorgasporg of British History taking our 24 hour tour on "The Original Tour" bus all over London. We saw Buckingham Palace -- which will be open on the inside tomorrow to see, the place where the queens gardeners and grounds keepers stay & the story of why the barbed wire remains -- due to a German tourist who jumped the fence, found his way to the Queen's room -- sat on her bed and asked for a cigarette -- you can imagine she tightened security. We also saw the famed Trafalgar square, where demonstrations & the New Years Even Party happen, but not at the same time. There is some disagreement whether pigeons should be allowed to visit Trafalgar Square -- so a hawk was hired and the pigeons were moved to approximately 10 feet up the stairs. And the famed Fleet Street where the demon barber lived -- named Sweeney Todd. Then the Tower of London where we spent hours seeing the Crown Jewels & discovering the architecture of mideval London. Then It was a quest for somewhere to eat (because it was 2:00pm). So with my very heavy purchases in hand (I bought CW the coolest chess set) we hopped on & hopped off several buses -- some going out of service for a while & others just no live tour guides. We finally found Sherlock Holmes Pub where we ate fish & chips with smashed peas. Rested & chatted in an air-conditioned place & then commenced to the hotel with an either drunk or very tired tour guide. Back to Marble Arch stop next to Hyde Park & Speakers Corner where an obvious Middle Eastern rally/domonstration/gathering was taking place! We walked quickly home! Love it! Tewie
July 26, 2006 -- Last night after I went to sleep at 2200 Shane called at 2230 and said that Oliver had some strange infection that the Albanian doctors could not figure out so they were sending Oliver & Jen to London where she was to get an official diagnosis & see what needed to be done. He asked if I & mom would pick her up from the ariport & stay with her & help her. We, of course, were thrilled to be able to see them & help. It was an exciting day we went to Liverpool Station by "Tube" & then took the Stanstead Express to Stanstead airport where we finally found Jen after a misread arrival time. Back to London with Oliver on my lap pointing out excitedly whenever we went under a tunnel at the darkness & amplified sound. He liked it so much toward the end he said, "more tunnel, more tunnel!" I got to really meet my nephew & what a sweety -- throughout the day we went to his appointment with Dr. Mausood & to the Portland Hospital to be admitted for a 3 day drip. He was such a delight to chase around & laugh & giggle with. He warmed up to me enough to run & hug me & play puppys with me while he was waiting for his ultrsound. Jen was set up nicely there & so mom & I ran out to get Ollie some toys -- so as to fend off boredom in his room at #503. We walked down to Hamley's, a 5 floor toy store, picked out gifts for my kids & a huge Fischer Price play car set for Ollie & decided instead of walking we would take a pedal cart (this is where the driver pedals a bicycle situated with two seats to wherever for 4 pounds/pp.) So as we were going we saw a drug store asked him to stop (to get Jen shampoo, etc.) & I talked to him -- Polish, here for summer to earn extra money, going back to the university in Poland in the Fall. He got us to The Portland Hospital where we gave him 10 pounds for his trouble and walked up to see Ollie got his IV on & was excited about the toys we had brought. Dad called we asked him if he could bring Jen's bag over to the hospital & then we could go eat. We did -- at a Lebonese restaurant called Maroush where the chicken was tender and the baklava melts in your mouth. Home at 2100 and now after I finished a wonderful conversation with CW I am going to sleep at 0033. Night!
July 27th 2006 -- Hallelujah I have air conditioning! What a difference it makes! I have not been this temperature happy the whole trip! Now onto the day. After 5, maybe, hours of sleep last night I just picked myself up & we took off running -- 1st to Buckingham Palace. We walked across Green Park to the elaborate fountain and massive palace -- so tall and long that the 2 soldiers gaurding it's face looked like toy soldiers as they marched back & forth! We saw the Royal Marching Band & stood in the ticket line to get a ticket with a time slot & then stood in the time slot line. You see the Royal Family has headed up to Winsor Castle for their Holiday (which lasts from the end of July to the beginning of September) in their absense the general public is allowed to tour a portion of their fabulous palace -- the largest & longest working palace to the most enduring and most powerful monarchy in the world. With our headsets mom & I synchronized ourselves to view the Roayl Art Gallery, Sculpture Collections, Music Room, The Grand Ballroom, Queen Elizabeth II's 80 gowns (to celebrate her 80th birthday) & we also got to view the Royal Gardens which included the helicopter pad, the lake & many lovely birds & flowers along a path in the center of London. I now understand the British's pride in their royalty --I always thought they were just for decoration & not really necessary in the real law making & running the country, BUT the hospitality & dignity of London & England is so well displayed that you can't help but be made to feel that you are important & served if you were a foreign dignitary. Then we went in search of an eating establishment & we ate at The Shakespeare which consequently we stopped at the Globe Theatre as well to use the bathroom & get an ice cream from a street vendor. So it was a slightly Shakespeare Day! We took a small river cruise on the Thames (pronounced "tems"), crossed the Millenium bridge (which was known as the wobbly bridge) & tried to get inside St. Paul's Cathedral, but the moment we walked up the steps of the great cathedral the gaurds came out & said "We're Closed" -- so we found a health food store bought some stuff for us & Jen, took the metro/tube/London underground, & went to Portland Hospital to see our very cute little nephen & grandson & cute sister-in-law & daughter-in-law, but the problem was she was gone so we left her a note & her goodies & said we would call tomorrow around 9:00am. Then we had just enough energy to get back to the hotel -- I got dinner on the way so that dad & mom could eat in peace together for a minute & I could chat with CW during his lunch time (& my dinner), then I took a bath, tried on my "*** cat" shirt & got a call to move to my air-conditioned room! YEAH! 2 highlights -- Mom & I got to proselyte today to a cabbie. When he found out we were from Utah he said, "You aren't bloody Mormons are you?" When we replied, "Yes" he asked, "Why aren't Mormons Christians then?" "We are ..." and we explained about premarital sex & chastity, W of W & BOM. He said, "That's what I don't like about religion it's always so many rules to follow." Mom explained how following them makes you happy & fills your spirit, to which he replied, "I am sure glad this trip is short." Acctually we teased him that he'd become a Mormon -- he said he was going to check it out on the internet. We told him, we were pretty normal! England trivia -- traffic lights -- a yellow light is typically displayed with the red light after the red light has been on -- it means "get ready to go" & then the green light comes on! Love it! Tewie
July 28th 2006 -- I didn't write last night because I wanted to get to sleep by 10:30 pm so that I would get a full 8 hours by the time CW woke me up at 6:30 am (1130 pm) to talk. He's so awesome -- he took the day off to fix the car & get some errands run. He says that handling the house & the kids is not hard, it's just that he is lonely & wants me near. Soon -- I'm acctually writing the morning of the 29th so to me in 24 hours I'll be leaving this place for airports -- which are a double edged sward -- on one hand they get you where you want to go faster than any other mode of transportation (except jet or shuttle) on the other -- they smell, they are uncomfortable, they are generally unhelpful. So it is with lots of love in my heart that I use them to see the family I love & miss. Ok, so today -- dad was going to come with us to see the London Eye, but at the last minute had a meeting set up -- so mom & I ran over & met Jen & Oliver to go on the London Eye & while we were standing waiting for tickets Jen broke down & started crying! She just has been through so much & when she had someone who knows & loves her & gives her an ounce of sympathy she just let go of being brave. She's pregnant, taking care of a sick 2 year old that needs, if not constant entertaining -- constant motion. She had 4 months of doctors not believing her, telling her it would just "go away", & an Albanian MD told her to wrap a red scarf around him with garlic in it. She's tired & hungry & is a very capable woman, who has so many different emotions coursing through her that she doesn't know where to begin to describe them so she cried & I hugged her. Soon we were on the London Eye with Ollie pointing at every boat that kept getting smaller & us using our map to point out famous structures -- they say when the idea was concieved that people laughed at a ferris wheel in the middle of London, BUT is makes near $40,000 an hour -- so close to 1/2 million a day. No one's laughing now. People can rent pods for any occasion -- a romantic dinner (eat fast 1/2 hour trip) & even a wedding (ceremony performed at top.) After, we went to Westminster Abby and saw the crypts of many famous Brits. Kings & Queens, of course, but also the likes of Geoffrey chaucer. It was astounding architecture & as I was unable to take pictures, You won't see much of it. Jen went back to the hospital via taxi & the plan was to be there at 4:00pm so we ran to Picadilly/Soho by tube & went to the Hard Rock Cafe & store & I got CW his shirt & got very embarrased trying one on myself & decided against that idea -- shopping is discouraging when you are a plus size woman in Europe -- they are all petite little things over here! So we headed down to Picadilly Circus (a very busy shopping intersection). We stopped at a bookstore & got some books for my kids, an open air market & got Joy nesting dolls (monkeys, of course), cats for, originally Faith, but gave to Ainsley for a present & a turtle for Faith made of a precious stone for her Little Pet Shop collection. Then I saw a deal for a bag only 15 pounds with wheels and for my purposes -- perfect to carry home all my purchases! All the while we were shopping we would stop to phone dad & let him know where we were -- we left messages & finally caught up wiht him at Jen's -- The Portland Hospital. (Side note: there was porn plastered in these red boxes -- so everytime my mom would go in she cleaned up London by taking them down.) We told my dad to meet us on the NW corner at Oxford Circus (Oxford & Regent's Street) in front of the H&M (a store Jen likes to shop at). While we were waiting we got a belt for my mom at H&M & took some "Where's Waldo" pitures to entertain ourselves. Ollie slept & by the time G'pa arrived he was rudely awakened by a deafening sound of the police and was obviously wanting/needing more sleep. So he began to max out & needed to be held & only Jen was chosen. When I tried he would scream. So we walked to find a place to eat & Jen couldn't carry him anymore so, even though he was screaming, I picked him up & distracted him the best way I knew how with buses, motorcycles, jets, cars, etc. & he fell victim to my charms & let me carry him. So we found Indian restaurant row & indulged -- it was lovely & I ate a new fruit I never have had. After putting Jen & Ollie on a taxi with lots of kisses we took the London Underground & went to home -- dad was having fun. I love my family. I am so blessed to have such a unique oppurtunity to be with them -- especially my parents & Jen & Ollie. I realize so many things, but 1st is how much I love them & am loved! Tewie
July 29th 2006 -- It is acctually July 30th & I am on our flight to Atlanta waiting to take off. Mom is extremely tired as she has only recieved 5 hours of sleep the past two nights -- so I am sure she is going to sleep on this flight. I, on the other hand, have recieved 8, GLORIOUS hours of sleep for the past 2 nights -- so my goal is to stay awake the entire time. I'll let you know how it went on my synopsis. On to yesterday. We wanted to spend our last day in London all together with Jen & Oliver. So it was decided, since Dad hadn't seen the London Eye that Mom & Dad would go do that & I would go over & get Jen & we would meet between 1230-100pm at the Warwick Street bridge by Regent's Canal. Well-- I was excited & scared to be on the streets of London by myself with a carseat (Jen had left in my room when she had 1st arrived). So I found a new route by tube & thought I was so smart until I got to the station & found that it was closed -- so, I thought, I could take the bus system -- it couldn't be worse than Chile -- so I did, at only 3.50 pounds per day it was cheaper than tube at 4.90 pounds per day & if I asked enough people where to go I would get yelled at to get off when it was my stop -- which is what happened. So to the hospital, call the London transport for a bus to Warwick (but I kept saying, "Warick" so no one understood me) & by some slight miracle & dumb luck we were walking along the canal road toward a bridge where the boats were launching. Jen & I hadn't eaten so we ate at a little boat cafe on the water. I had a chicken ciabatta with stilton cheese (which is very flavorful -- Jen said cross between Gouda & Swiss) & a piece of chocolate cake. After eating we queued up & waited by this charming place & got on the boat. Oliver loved seeing all the ducks & I took pictures of the names of the boats outside. It was great. The boat chugged along through the London Zoo & we docked at Camden Lock where there was a cut open air market with tons of food from all different countries around the world. Oliver hadn't eaten yet & was getting a bit cranky so we indulged him in ice cream with strawberries & while Jen, Dad & Mom ate with Ollie I walked around just to see & I just loved the stmosphere there. It was sort of hippie but not too crowded -- full of tons of bohemian looking clothes & artist shops. After we were through there we took a taxi back to the hospital -- It was 4:00pm & Ollie had his treatment at 5:00pm. So we went back & played/rested for an hour or so with Ollie & Jen got to talk with Ainsley & Shane & her mom. At 5:15pm we got the nurse who had to do several things to thin out the blood clot that had formed in his IV & then gave him the ABX. We then left for Herrods -- a very huge shopping center & we decided to divide & conquer -- Dad & I & Ollie went upstairs to get Brock & Ali's kids something & Lily or Elana (Shane & Jen's new baby due October 2006) & Luke a little toy in the kids section. While Mom & Jen got some make up, which Jen sorely misses, among many other things, in Albania. We also got Ollie a tractor book with acctual wheels & that became a very important toy at Tapas -- a Spanish restaurant where we all entertained ourselves running it up & down the table & over arms that were speed bumps, etc. I had a very teepie looking salad with asparagus, cheese, avocado & tomato, but the tomato & avocado were sliced on the side & the asparagus spear (4) leaned up on eachother with a bed of greens under them -- with cheese wedges that looked like pizza slices. I should've taken a picture, but I've just described it, so I don't need to. Mom was working on a migrane, so we caught a taxi that, after dropping us off, would take Jen to the hospital. It was sad to say goodbye to Jen, BUT it was a blessing we even got to see her in the first place & we will be with her in a month -- when she flies to the US to have her little girl. So here I am on a plane home & I am so excited to see my family -- I miss them. I am so glad for this oppurtunity to see a part of God's wonderful world I would've otherwise not been able to see. I have learned a lot & I mostly have learned I want my family to have these experiences with me & how grateful I am to my parents for caring! Tewie
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