Trip Log: London 1/95 (1/25 to 2/7)
Or Bung The Fob!
I cashed in 40,000 USAir FF miles for a free off-peak trip to London
on British Air for 11 days starting Jan. 25. They were having the most
rain in the last 50 years but the flooding that was plaguing other parts
of Europe was not evident in London. For the most part the weather
was mild; a few clear and cool days otherwise overcast, sometimes
rainy, and mild like in the 40's. Here are some interesting highlights.
The current exchange rate for the US Dollar is about 1.68.
A 7 day travel card on London Transport (bus and underground) for
#11.00 for Zone 1, #13.80 for Zones 1 and 2, is an excellent value for
the money. Even if you only use it for 5 or 6 days, this will save you
money if you make 3 or 4 trips a day. Bring a passport sized
photograph and they give you a photo ID card and a holder for the pass
as well as a small, detailed underground and bus map.
To find out what's going on get a copy of Time Out or What's On.
They are invaluable and chock full of information. Time Out has a
special tourists edition also. The entertainment week there runs from
Weds to Weds.
Barbican Galleries
Currently has an excellent exhibit on British Impressionism. If you're
like me and after years of prowling the galleries in NYC, Washington
DC, Boston, Paris, Florence and Rome and getting a little tired of the
same old stuff, this will awaken you. Many exquisite, dreamy,
wonderful impressionist paintings mostly by artists previously unknown
to me. Through mid April.
Royal Academy
Currently has a wonderful exhibit on Poussin. If you've always liked
Poussin but never felt any one museum quite filled you up, go to the
Royal Academy and drink up!
Kew Gardens
I had never gone and while there isn't much in bloom outside in the
winter time, it's still very nice to walk around. They have numerous
glass houses filled with exotic plants that you can go in although some
of them are closed in the winter.
Hyde Park and Speakers Corner
Go to Speakers Corner in Hyde Park near Marble Arch on Sundays
and you will be entertained by something I've never heard of anywhere
else in the world. People who want to speak out on anything bring little
ladders or boxes, set them down, get up, and start at it. Its quite
entertaining and often funny. It quickly becomes evident that you don't
need to know anything about what you are talking on to just get up
there and speak.
First there were several people going on about Jesus and being
saved who didn't have more than a couple people as an audience. The
one's who draw a crowd are those who don't just lecture people but
engage them in discussion or make them laugh or go on about very
controversial issues.
One man was discussing political issues, another Michael Jackson
and Oprah and what was wrong with America. There was a crowd of
middle easterners discussing things in Arabic. One man set his box
down, started going on about how what's wrong with the world is that
women are not being subservient to men and drew a huge crowd in a
minute who laughed at and opposed him. Another guy was taking
questions and handing out one liners and just generally being
improvisationally comedic with the crowd.
Pages Bar and Star Trek
Are you a Star Trek fan or just looking for something different to do
on a Saturday night in London? Then beam up to Pages Bar on Page
Street just southwest of Westminster on Saturday nights from 5pm to
11pm. First you'll find the walls covered with Star Trek photos and
memorabilia, and a huge Enterprise model hanging from the ceiling.
One of the photos is of the Next Generation Cast and signed by every
single member as they were all just there for a convention. Next you'll
find the manger and the bartenders dressed in regulation StarFleet
uniform ready to take your order. Try Romulan Ale (greenish blue beer)
or have a Warp 10 cocktail. Watch episodes of all the different shows
on the giant view screen, and take part in the trivia contest. Watch the
other customers dressed in all manner of costume. And by 7pm its
usually packed.
Pages has a great selection of beers, bitters, and ales on tap. To get
there take the underground to Westminster (or St. James Park or
Victoria). From Westminster you can take the 88 bus which goes
directly in front of the pub. Or go west on Victoria Street and take a left
down Great Smith St. which turns into Marsham St. Pages Bar is on
the right.
I and a friend attended the Star Trek convention that occurred at the
Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 4-5. All Next Generation cast members gave
audience and with a crowd of five to six thousand people it was
incredible. People over there love Star Trek. The energy and the
response was fantastic!
Clubs
I checked out the Borderline which was a small, packed
underground cavern of a place. They don't have much on tap but the
band, Wendy Page, was very good and well received by the crowd. The
Rock Garden looked interesting.
Movies
Movies in London cost a staggering #8 ($13.50) during prime time.
Don't bother. Go before 5pm (or some have all day Mon. and Thurs.
specials) and pay only #3 or #4 (6.75). Leicester Square other major
squares have the big movie houses. I went to one in the Warner West
End and although expensive was an experience. There was sound
proofing so it was very quiet and enhances the sound (and the people
were also quiet which is a change from around here!), the sound
system was great, and the seats cascade down so people's heads
don't get in your way.
The Prince Charles theature nearby shows new and second run films
for a measly #1.99 during prime time and #.99 for matinees.
Instead of coming attractions you will be treated to a string of
commercials for 10 minutes. At least that's one thing we do not have!
They get movies there later so if you missed something a few
months ago don't worry, it will be there.
See Time Out for listings of the independent repertory film houses.
TV
They have high definition tv. We don't. Life sucks! :-)
Bung The Fob
I think this would make a great title for a British game show. Those
wacky Brits have all kinds of expressions and words foreign to
American english. Such as bung, fob, tot, and snog. Bung can be
used many ways such as "Lets bung that data into the computer." or
"Why dont you bung over to the pub." A fob is a knicknack of some
sort, I think. Tot is "Why don't we tot on over there." Snogging I saw
used in an article about picking up women.
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