A little rest and a bite to eat always soften the perspective.  I didn’t get a bite right away, but this is a good time to point out that much of this journal will seem like a search for food.  That’s just my metabolism.  I’m one of those guys who thinks with his stomach 😉 

Monday, 14 May 1984, 8:27 AM, London

Last night after a 3 hour nap, I took a walk around the neighborhood, managing to get lost no less than 3 times. London streets don’t seem to make much sense, but locals are very fast to supply directions– especially the “bobbies” who seemed to be out in force.

At first I went the wrong way to Pimlico.  I got turned around but made it back to Buckingham Palace, where not much happens at 8:30 PM Sunday night. By the time I got on course back to the Aadams Hotel, all the food places had closed, so I went to bed with only an airplane meal in my stomach.

This morning though, after an educational experience using the bathtub, I woofed down an “English” breakfast in the hotel’s basement dining room– 4 pieces of toast and marmalade, a fried egg, a strip of bacon and a gallon of coffee. Wish I had a radio.

Checkout time is 10:30 so I have to pack it up, also have to confirm my flight to Athens– between checkout and flight time I think I’ll be a tourist. HERE I GO– LOOKOUT ENGLAND!!!

12:04PM — On a rest stop on my wondering about tour.

Right now I’m across the Thames from Parliament. A bunch of parachutists just dropped into the river– and I got the pics! They were in some branch of the armed forces.

Random parachuters across from Parliament

Interesting grafitti on the walls along the river: “Thatcher is an old sow”, “Malvinas Argentinas” and it goes on like that.

I understand now why the British keep the countryside so beautiful– because London is smelly, dirty and needs a good cleaning. Not to deny it is also a very dynamic city with many lovely parks. But generally, it seems crowded in the central area, especially with tourists. I refused to watch the changing of the guard. I just can’t stand with 500 camera snapping tourists. It repulses me! Yeech!

3:08PM, Heathrow Airport lounge

Alright, I was hard on London. Smelly and dirty are part of all big cities. London has its more refined sides as well.

I met two girls on the way out of the Aadams Hotel this morning. They were freshly from New Jersey and were tired travelers like me. I told them they might bet a better deal by shopping around or reading “Let’s Go”.