Best Tourist Attraction – The Monument, London. 311 steps to a spectacular view. Worth the climb, but oh, those last 50 are killer.
Best/Most Interesting Museum – The Tower of London/Tower Bridge, London. (Torture! Weapons! Jewelry! And a really cool view…)
Most Unusual Site – Abbey Road, London. Particularly unusual (?) was finding five German guys recreating The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” cover shot, including the “Paul” character walking across the intersection sans shoes! Now that’s a fan!
Place I Didn't Spend Nearly Enough Time In – Hyde Park. We would have spent more time there if it hadn’t started raining! Oh well.
Place I Really Wanted To Go To But Didn't – Highgate Cemetery. I actually made it into the right area, but couldn’t find the place ‘cause I got off the Tube one stop later than I should have! Oh well.
Best New Short-Term Friend(s) – That group of Americans that went to Liverpool on the same train I did.
Best Supporting Performance - The London Underground, London. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without it. J Ta!
Worst Performance Regarding Anything Else – The London Pass! I’ve bought the Pass in other cities and it’s usually a really good deal, but this one not only had false advertising (admission to Westminster Abbey is not actually included, and the British Museum is always free to the public) but the other “deals” that are halfway decent barely make up the cost …and most of that is from the public transport pass! Very disappointing.
Worst Personal Dilemma – Realizing that no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t keep up with Didier, the Speedy Gonzales of tourists. And this was after he slowed down for me! L Geez, that’s depressing.
Funniest Personal Dilemma – Trying to gulp down a pint of Guinness in 15 minutes, Liverpool. Considering how large a British pint really is, this was no small undertaking for someone who rarely drinks! I almost made it, tho….had about 2 ounces left before I knew if I tried to chug the rest I’d puke.
Best Meal – The one at that Italian Restaurant in Soho/Chinatown, London.
Best Laugh – The Blind Taste Test! J That whole thing was a hoot.
Most Emotional Moment – Saying “see you later” to Didier at Waterloo station. Sniff.
Favorite Photos Taken – In Liverpool, all of them. In London, Regents Park and the Tower Bridge.
Best Fleeting Encounter – Those German guys at Abbey Road! J Beatle fans do tend to find one another…
Best example of a local "accent" – Some guy with a Cockney accent arguing with a friend in Piccadilly, London; one of them actually said “bugger”! I thought I’d burst from trying to hold in my laughter.
Favorite Personal Souvenir – Besides the t-shirts, I’m rather fond of my Paddington Bear in a Beefeater suit. J
Best Writing Done on a Postcard – The nearly identical sentences I wrote on almost all of the cards from Liverpool! I mean really – what else could I say? That’s a pilgrimage only a true fan would make.
Best New Food Item Tried – Mr. Kipling’s Battenbergs! They’re exceedingly good cakes, don’t you know.
Best/Most Interesting Museum – The Tower of London/Tower Bridge, London. (Torture! Weapons! Jewelry! And a really cool view…)
Most Unusual Site – Abbey Road, London. Particularly unusual (?) was finding five German guys recreating The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” cover shot, including the “Paul” character walking across the intersection sans shoes! Now that’s a fan!
Place I Didn't Spend Nearly Enough Time In – Hyde Park. We would have spent more time there if it hadn’t started raining! Oh well.
Place I Really Wanted To Go To But Didn't – Highgate Cemetery. I actually made it into the right area, but couldn’t find the place ‘cause I got off the Tube one stop later than I should have! Oh well.
Best New Short-Term Friend(s) – That group of Americans that went to Liverpool on the same train I did.
Best Supporting Performance - The London Underground, London. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without it. J Ta!
Worst Performance Regarding Anything Else – The London Pass! I’ve bought the Pass in other cities and it’s usually a really good deal, but this one not only had false advertising (admission to Westminster Abbey is not actually included, and the British Museum is always free to the public) but the other “deals” that are halfway decent barely make up the cost …and most of that is from the public transport pass! Very disappointing.
Worst Personal Dilemma – Realizing that no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t keep up with Didier, the Speedy Gonzales of tourists. And this was after he slowed down for me! L Geez, that’s depressing.
Funniest Personal Dilemma – Trying to gulp down a pint of Guinness in 15 minutes, Liverpool. Considering how large a British pint really is, this was no small undertaking for someone who rarely drinks! I almost made it, tho….had about 2 ounces left before I knew if I tried to chug the rest I’d puke.
Best Meal – The one at that Italian Restaurant in Soho/Chinatown, London.
Best Laugh – The Blind Taste Test! J That whole thing was a hoot.
Most Emotional Moment – Saying “see you later” to Didier at Waterloo station. Sniff.
Favorite Photos Taken – In Liverpool, all of them. In London, Regents Park and the Tower Bridge.
Best Fleeting Encounter – Those German guys at Abbey Road! J Beatle fans do tend to find one another…
Best example of a local "accent" – Some guy with a Cockney accent arguing with a friend in Piccadilly, London; one of them actually said “bugger”! I thought I’d burst from trying to hold in my laughter.
Favorite Personal Souvenir – Besides the t-shirts, I’m rather fond of my Paddington Bear in a Beefeater suit. J
Best Writing Done on a Postcard – The nearly identical sentences I wrote on almost all of the cards from Liverpool! I mean really – what else could I say? That’s a pilgrimage only a true fan would make.
Best New Food Item Tried – Mr. Kipling’s Battenbergs! They’re exceedingly good cakes, don’t you know.