Rule Britania
12.16.2004London's great. Just a brief note, because everything here cots twice as much as back home (1hr internet is £1 is $2).
Walked all over the downtown in a stereotypical London drizzle & overcast sky. But the London Underground's not nearly as complicated as people make out, and has several beautiful terminals.
Westminster Cathedral is amazing w/ its grand simplicity & elegance. The National Gallery was dizzying w/ its halls full of centurie worth of European art. And the architecture of the city is just amazing, especially the Victorian Imperial style w/ its enormous pieces of brown/grey stone.
But my favorite was the British Museum. I only managed to see half the Greco-Roman & bits of the Near East exhibits (including the Rosetta Stone & pieces of the Athenian Parthenon). Also managed to see the Celtic & British history exhibits. That's almost a quarter of the museum — and it took almost 3 hrs. But. The best part was the Reading Room. It was like a temple for books, a giant circular room w/ a domed ceiling in the center of the museum grounds. Breathtaking.
Managed to find a Bangladeshi-Indian restaurant (Rani) & a crowded pup (Dirty Dick's) in the East End. Now I'm dead tired after walking since 8am. Tomorrow I head for Rome, to meet my cousin Kathira. I wonder what adventures await us. I'm sure at least Florence is in the bargain.
Oh, and this was my fist time sleeping in a dorm-style hostel, in rooms w/ half a dozen other people. Wasn't so bad. And I've managed to spend only £35.24 so far.
Posted by Miguel at 08:47 PM