LONDON -- I flew to London and landed in the Middle East.
With the 5-hour time difference, I didn't get to my hotel near Hyde Park 'til 9:15 Wednesday night, after leaving Boston at 9 a.m. And that's despite taking the highly-efficient, Heathrow Express train, which covers the distance from the airport to Paddington Station in just 15 minutes.
Eager to have steak-and-kidney pie, shepherd's pie, Dover sole, or some other traditional British dish, I went to the Duke of York, a neighborhood pub -- or "local" -- a few blocks away. Unfortunately, while they'd be pouring drinks 'til 11, the kitchen closed at 9:30.
Since not even overweight sportswriters will eat airline food, I was hungry, and so, needing nourishment, headed toward busy Edgeware Road, where the restaurants were still serving -- although not British fare.
Instead, there were Lebanese, Iranian, Turkish, and Moroccan restaurants in abundance, with patrons contentedly puffing on hookahs after enjoying their meals. I opted for Turkish and enjoyed savory lamb and chicken. I passed, however, on the hookah.
Today, however, after sleeping 'til nearly 11 -- remember, that's only 6 a.m. Eastern time -- I decided to take a bus tour to reacquaint myself with the city, which I hadn't visited since I was a young Naval officer 35 years ago.
Before climbing to the open-air seating on the top level of the double-decker, traditionally-red bus, I decided to fortify myself with fish and chips and a pint of Guinness in the Shakespeare Pub, opposite Victoria Station.
That was John Shakespeare, by the way -- no relation to the famous William -- who opened the establishment in 1826. Fortunately, the fish was caught more recently.
It didn't rain -- a bigger upset than if the Titans had beaten the Patriots last Sunday -- and so the trip around the city, past Buckingham Palace, through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, and past the domed, St. Paul's Cathedral, was delightful.
One can get on and off the bus at any stop on the tour, which also included a boat ride down the Thames -- from Westminster Pier, near the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
For those who think "Big Ben" is either the starting tight end for the Patriots, or the clock on the tower at the Parliament buildings, I offer this educational note: Big Ben is actually the bell, which tolls on the hour, inside the tower.
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Wow, deep thoughts.
That information is available in any travel book on London or an online travel site.
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Lorelei... what's it like to be so miserable?
He couldn't write about the team - they're not there yet. So, as he said, he was re-getting to know London.
I, for one, have never been there, and appreciated Jim's take on it, INSTEAD of "any travel book on London or an online travel site."
Thanks, Jim. I'll be checking in through the weekend.
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Not miserable. I love London.
Strange the Journal Bulletin pays so much to send someone across the pond to write trivia
If all you have is trivia, just don't post it.
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In his next life, JD wants to become a travel writer. It's even easier than sports writing.
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Unbelievable.
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Thank you Jim for your great report. I visited London in August 2008 while I was staying in Belgium and I loved it. London is so much fun. I will very much be checking back with this blog to read up on Jim's adventures in London, even though I am not a football fan. PS to Lorelei, get a life and why are you reading this blog if you don't want to read about London?
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