Days 35-37: Thursday, August 13 - Saturday, August 16, 1998

I was supposed to get my laundry back today, but it got misplaced or for some reason it couldn't be found. This was a little frustrating. But, I went off anyway. I decided that while in London, I would do nothing but hang out and entertain myself. This was to be accomplished by sitting around Leicaster Square and reading the "Naked Lunch." The book starts out well enough, but I'm quickly getting lost. There seems to be no order or direction to the plot.

I bought a (restricted view) ticket for "Chicago" at $15 for tonight. I finally got the nerve to go into a pub on my own. I picked the Porcupine since it looked relaxed. I was going to get dinner too, but the restaurant was still locked after 6 PM (when it said it would be open). I got a few pints and headed off to the show. My seat was at the far left of the (dress) second balcony. It wasn't that bad, actually, I just had to lean over the edge a bit. The show was kind of short, and I didn't like as many songs as I had thought (I saw a version put on at my college). Afterwards, I milled around Leicaster before biting another bullet, and went into a Disco-tec.

The Equinox looked like the biggest tourist trap in London. It was situated in the center of the square. But the cover was cheap with a student ID, so I went in. The bouncers just seemed to be there for crowd control, and looks. I bought two beers at $4.50 each. I paid this for a small ass (33cl?) bottle of Molson and Foster's Ice. It was enough to boost me onto the floor, though. The bass was loud, and the dance floor large, and the green lasers were in crazy effect. I danced for about 1 1/2 hours. The music was all over the place from Wyclef and Will Smith to weird stuff I didn't know. I'm not really up on my house/jungle/drum n bass lingo. There were some kids who created circles to strut their stuff. One guy did some breakin'. Though he was better than I'll ever be, he seemed to be showing off (is that the point?). The way to approach a dancing girl seems to be the blind side, rear end approach. This is a hit and miss kind of thing. Either way, it takes more guts that I have in my abdomen (at the moment). However, by the end of the night, I was dancing around a really hot (and happy) blonde. I didn't give her much eye contact so I really didn't know if she was paying attention to me at all. Oh well, at least she was more open than a lot of the other girls. A lot of the kids there seemed to be Middle Eastern and Asian. I walked home (about 45 minutes) at 3 AM. I definitely feel safe here.

Day 36

This morning I received my long lost laundry. I also found out that the $500 cash limit on my MasterCard is not about a one time withdrawal, but it's cumulative. Therefore, I transferred $1,000 from my savings to checking account, so I could access cash at the ATMs. My budget is officially blown since I crossed over to Britain. Between travel costs and the entertainment I'm taking in (and the expensive hostel I'm staying in), I'm overblown. In order to reduce the damage, I'm going to skip Scotland. That will cut out two train tickets, and give me more time in Ireland.

Today I found out that "Phantom of the Opera" is sold out for tonight and both tomorrow's shows. I went to a couple of pubs (which in turn made it easier to go to Burger King for the second day in a row), and then returned to wait in the standby line. A guy came out and said the only seats available are normally $55. I left after considering the two hour plus wait and the expense. I went and got a ticket for "Grease." The seat was upper circle (top level). It wasn't bad for $19. I could see all the stage well, and I could easily identify all the characters, and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing a show that I don't know the plot of. I also got a ticket for tomorrow's showing of "Les Miserables." Again, it is a restricted view seat, but for only $16.

After, "Grease" I wondered around and thought about going to a club. Actually, I tried to get into the Limelight, but the bouncers stopped me due to my trainers (sneakers). After that, I thought about how I could stay out and dance and drink all night if I could just find one person to talk to. I seemed to meet so many more people in Italy, where there was none of this crazy stuff to do. Sigh. One of the weird things about the way the English speak is their repetitiveness. For example, if you are getting off the Underground: "please watch your step, mind your step, mind the gap" etc.! And instead of "Exit" it is "Way Out." Everything seems to be supplemented with an extra thank you, caution, or apology. Sometimes, it seems very drawn out. Apparently the hostel I stayed in, the Albert, was in a ritzy section of town (Queen's Gate). Right next door was a restaurant (bistro) that attracted wealthy customers, like tonight, the owner of a black Lamborghini Diablo.

Day 37

Today I slept in till 10:30 AM or so. It was to be another day of theater inLondon. On my way to Leicaster Square, I spotted a poster for "Jesus Christ Superstar" outside a 1/2 price ticket booth. I waited in line for fifteen minutes to find out the show had ended its run in London (end of July maybe). I went down to the National Express (bus) office and purchased my round trip overnight ticket to Dublin for 45 Pounds or $62. This doesn't seem too bad a price since it includes two nights of sleeping accommodations.

I went to the Royal National Theater (along the ThamesRiver) to try for a standby ticket to "Oklahoma." I paid $7.50 for a standing ticket which I felt pretty lucky to get. There were about ten other people standing (of whom I was the youngest). Right before the last song of the first act, the power supply went out and the rest of the show was canceled. I really was enjoying it too. The plot was guy likes girl and the music was upbeat, the stage brightly lit. Again, a circular stage was utilized. The theater offered good views from every seat, it was very well designed. Architecturally, it was a similar concrete structure to the Dana Arts building at Colgate. The only (old) guy I had a conversation with today had long hairs coming out of his nose. This was during the break at "Oklahoma!" He said 15 million people lived in London. This was a much bigger number than I expected. While everyone was trying to get their money refunded, I left. It really wouldn't have been worth the trouble for the money I had spent. One again, I felt a great sense of freedom. I headed uptown where I drank at a few more pubs.

That night, I went to "Les Miserables." My seat for this show was quite good. It was along the front row of the upper circle. All I had to do was lean on the railing in front of me. Again, a circular moving stage was used. This show was absolutely beautiful. The theater was well adorned with wood paneling and there were little putti light fixtures. I didn't go to any clubs afterwards. I just hung around and caught the last metro back.

I think I'm definitely experiencing the loneliness that the Mexico City girl was talking about (back in Florence). Meeting people is easiest at your residence. If the conditions are right there, prepare to do things with other people. On the other hand, I've managed to make it through London and Paris without eating at a single sit down restaurant. For this isolation, I'm pissed. My hope, however, is that by moving onward to Ireland, I'll get a new chance to fix this problem. Anyway, I dug my last night in London. It is cool that kids can just walk around with open containers. The cops closed down a drum session I was enjoying (too loud? too crowded?). There are a lot of tourists here. I wondered what the scene would be like in winter.

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