24 Mar 2002 13:30:16 GMT
Park International Hotel

I'm there.

It is 1 PM and I am waiting for my room (which they said would be ready by noon:-) Just had lunch at a very elegant Indian Restaurant, the Bombay Brassiere. Nice atmosphere, but the food is no better than the better Indian restaurants in Kansas.

The flights from KC to St. Louis and St. Louis to Gatwick were uneventful. I accidentally took the wrong train into the city from the airport. This one didn't have conductors selling tickets during the trip and I had to bull my way through the turnstile at the end. Fortunately I wasn't arrested, and received a free ride.

I was wise to get a few pounds before leaving Kansas City. The first 4 times I tried the ATMs, my debit card was declined. But the travel guides warned that phone lines make that happen "temporarily." My card just worked, so I feel much better. I was so focused on the ATM problem that I looked the wrong way and almost stepped in front of a car. It was a convertible and the passenger really chewed me out:-)

They just said my room is ready, so I will shower and change before leaving for the Lion King.
 
 

I really only went because it was about the only show with a Sunday matinee, but the Lion King was great! I loved the costumes and music. The people became wonderful animals, I loved them better than the cats in Cats. I sat in the first row on the edge of the pit & also watched the musicians. Close enough to read some of their music and hear the conductor when he sang along:-)

The Jack the Ripper walking tour on Sunday night was good, but it is too popular. London Walks provided two guides, Molly & Donald. Donald is famous as a Riper expert and draws a huge crowd. I would have liked to try his group, but went with Molly because she had "only" 70 people. Donald had about 4 times that many.

I couldn't find any place for supper close to where the tour started so I walked over to and across the Tower Bridge instead. I got some good pictures of it and the Tower of London at night.

So my supper was smoked herring and salt & vinegar crisps (potato chips) in my room, washed down with two kinds of ginger beer: DG (light) Old Jamaica Ginger Beer was pretty good & sugar free. Idris; "Fiery" Ginger Beer, "Try it if you dare" was rather bland.

Then a shot of the Weller 101 I brought along for the convention and off to a well earned bed.

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