Today I woke up at 9:30 ready to go! However, my body had different ideas and I woke back up at 11:00, REALLY ready to go this time. I took the bus to the tube and then got off at Westminster station, right next to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Houses of Parliament. It was a great view for a tourist because of all the notable sights. I walked to the Winston Churchill War Rooms, part of the Imperial War Museum. The exhibit focused on Churchill's life as a wartime Prime Minister. It detailed his living and working spaces, the people he worked and lived closely with, as well as his strategies, sentiments, and work during the war. It was fascinating to learn so much about a historical figure who I admire.
After a long hard morning of walking, learning, etc. I was really ready for a good lunch especially since I didn't make time to have breakfast. You may recall the place I mentioned in an earlier post with the crazy milkshakes, Molly Bakes. Needless to say I was very excited for this awesome lunch. I did the navigation and realized it was pretty far and would require the overground train in addition to the underground but I was so looking forward to it that it would be worth it. After my time on the underground, I transferred to the overground and realized it would be a while until I arrived. When I finally arrived at the station and exited onto the street, I came to a realization. I was in the ghetto. I was seriously uncomfortable with my surroundings but I had come too far to turn back. I walked the additional half mile down the road to where Molly Bakes was only to see that it was closed. My heart literally stopped. I was starving and I had travelled over mountain and meadow and glen to get to this place and now I was left in a bad part of town with no food. Angrily, I turned back towards the overground station and walked back, only to go a quarter mile too far and have to turn back. Infuriated, I got on the overground train and tried to head anywhere but where I was. Every 2 stops or so, the train "terminated" and I had to find another train. FINALLY I got to Bond Street and I decided that was stellar so I got off and went back for the third time to Ed's for a comforting milkshake. I felt better after the milkshake and got back on the tube home. I had made it off the tube and to the bus stop. I was SO close to being done with this hellacious mission. The bus arrived and I had made it. If you've been keeping up with this blog though you'd know that it is never that easy. I had my headphones in and I was just cruisin'. After a little while though I looked up and didn't recognize anything around me even though the bus ride is supposed to be one mile north. I got out and realized I was practically at the Scotland border; well, at least it felt that way. I got BACK on the bus and made it home. I was SO done at that point.
One thing I will say on here is that I realized quickly that sticking to an ambitious schedule is nearly impossible. You can't predict how the jetlag and traveling will affect you or how you'll feel during the day. With the exception of Thursday, I have not stuck to my planned itinerary. I've done things that aren't on there and I've skipped some things, especially restaurants. It isn't really feasible to eat at restaurants 3 times a day when you solely rely on public transportation because it's exhausting. I physically can't get up every morning and go out to breakfast and stay out the whole day through dinner. I thought I could but it's really hard. I've been making sure to experience enough things to make a beneficial travel guide even though I'm not doing everything I planned.
I was fascinated by the main grocery near Lisa's house, Waitrose, so I decided to give it a closer look and see how it compares to American Grocery Stores. I bought way too many snacks and discovered that it is a really great place for all of your needs (except makeup surprisingly... you have to walk another block down to Boots for that.) Tomorrow I'm determined to make the most of the day and get some substantial material for the guide.
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