Well I have finally made it to London.  I got in at about 1:40pm London time, then had to catch the tube (London talk for subway) to find my hostel.  That was a very interesting experience because the train i was on ended up breaking down due to signal failure.  So here I am on my first time ever catching the subway, trying to find an alternate route.  Fortunately, I’m pretty experienced with subway systems being from the East Coast and the set up is about the same.  I was able to make it to my hostel, check in, and get a much needed beer at the bar.

While at the bar I ran into 3 guys from Jersey and we all decided to go hit the pubs.  One of them was meeting a girl that he hadn’t seen in a while.  So we hit the tube and head out to covent gardens.  We ended up at this cool pub called the porterhouse, had drinks, and conversated about everything under the sun.  It was cool that we were all from the East Coast because I didn’t have to really tone it down like I generally have to do in Seattle.  If you are an East Coaster that has transplanted to Seattle you know exactly what I mean!  Afterwards we headed to Picadilly Circus to check out the nightclubs and check it out.  By this time it’s about 11pm and a couple of the guys (Ross and Bazel) wanted to go back to the hostel and pass out.  Oh, but not me!  My energy level is legendary, LOL.  So me and Vadim decide to hit a couple of other clubs.  We were out until about midnight drinking and dancing with the locals.  A little after midnight he decides to head out as well.  It’s funny because I was on the dance floor, then turned around and we was gone.

Now for the big adventure of trying to find my way home, LOL.  The subway system here closes around midnight so by the time I was done clubbing there was no chance of going home the way I came.  I talked to a cab driver and was told that it would cost me about 20 pounds to take me back to my hostel (that’s $32 in American money).  I said the hell with that and looked for alternative means.  The lady at the subway was a great help and told me that I needed to catch the N13 bus and that it would take me right to where I needed to go.  She told me where the bus stop was but, of course, I forgot the directions as soon as I got out of the station, LOL.  After asking a hodgepodge of citizens and bobbies (police) I was able to find it.  I know this whole story sounds unsafe in general but it’s really not.  The area is very well lit and there are police on every block.  They are there to make sure tourist come back and spend more money.  TRUST ME.  Eventually I was able to get on the double decker bus and head towards my hostel.  Since I had never been on a double decker bus I had to go straight up to the top and sit in the front seat.  I ask the lady sitting behind me to tell me when we get to my stop and she agrees to do that.  As I’m sitting there looking out, half falling a sleep, I tell myself that I finally have made it and that this is the beginning of my great adventure.  Eyelids half way closed I get tapped on the shoulder and the lady tells me this is where I’m supposed to get off.  I was able to make it back to my hostel and fall into my bed.

Just before I am about to take off to la la land there is a voice in the dark.  It’s my roommate whom I’ve never met before because when I got there no one was in the room yet.  I find out that his name is Allen and he’s here with his daughter vacationing.  We talked for about 15 minutes and I shared with him my plans about my vacation.  He says that I’m living a dream that he always wanted for himself but he married early and had kids therefore he had to take on those responsibilities. Now he is 60 and about to retire.  He wished me good luck on my journey then I passed away into a nice deep sleep.   4 hours later, I’m up all bright eyed, bushy tailed, and ready for more!!!