So yesterday was our last day in London. I went to a place called the Photographers' Gallery. They had a photographer on display named Jim Goldberg, who had some amazing stuff. A lot of his work is about illegal immigrants, human trafficking and poverty in Eastern Europe and Africa. Some of the photos had writing on it by the subject about their stories. Some had the faces scratched out or the background painted out. Some were just so sad. They also had on display some immigrant documents and journals. Some of the stories, as you can guess, were so tragic. Women taken into sex work. One man who lost his whole family in a village massacre. Here are some samples. In the first picture the writing is a translation of the arabic written on the refrigerator. In the second picture they guy is in a huge trash dump and he's holding a goat that he found there that he's going to eat. And I like how in the third picture the subject's shadow is outlined like it represents his dream.
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While I was at the gallery Gus and his mom went to Buckingham Palace.
After the gallery I did some shopping. Bought some tights--I'm gonna make that style happen. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is out in London!! But it's hardcover and about $30. And I didn't buy it. Now anyone who knows me, and you probably do a little if you're reading this blog...would know that normal me would be reading that book right now and a picture of the cover would be on this blog. Talk about restraint!
Then later we went to the British Natural History Museum.
That night Gus and I went to Soho and met a friend of his named Janica. They met in New York at a staged reading. And she is here in London now, working as an actress, doing commercials and stuff. Then we my friend Elvis (that's King Elvis to you) met us and took us to a club in Leicester Square called The Sound. I did a whole lotta dancing. Haven't done that in a long time.
It was fun, until...
We took a night bus and the driver told us to get off and walk a little bit. A little bit turned into a lot bit. My dogs were barking. I don't know how long it took us to get home but it was 5AM by the time we got back to the apartment. Which did not leave enough time to sleep before we had to get up, check out, and get to Paris.
Some stats from yesterday...
Number of steps taken according to my pedometer 25151
Number of Pints 5
Number of Bottles of Beer 3 or 4
Number of Drunks who told me I was stunning 1
So we are in Paris now. The apartment is great. We are 3-4 blocks from the Champs-Elysees. We have a dishwasher and a washing machine. The shower is from the year 3000.
Roll that delicious bean footage....
We are getting ready to go to dinner. Can't wait to have some wine! I worked up a nice little jelly belly with all the beers and chips (a/k/a french fries) and Cinnabon in London. When I get back it's gonna be hard to not keep eating like this. Thank god for that fitness contracts...sigh.
Not sure what we have planned for tomorrow yet.
I have noticed lately that I've had a strong urge to smoke. I think it's a combo of all of the extra drinking I'm doing and all the walking. The weather has been pretty good and it's nice--if you're a smoker--to sit outside at a bar or cafe with your drink and bullshit and have a smoke.
Also, I remember the first time I came to Europe alone I was smoking all the time. Some how it made me feel like I was less conspicuous as a tourist. I know, logically, that that isn't true at all, but I felt less self-conscious walking around alone and mildly lost if I had a cigarette. And then of course there is just the stereotype of Paris as being full of chic smokers. You can't even smoke in restaurants here anymore.
There is a distinct difference between London and Paris. Paris is old and rugged. Even though London is old too, it's very modernized. There is something about Paris that is a bit worn-at-the-heel, in a good way. The metro is definitely not as modernized as the London Underground. And I know how London people bitch about the Tube, but compared to Paris or NYC is it great. It's clean. The signage is easy to understand, clocks tell you when the next train is coming, the seats are clean and cushy. No more complaining from Londoners about the Tube! But for all of its "dinge" Paris is gorgeous. I could walk it for ages, even if the people kind of scare me. They do. I don't know what it is about them. I'll think about it. This is post is getting a bit out of hand. Good night.
Some stats from today...
Steps walked according to my pedometer 7477
Number of glasses of wine had 4
Number of flights of steps to the apartment 2
Number of holes in my gloves 2 (I still don't know how)
Number of times we got on the metro the wrong way 1
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