Jet Lag

Jessica and I would not be considered new to traveling. She lived in Spain and New Zealand for a bit while I lived in Japan for a few years. We both have traveled around to various other countries throughout the years. It seems, though, that we are a little out of practice. The flight from San Francisco to Heathrow was pretty brutal. Jessica has been fighting a cold, while I have been trying to get rid of a stiff neck. Needless to say, being wedged into economy class for 10.5 hours did not help matters. But we made it. A little stiffer and sicker, but we made it.

First impression of London is that it looks like a movie set. All the buildings look like they belong on the back lot of Universal Studios. It's as if an artist was asked to draw a caricature of London and then said, "Fuck it, let me just build the damn thing." And the NAMES of places! I swear they gave the makers of Candy Land free reign when naming the bus and train stops. The Rainbow Trail, Peppermint Forrest and Mr. Licorice give way to Pudding Mill Lane, Mudchute and Shepard's Bush Market. And the creme de la creme, the pièce de résistance, the King Kandy of Candy Castle....Cockfosters. Serioulsy, imagine being the conductor and having to say that little gem a hundred times a day without giggling. It's as if up is down and down is up. For example, out of the four train stops listed, which one is not a real train stop on the London Underground?

A) Piccadilly Circus
B) Elephant & Castle
C) Blackfriars
D) Main Street

We will be staying in Twickenham for the next two nights. Or as Jessica prefers to call it, "Twerkenham". Our hotel is attached to the massive Twickenham Stadium. Apparently it is the largest rugby stadium in the world seating 82,000 people. I did not know any of this when I booked it and unfortunately there will not be any games played while we are here. Jessica, no doubt, would have loved to lead a Twerkenham cheer or two. Tomorrow we plan on heading into London and being tourists. Checking out Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the like. Hopefully I can turn my head enough to see everything.