So the traveluh huz landed in Lundun?

When I was a kid, we had this book about a stuffed rabbit who went on adventures and sent postcards home. I think it was called Travels of Felix or something? Anyway, at one point he sends his human-girl owner-friend a postcard from Big Ben, and her dad remarks “So the traveler has landed in London?” Only when my sister and I would read it aloud, she would always do this line in her most Liverpudlian Ringo Starr voice, which is really amusing to hear come out of an 8-year-old with a bowl cut.

This is just a long way of saying my sister is crazy. But she would love London, I’m sure.

Our first day there (and after a six AM flight, no less) we went to the British Museum. And yes, I got to see the Elgin Marbles (aka the ones stolen from the Parthenon. Yeah, kind of a big deal. To me). Tears of classical joy were wept.

I also got to hang out with some noted experts in my field of study.

I tried to go to a ska show my first night there, but the bar in which it was to be held was mysteriously…not existent when I got there. My despondency was alleviated on the way home by the presence of one Skoob Books, a wonderful used bookstore where I procured some Thurber and Trollope paperbacks, thus allowing me to become That Girl Reading Alone In The Hostel.

My second day started off with a visit to the Tate Museum of Modern Art, which had this wonderfully garish room of Andy Warhol stuff. It was eyebleedingly great.

Also checked out the Millenium Bridge, noted for “being in the Harry Potter movie and probably something else”.

Another thing that you should always do, I think, is go to farmers’ markets when you can. They are the best for lunch, and even if you are too cheap to buy food, you can pretty much make a meal out of cheese samples and bread scraps. I almost did, but then there was really good pumpkin soup.

Friday night was a night out alone. I convinced myself I was going on a date…with me. And you know what? Red wine and a tuna melt on your own followed by a candy bar and Bill Bailey doing standup is pretty damn great. I stand by my decision even if it makes me sound pathetically Forever Alone.

Saturday was the last day of vacation, but I was Not Deterred by fatigue and endeavored to go vintage shopping, which ended up being really awesome and not totally touristy, which is always a plus. I got some dresses and a skirt, the latter becoming part of my outfit that night to go see a ska show (this one existed!) Again, alone. But you know what? It’s very liberating to be by yourself in a strange city. Especially because it means you don’t have to worry about people mocking you, so you can skank your little heart out.

Which I did, duh.