San Diego Children's Choir, England/Wales Tour
Friday, July 5 and Saturday July 6, 2002

Please click on any thumbnail to view a larger image; see journal below

The plane ride was like a Grateful Dead concert: the whole time was spent drifting in and out of consciousness. British Airways has really nifty complimentary blue socks, and their flight attendants have the cutest accents.

When we got to our hotel, our rooms were not prepared so back on the bus we hopped. It's actually a "coach", according to our courier, Andre. He pointed out that a bus was a member of the public transit system in fair old England. Speaking of which, he (Andre) has a cute accent too.

The bus driver, Mark, had to use rubber gloves to load our luggage - we must be dirty.

Everything is so bite-sized; cars are miniscule, pizzas are rather small and 2-liter bottles are 1.5 liters. The tower that holds Big Ben isn't even that big - it should be called Moderate Ben.

…. Wait, I retract that statement! Trafalgar Square is rather massive.

Two other notes:

1. All the pubs have two names: the Fox and Hound, the Pitcher and Piano, and my favorite, the Slug and Lettuce.
2. Do not ask for a trash can - you will be scorned. Here is an actual conversation:
   
   Hannibal: Do you have a trash can?
   British Deli Owner: What?
   Hannibal: What? A trash can. Do you have one?
   2nd BDO: I think he means a dustbin.
   BDO: Of course we have one! I'll take that for you.
   

Finally, remember to look right, left, right before crossing a street, not left, right, left, or you'll get flattened by a lorry or cars traveling on the wrong side of the street. I almost did, but Greg saved me.

Respectfully, submitted by ...?
July 6, 2002
London

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