Adam's Adventures Abroad

Departed Vancouver: Friday, August 1st at 4:30pm

Arrived London: Saturday, August 2nd at 10:00am

Saturday, August 2nd

On the plane, we met a very nice British lady named Joan (coincidentally), who had a rabbit named Bright Eyes. She helped pass the time on, my first plane trip I could remember, which was annoying. We were crammed like sardines, and the only privacy was in the bathroom when no one was knocking.

The trip from the airport was long and frustrating. Sigh! We had to take 3 long trains, with all Dariana's luggage which we had to pack while she carried the mega light water bottle. Lifting our luggage on the subway/ underground/ tube was okay, but to climb the stairs we had to keep taking the suitcases off the cart we brought, which was crazy. We probably had to climb about 700 steps getting to the underground. And this man kept saying "Mind the Gap" over and over and over and over and over and over and Over and over and over. Next, Morn volunteered to help carry another lady's bags, then made me do it.

People in London are extremely nice so far, but you can't ask them where the bathroom is because they don't know unless you call it the loo/ WC. Also I accidentally called a Beefeater a meat eater at the Tower of London. When we went to Wendy's, Darlana was being stupid leaning back on her chair and she fell over and hit her head on the mantle. A group of people eating their burger started laughing and mom screamed oddly, then asked the worker for ice.

Here are a few translations that we have noticed the first day in London:

• truck = lorry
• television = telly
• toilet = loo
• cool = posh
• elevator = lift
• tow truck = recovery
• subway = underground
• French fries = chips
• chips = crisps
• foolish = daft
• underwear = knickers

Sunday August 3rd

Today we visited the Plower of London. it wan excellent. We saw the crown jewels, these ravens, the Beefeaters and the moat, and the tower bridge, We went to Burger King and my meal cost £4.69 (9.50$) but in Canada it would only cost $3.99 + Tax. We went to the British Museum but I thought it was boring for me absolutely, but the others said they liked it.

The underground is so neat. We get from A to B quickly, and it was a lot easier without luggage.

The hotel in London is weird. The toilet is separate from the sink and bathtub.

Darlana and I played pool after dinner. I won the first game by a lot and the second by one ball.

One of the Beefeaters at the Tower told us about the moat surrounding the castle before it was filled in due to the stench of the dogs, toilet water, food waste, and old grannies (watch out).

Monday, August 4th

Today we took the train to Hampton Court where We got lost in the hedge maze, but then we figured out that the entrance was the exit. In the palace the tour guide showed us the King's apartment, and the war room which had all these guns in different patterns on the walls. That night we went to the British War Museum where I learned what to do in case of a fallout, and about the trenches. There were also displays about how warfare has changed.

Tuesday, August 5th

Today, we visited Saint Paul's Cathedral. I found it boring, but I liked climbing the 543 stairs to the top to have a look at London from above. I counted the steps on the way down but got 542 (1 off not bad).

Next we went to the National Gallery. I found it boring but I was unaware that they had a guided tour. While the others were looking at paintings, I went over to Trafalgar Square across the street to look around and this German guy drew my picture tor £5 (11$). It looked good.

Lastly we went to the London Dungeon, the best attraction yet. We walked around and looked at models of torture like boiling, disemboweling, and quartering. While viewing there was a censor activated skeleton that shrieked and shook the bar. It was so scary for everyone. Next, a judge sentenced us to death. Next, we had this short boat ride where things fell on us and then a firing squad shot us and we fell backward in the pitch blackness!!! It was like Disneyland. Then we came out and this mortician talked about the five prostitutes that Jack the Ripper killed. Then we watched a movie on the suspects and then a flame thrower shot out at us. Then it showed someone getting hung. Then we saw someone being guillotined, and we got spurted with blood in the dark. Then we turned around, went through a door and ended up in a commercial fast food land.

Wednesday August 6th

Today we visited Westminster Abbey where Princess Di will have her funeral. I thought it was boring but we did have fun making three brass rubbings each that we will send you later.

Then we had to go to catch the Chunnel train. It was so neat! It was so much bigger than the plane and it went so fast!!! It even had a snack bar/ diner!!! That concludes our trip in London.

P.S. Mom had to go to the bathroom about 7 times every day and only had to pay twice.

At the Paris train station we had to wait in line to get a cab and the driver charged us 7 francs for each bag!

In Paris we went to the Eiffel Tower and walked around the Seine (the main river). Here dogs are very special and they are allowed in any restaurant and they go pooh wherever they want but none of us stepped in any. In the Metro that night a man came on the train and said that he was going to die if he didn't get medication that cost 40 Francs but we didn't believe him.

Thursday, August 7th

Today we went to the Louvre and we learned that it was built on top of a castle and in the basement was a dungeon. I didn't like it much but I saw the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, but there were big crowds around them. Outside there was a Fun Park. I went on this huge Ferris Wheel and took picture of all of Paris since all the building are the same height. After that we went to the Notre Dame Cathedral, where Disney's Hunchback of N=D was based. Throughout France, Mom urged us to talk French to all the waiters and it was always annoying. And it seems anywhere we got in Europe they always ask to search our bags for bombs. While in the Metro if we aren't holding the backpack the police will come and ask if it is ours. Also, there are signs everywhere that say if you see a suspicious package don't touch it and call the police

Friday August 8th

Today we went to EuroDisney on the train, but it nearly ended in disaster when

Dad's Credit Card was not accepted in the machine because it was bent. Darlana and were devastated but we stood in line and then teller tried it and it worked.

There we went to the following rides which were all excellent:

• Big Thunder Mountain: which was a train that went through the Desert and was on an island. To get there the train went under the water. Mom and I liked it the most at night because you could see all the other rides.
• Indiana Jones Temple of Peril: was where you went in a mine cart and raced through an archaeological dig, but the lineups were huge
• Space Mountain: was a roller coaster with lots of loops in total blackness other then neon lights.
• Haunted House: wasn't scary but had good special effects like hologram ghosts and skeletons.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: was a boat ride in a cold cave with moving pirates, dummies and cannons.
• The Fireworks and main street parade: were excellent but it was hard to see. when I got a place to see it ended. I also tried to help a German couple take a picture and they thought I was trying to steal their camera!

Saturday August 9th

Today all of us but morn took the train to Versailles where we took the electric train around to the different gardens and houses. It also had a canal that had uneven sides but from a distance the canal looked square. After that we went to this restaurant near our hotel and we had a waiter that was very happy that AW&DW were talking French. He took our picture and we are going to send him a copy of the picture. He kept calling me Michael Jackson

Sunday, August 10th

Today we did A LOT. Champs d'Elysees was a nice street that we walked down with lots of trees, expensive shops and fountains.

One of the stores was Planet Hollywood, the store founded by the celebrities, where they sold a $500 leather jacket that I wanted.

Arc de Triomphe was good and it had 12 streets leading to it.

The Picasso Museum was very boring.

The Seine Boat ride was exciting. It gave a tour in 6 languages, and we saw the Mini-Statue of Liberty in the middle of the Seine.