The Last Day in London

Hi Everyone.

I was rather shocked to see what happened at Glascow Airport yesterday. Thankfully, for those who were worried, my flight leaves at 7:35am tomorrow (London time) and so that means that I will be leaving at a rather slow period of time, which means it is a less busy time and thus less likely for attacks. Their threat level is at its highest level right now, meaning other attacks are imminent. This doesn't mean that they're expecting more attacks today and so forth, but over the course of the next few months. I didn't think things would be so unstable here!!

I can see why it's such a cause for attack though. London is highly dense and populated, and add to that all the tourists who are here and, needless to say, it is a prime target. It also seems that it is rather easy to immigrate here. This all adds to easy ways to getting into the country to cause attacks.

Thankfully I am alright and there is police presence everywhere! This is good. Today is going to be a "sloth day" for me. I have much reading to do for Tertio Millennio. I have got to see most of what I have wanted to see and yesterday was, frankly, a rather expensive day. Needless to say, it'll be good for me to take some time off for the sake of my wallet! I have spent about £125 here, which equals about 275 Canadian. That's a lot of money and so am just going to ease up.

Yesterday was nice. After stopping here I went to the Tube. I have realized that, really, the parts of London that one wants to see is all walkable and that one does not need to buy a tube pass. I bought one yesterday and it was just to Westminster and back to Victoria station, something I could have probably walked myself. Anyways, lesson learned there.

I have also realized that all Europeans are crazy drivers. This was something I noticed last time I was in Europe and that has been confirmed here in London. Also, every person I have been served by at the restaurants here speak English as a second language. Shows how many immigrants are here!

I went to the Globe Theater tour yesterday which was great. We got to see most of the dress rehearsal for Love's Labour's Lost. It was incredible and very well done! I contemplated going to see the show today, but, decided against it because of how much I had spent yesterday. I also went to this Star Wars exhibit. It was REALLY expensive. It was that or the London Eye and I decided to go for the exhibit partially because the eye was not working yesterday. So, for the second time, I shan't have the chance to go on the Eye. The exhibit was good, though a bit lacking in some areas. I was expecting a bit more for what I paid for, but it supplied a couple of hours of entertainment. I did lots of walking yesterday which was just great. I also had a true British meal, Italian Pizza ;). It was great. It's a chain here called Pizza Express, but it's actually a very nice place! If anyone is ever here they should go there. It was nice to just walk around and see the sights and the touristy things around here.

Went to Mass this morning at Westminster Cathedral and it was beautiful as always. I then had lunch and am now here. Also, if you're looking for a cheap substitute for lunch, though not healthy, I recommend simply getting a portion of chips and a drink, it's quite filling and is the perfect lunch snack.

Yes, London is horribly expensive, but thanks be to God I am only here for 3 days!!! I now am going to head back to the hotel and relax for the day. It is quite nice to not have to be anywhere, to just sit back, and enjoy things!

I have to wake up bright and early tomorrow at 4am...yay (notice my lack of enthusiasm). It'll be a long day tomorrow so it will be good to rest up today as tomorrow the seminar begins with a nice fancy dinner and social time till the wee hours of the morning probably.

Hope you are all well and am thinking and praying for you all.

God bless!

-Harrison

London - Friday and Saturday morning

Ok, I don't know why it is, but every time I come to London (ok, so it's only been twice) there is a terror threat. The first time was the bombings and yesterday was two averted bombings. Weird weird weird...thanks be to God for the police who caught it!

Friday night was nice. I went to Mass just as it begun (I had NO clue what time it would start at!). After Mass I celebrated the Solemnity with a fancy meal at the high class restaurant known as "McDonald's". It was cheap, that's why I went there.

After that I just started walking and walking. I wanted to get to the eye. However, I begun by walking in the wrong direction and so by the time I got to the Eye of London, it was closed. I wanted to get on because it was a nice day last night and wanted on before the weather got bad. I'm going to go again in a minute here, the rain is holding up for the moment and the sun is trying to bust its way out.

I walked for about 5 hours last night, went to the hotel room and watched Law and Order and The Shield and just passed out. I have thankfully adjusted to the new time zone quite easily.

I woke up this morning, went for breakfast (it's free at the hotel) and then headed for the Cathedral again. I went there for morning prayer and Mass. It was the sung Mass and it was in Latin. It was alright, the priest kinda went through the prayers at lightning speed though. The all boys choir is BEAUTIFUL though!!! I bought a cd of theirs of hymns to Mary.

I then proceeded to the bookstore. There is not one, but TWO Catholic bookstores right next to the Cathedral. I did not spend very long in there because I knew it was dangerous territory for a guy like me. I bought books though...I bought 2 books by Edith Stein (they have the FULL set of her works in English at the Catholic Truth Society!!!!!) and Book One of the Summa Contra Gentiles (didn't have it and it was decently priced). I got a small booklet of the Mass in English and Latin for tomorrow because I will be going to Solemn Mass. At the Paulist Press store I found a book by Ratzinger on the Liturgy that I had never seen before. All these books I got I was unable to find in North America. 4 books and a little pamphlet for £44, which isn't too bad. But like I said, I got out of there FAST. Both stores, for example, had the COMPLETE WORKS of Hans Urs Von Balthasar. If I stayed, I would have walked out with too many books.

Now I'm off to do some touring. Today's events include a tour of the Globe Theater, the Eye of London, and a Star Wars Exhibit that looks really cool! I may go see a play, it depends on how tired I am. I have to put aside some time for studying too as I still have reading to finish for Tertio Millennio.

My hotel room is small, but nice, and it seems that I booked on "Hotel Row". There are hotels down the entirety of this street! It is nice though, it means it's safe.

That's all for now, more tomorrow perhaps, if not, I will update again once I'm in Krakow.

-Harrison

London!

Hi Everyone!

I have just arrived in London. The flight was 9 and a half hours as opposed to nine because of the hold up at Heathrow. It is really amazing how they direct planes. After we landed I saw at least 6 planes queued (yes, I'm in London, so I have to use the word 'queue'). It is really quite a marvel. A bit freaky to see many planes in the air near you though. Air traffic controllers really do an amazing job!

The flight was uneventful. I got a good bit of sleep on it which made it nice and short, about 4 hours. I can thank the wine and beer for that I think. I watched one movie and that was all, Breach. It is about a FBI agent who was spying for the Russians against the US. He's Catholic. They actually portrayed the whole Catholic thing decently, you can tell he was struggling between being a good Catholic and his loyalty to his country. Not a great movie, but enjoyable. Thankfully there will be a MUCH better selection of movies on the return.

I also met up with my folks while I was in Vancouver which was nice. We visited for about 2 hours.

The weather here is cloudy, with breaks of sun, which is better then what the forecasters were giving which makes me happy. I am currently in an Internet Cafe in Heathrow Airport that is rather muggy.

I am looking forward to getting to my hotel, changing my clothes, and enjoying London. That nap on the plane should be sufficient to keep me up for the rest of the day. I figure if I walk a lot that it should wear me out by the end of the day.

My first order of business, once I'm settled, is to find out the Mass times at Westminster Cathedral. It is a Holy Day of Obligation today here in London for Sts Peter and Paul, so I am looking forward to good liturgy! :)

I think that's it for now. The plan tomorrow is a few things. I think I'm going to do those bus tours that take you all around the city. I am also going to go to Mass of course and see Spamalot, the Monty Python Musical. I am considering for Sunday to make a trip to Oxford or Cambridge...I have always wanted to see a Medieval University :)...I'm a rather big fan.

God bless and thinking of you all!

-Harrison