Gray Goes To London (and Paris)

 

A while back Gray and his buddy Cole were talking about a going on a trip to London ... and a plan was hatched, tickets were purchased. While originally a "guys trip" Zach and Brittany (also from Symphony) heard about the trip and joined in for the fun. They left late Monday, August 14 and returned Tuesday, August 22, hitting London and Paris. 

It was a huge plane. Long flight. Gray took an Ambien and slept for 5-6 hours of it.  They arrived in London around 1:30 and the rest of the day was just trying to adjust to the time differences and waiting for Cole to get a tattoos done (the REAL reason for the whole trip ... j/k). A little bit of a progressive dinner (going to different places) in the evening.  About seven hours time difference between London and West Jordan, but Gray was good keeping in touch with texts, emails and photos. Here's some of what he shared along the way ...

Wednesday Aug 16, 2023

Started the day with a walk around the area with Zac. We rolled out around 6:30 and it was almost as buy as midday. It was wild. Walked along the River Thames ... how do you pronounce that? After that - Westminster Abbey - extremely fascinating. It was  a lot like the Vatican in Rome. So incredibly old. The line to get in was a bit long but still worth it. Little lunch afterwards. Then back to the flat to chill for a bit.  After some down time we went to The London Tower and the Tower Bridge. That last go was a bust - things closed. Lots of walking.  Ended the night with a trip to a London casino. Quite happy about that - not due to winnings, of course. But I was able to add 4 poker chips to my collection. I should be able to get a couple more from a different casino tomorrow.  

Here's a picture of where they stayed ... their "flat" ... loved the picture of the Symphony Four on the balcony. Gray had asked a couple if they'd be willing to snap the picture (and they added a selfie of themselves for free!) Fun photo! Sleep is always a challenge, and as Gray said, it was "not great….or maybe more clearly stated, terrible. No AC in the flat here. Constantly humid. I sweat all night long for the most part."

 

Thursday Aug17, 2023 

Thursday Recap: Got in a morning run.  Very much enjoyed it. Big day. Lots of walking. Main events were Hyde Park (ginormous famous park) and Buckingham Palace (the home of the king). The crowds have been significant which shouldn’t surprise me. Did get to see some ducks, geese and pelicans at the park(s) - mostly from a distance. No close interaction. Thursday’s dinner was at a steak house called the Heliot in the Hippodrome Casino. Had dinner then played blackjack. So much fun. End the night with more than I started (even though it’s insignificant). Plus I got to add several more poker chips to my collection. At the casino there was a Magic Mike Revu right around the time of our dinner.

Friday Morning: This morning it’s raining a bit. I really should get out for another rain run but I’m a bit worn out right now. Today would be the day we do a bus tour - kind of a hop on hop off situation. We’ll see how the motivation is. We head to Paris tomorrow morning via train. That’s where we’ll spend the last couple days of the trip. On Sunday we’ll go to the Louvre museum and on Monday we’ll go to the Eiffel Tower. Just hitting the mid point in the trip. The return on Weds will be interesting - fly out around 10:00 am from Paris and turn to SLC around 1:30 pm. That day will be the potential jet lag day methinks. 

Friday Recap: Slow start to the morning. Breakfast was just outside our flat - eggs bennie for me and just delightful. Then we got on a hop on hop off bus tour which was kinda nice. You plug in earphones they provide and listen to a recorded narrative as you pass areas in the city. We did a bus tour in NYC but the guide was live and very entertaining. During the tour we stopped and got off at St Paul’s Cathedral. Another epic thing to behold. It’s just crazy to contemplate the work that has gone into these structures. In the area we stopped by two different pubs -one of which has been in the same location since 1667 - yes 1667. It has been there prior but the great fire of 1666 burned the city to the ground. Or so I’m learning. Back on the bus and returned to Tower Bridge and we were able to get on the tour - which is more of a walk type thing. Cool. Late launch or early dinner was at another small restaurant - trying to eat a little lighter as we’ve been having lots of fried food (fish and chips are rampant here) Uber ride to Covent Garden - thinking it was a park but nay nay. Big open market, gathering, street performers, food, drink, etc etc.

Speaking of food and drink ... here's some of the snapshots Grayson captured before consuming.

I loved the "Tequila Mockingbird" play on words ... I happened to be giving To Kill A Mockingbird a re-read this month (and ended up going over a graphic novel adaptation, and then the movie). Another book tie-in, in another book a character says "remember there's no such thing as a bad idea" to which the main character thinks "that was patently untrue ... what about prawn-cocktail flavored crisps?"  I probably wouldn't have really even registered the sentence if Grayson hadn't recently sent a picture of said prawn-cocktail flavored Pringles. Yuck! 

Two moments of heightened concern from Gray-

• As we were coming down the steps in the Tower Bridges (probs 12 flights of stairs some of which circular) Cole said something to me and in order here him I had to turn my right ear toward him. I did so on the circular section and missed my first step. Damn near went hurling down onto steel and concrete stairs and iron railing. Out of some sort of luck Cole grabs my hand just enough that I get stabilized. T’would not have been good.
• Less dramatic but more panic inducing was as I got out of the Uber and luckily did my self pat down - always checking for phone, wallet, etc. NO WALLET - frantically flipped around to catch the Uber driver who has already noticed my wallet in his car and was getting out to return it. Close call.

Gray and Zac had considered trying to get in a hike for the Symphony Hiking Challenge. That didn't end up fitting into the itinerary, but Grayson got in a few runs while in London. Paris was another matter, very hilly. 

Saturday, August 19 ... Leaving London, Off to Paris

Departure from London was uneventful. Cleaned up the flat, took the subway (the tube) to the train station (Eurostar). Think Mission Impossible or Bullet Train type deal. Very fast and comfortable train ride. I risked some motion sickness at first but got over it pretty quickly. Did not sleep but probably could have. Can’t remember if I mentioned it but Cole has some weird affection for the subway. I do not share that affection. I’d just as soon pay more and get taken right to my destination. He loves being able to navigate the underground. Ubers are available, but the taxis in London are pretty cool actually - and you “hail” them like you might see in the movies. The back of the taxi where you sit has four opposing seats, actually comfortable. E-scooters, e-bikes and regular bikes galore. All over the place.

We had a three hour train ride, give or take. Once we hit Paris, the culture shock is almost immediate. Language is a huge factor in it all and you feel it immediately. I kind of remember that feeling from Italy. It’s just a lot to take in almost instantly. It eases quickly but never completely. 

Took a taxi to our flat. Not easy getting in. The host, who is nice and also extremely responsive, but hadn't given a clear explanation of how to get in. So it took us 30-40 to get it figured out. Two unfortunate factors - our flat is 6 flights up (top floor) and does not have AC. It’s warmer here by about 10 degrees with high humidity too. So while it's the "penthouse" I no longer wondered why the price was so reasonable. It is a cute pad - but just about everything is crammed. It appears to be a functioning residence - clothing, fully stocked kitchen, toys, books upon books, etc. I’m wondering if this family lives elsewhere for periods of the year so they can make it available for rent.

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Monster day at the Louvre. There’s really no point of trying to describe it. Even pictures do little to convey the magnitude. Just trying to make the point that words can’t encompass this is equally futile. The things to see there are equally indescribable.

After the Louvre we walked to Notre Dame Cathedral. There was a very destructive fire in 2019 so there is some major construction but still a striking visual from the outside. No tours inside. Dinner on a street side bistro - one of the many here - simply nuts. Getting to the end of the night. Winding down. Humid night but temps are ok at the moment. Last night was THEE best night of sleep I’ve had since I’ve left, bar none. Holy moly. I thought I wouldn’t get any sleep until I got home but last night was a bit of a recharge. 

Monday August 21

Monday mostly in the history book. Another big day. Started with a solo walk to a basilica close by. As usual very impressive - though sensory overload is very much in play now.  Hopped on bus this morning around 10:00. Stopped at the Arc de Triomfe. Another incredible place. Different than the churches, cathedrals, basilicas but similar gothic genre. Great little breakfast this morning. Simple, fresh, delicious. After the Arc, we walked to a casino to try and size it up. Requires your passport to get in. Might try to get back tomorrow to get my collectibles.

Made our way to the Eiffel Tower. Unbelievable from the ground. To compare - it’s almost twice as tall as the Seattle Needle. Interestingly, there seems to be a point where height just doesn’t process by scale - yes it’s higher but how do you compare things so high? Started making our way back - stopped to get a couple of drinks, being parched. Ubered back to the flat. Zac is making us noodles and butter….mmmmm….

Tuesday August 22

Catacombs ...

... and after that, we made it to a casino. So intimidating trying to navigate without having a command of the language and sometimes the rules can vary. This casino was much more sophisticated than any of the ones I’ve been to. Dress code, membership card, slight variation on basic blackjack rules. A very nice director was a lady from the UK, spoke English, and was really accommodating. She helped us understand what we needed to do. After some formalities, including a near rejection from the casino based on dress code, we got seated at a blackjack table and the games began. Very similar to the US for the most part. Zac almost busted, down to only 20 or 30 euros. Then he went on a tear and finally ducked out about 400 euros to the positive. I had been tracking mostly even, no major ups or downs. By the time I was done I was up about 100 euros give or take - not bad. I tip the dealer really well because it makes for a fun and enjoyable game and vibe. So I was up MUCH higher but had tipped at least another 100 euros. But Cole was playing a bonus option on a number of the hands. Long story short, in the last 15 minutes of play he hit a 125 euro bonus on a 5 euro bet and then a 1250 euro bonus on a 5 euro bet. It was SO much fun. He immediately cashed out and we were done. I made sure I had my collector chips before cashing out. ‘Twas a fun side excursion. In the end I got collector’s chips from 3 casinos. Meaningless to anyone but me. But Cole was very happy. Like very happy. We’ll be hearing about it for years to come. Dinner on the street in Montemartre (wherever that is). Last supper, so to speak.

That’s the last day. It’s over. Europe 2023 in the books. For the most part, I’m packed up and ready. We have to hit the road a little early. I’ll be glad to be home.  PS - my good friend Zac call me Carbie on the Eurostar train to Paris after I eat my friends meals and desserts and still have room for more. I am seriously hurt by this new name. Seems to be discriminatory. (Please read the PS message in Borat voice, otherwise, most meaning is lost)

Flight Home. Made fun of Zac because he didn’t upgrade his seat on the plane. 10 hour flight. Apparently the captain on this flight is retiring, this is his last flight.

Gray's buddy Cole plays Pokemon Go, and suggested Gray add the app to his phone and get a little POGO in during the travels. Coop hasn't been playing much, so Grayson logged into Cooper's account and caught a few pokemon, spun a few stops ... but Gray doesn't quite feel the allure of the game.