The final day in London

I started writing a post about this day right before leaving England, but found myself unable to get past the first few lines. Even now, a few days later, I wonder if I can put into words exactly what it felt to know that this would be the last time I would be seeing some of these places that I have fallen in love with, well it won't be the last time, but for awhile. It is one comforting thought that has helped since leaving, but my heart is in London, and nothing can change that.

My last day in London started early, I met Monica around 1o:15am in Trafalgar Square. She had gotten to London about 15 minutes before me, so she walked around Buckingham Palace, and St. James Park. When we met up, we walked down to Green Park since Monica wasn't sure she had seen it before. As we walked, we talked about London, leaving... the usually topics. I mentioned Camden Town, and she said that she had not been there before. You cannot leave London without visiting Camden Town, so upon reaching Green Park, we took the Underground to Camden. Monica liked it, she is a fan of those kinds of markets, and Camden is the biggest market around. We walked around, and I gave her the Boosh tour... just pointing out where Noel hangs out, the pub from Sweet, and just pointing out that the main street was used in Sweet too. We walked through the markets, and then got lunch. I, of course, got pizza, and it was so good.

After Camden, we went to Oxford Circus, which we figured out was close to Regents Park. Monica had not been to Oxford Circus either, so I showed her that big shopping street, and of course Topshop. (Topshop... Topshop) Sorry, had to write in the Boosh reference, when I was writing it, I said it the way Noel does... hahaha. Anyway, so we walked away from the Pic, and the touristy sites, and came upon Regents Park. It was really lucky actually, I just had an idea where it was, but it was right down the street from Oxford Circus. We passed the BBC building, which I had not seen before. How much I owe the BBC...

Anyway, Regents Park. So beautiful!!! Fountains and flowers everywhere!! Of course, there was many people around, having picnics, or just people watching on the grass. We walked around the park for a few minutes, taking in all the different sites, and it was really nice. A good way to end the year. We stopped and sat under a tree for awhile, we had been walking for a while, and my feet killed. We sat and talked, just thinking about how weird it was when we first arrived in England, and how we didn't know anything about London, or the Underground. Monica showed me around that time, she had been to London before, and now I was taking her to Camden and Regents Park. I know London now like the back of my hand... and it has taken lots of time and effort. Heheh, all time well used.

Walking through Regents Park, we came upon the London Zoo, but we didn't go in. We didn't really have time, but it was nice to see another place used for the HP movies. They used it in the first movie of course. Of course, by the Zoo, we reached the main road, and we both just wondered where we were, and how to get back to Victoria, or somewhere in the area. Monica was planning on going back to Oxford around 3ish, to get back before her friend left. We found a sign to stuff nearby, and we started walking toward an Underground station. I saw a sign for St. Johns Wood, and JOKINGLY I said we could go to Abbey Road. Monica though being a Beatles fan, did not see it as a joke, but a really good suggestion. She asked, I relented, and we walked to St. Johns Wood. It was about a mile, according to the sign, but in reality it was more like 2- 2 1/2 miles. It wasn't that bad, though my legs killed!

At Abbey Road, I of course had to take Monica's picture as she walked across the crosswalk. We had to do it twice, since I guess the first time I took it from the wrong angle. I had no idea, I really don't look at the picture much. After looking at Abbey Road, and thinking, "Um cool", it was time to go. We took the Underground down to Green Park, where Monica switched lines for the Victoria Line. That is where Monica and I said good bye, and see you in the States. It was a little hard to say good bye for now, I mean, we dreamed about going to England for so long, and now we were leaving. Where did the year go?

After I left Monica, I walked around Green Park, then up to the Pic, where I said good bye, and then over to Leicester Square. I got gelato one last time, and ate it on the steps of Trafalgar Square. I started to walk over to Buckingham Palace, but I saw a big group of people going to the Horse Guard Academy, so I followed. There was about 5 or 6 horses with riders standing in a straight line just waiting for something. A few minutes after waiting, another group of horses came, and their riders were dressed a little differently than the group already there. The group came up and walked around the horses, and the stopped opposite of them. I'm not completely sure what was going on, but I imagine it was some practice thing for the Queen's Birthday which was a few days later. It was a pretty cool thing, I liked when the horses backed up, their rider did not look, and no horse hit another. Though when they were trying to move over a little bit, the horses did not like when they were hit by the other. That was funny. After watching that, I went over to St. James Park, walked around a little bit, but my feet were still tired, so I sat on the grass and fell asleep for about 40 minutes. Opps.

I took pictures of the park, and then walked back to Trafalgar Square where I took a few pictures, but then just stared at Nelson, and the National Gallery. My favorite place in London, well one of them. I have spent so much time on the steps of Trafalgar Square just staring out at the people, the kids climbing on the lions, Big Ben in the distance... Oh Trafalgar Square. It was probably the hardest good bye... I always have a hard time leaving the square, even when it won't be the last time in London. I fell in love with Trafalgar the first time I saw it, there is something about it.

I walked down to Westminster Abbey, said good bye, and then sat down below Big Ben and waited. The hour was coming up, and I wanted to hear the bells one more time. I took a video of it, just to always remember it, until I see it again. I sat there for a few minutes after the hour, and then walked over the Westminster Bridge. I stood on the bridge and just looked out at London and the Thames one last time. I love the Thames, and the boats that go up the river... it's just a beautiful sight to me. I stood by the banks for awhile, unable to walk away from Big Ben, the river... the sights that I love so much. I finally did, it was hard, very hard. I went to Waterloo one last time, boarded a train to Surbiton, and left London. It was ten times harder than leaving Rome, and I thought that was unbearable. I will see the city again, I know this, but it was still so hard to leave. I love London so much...

I got home around 7ish, and finished packing. That is when I tried to write, but found myself unable to think. I instead watched Snuffbox and Darkplace, trying to take my mind off the next day. I have dreaded these days since I arrived, I fell in love so fast, that I knew departing would probably kill me. I keep reminding myself that I will go back, but until I do, I have my memories and pictures to remind me of the times I had.

Well that is my last day in London. I'll post again, as a good bye. I'm not sure I will continue the blog, it's for England, and now I'm home. What's the point?