Morning
Today was Gunnar's 18th Birthday! As I told him, you only turn 18 once, and you only turn 18 in London once!
Our original plans were to take a full day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon with a stop in Oxford and at Warwick Castle. I was so excited about this! However, I had been sick the night before and still felt sick that morning, so my spirits were a bit dampened. A coach (bus) was set to pick us up at the hotel at 7:45 am and take us to the Victoria Coach Station for our final bus.
As I boarded this first bus, I talked to the guide about how poorly I was feeling and possibly needing to use the on board toilet. Guess what? They have a toilet on board, but they will not let you use it! Apparently in the UK, bus drivers are responsible for cleaning up the toilets, and so they do not let anyone use them...for any reason. I kind of jokingly said that I may have to throw up in the aisle, but he was unphased. No using the toilet...period. That was going to be a problem. His suggestion was to use the public toilets at the Victoria Coach Station before boarding the bus for the 1-2 hour ride (with no stops until the destination).
After a self pep talk ("I can do this" and "It will all be fine"), I was sick again in the Victoria Station. That is I was sick after I paid 30 pence to use the toilet in the Victoria Station. That's right; they charged 30 pence to use the toilet knowing full well that everyone sane person would use it before getting on his or her bus that will not let you use the on board toilet. What a racket!
Anyway, I was really feeling lightheaded and weak by this point. There were no seats left, so I sat on the floor. I was still determined to make it to Stratford, so I tried to hide how I was really feeling from my students. I think I told them I was sitting on the floor because my legs hurts. But I tell you what, I have some perceptive kids (or I am a terrible liar) because they offer a proposition to me: Let's not go. They gave several reasons why they did not want to go, but I know it was because I was feeling awful at this point. I felt so guilty about ruining their trip because I was sick that I made us all stand in line to board the bus. Then I started getting dizzy, so I knew that I could not make it. I felt so terrible physically but also mentally and emotionally because I was letting my kids down (and by this point they did feel like my kids) that I almost started to cry when I told them I could not make it.
So the decision to stay was made...now what. If I couldn't make it on the trip to Stratford, there is no way I could lead them around London on my own. I needed to call Peter. I dug out his card but had trouble dialing it from my cell (stupid international calling). Two of the kids asked a kind lady how to dial a cell number from an international cell (apparently I needed to add a 0). Finally it rang through, and I left a message for Peter explaining our change of plans. Now we just needed to get back to the hotel.
We spent several minutes searching for the Victoria Underground Stations which could not be that far from the Coach Station. Thank God for signs! Once we found it, I had to purchase Tube tickets for us. I had hoped to buy the group rate tickets, but that is only for 10 or more (not us), so instead I did two transactions to get enough adult and students tickets (I was still counting Gunnar as 17 in order to get a discount).
Back at the hotel, Peter was waiting for us. He saved the day. Our new plan was for Peter to take the students to see the Sherlock Homes Museum and Covent Garden area while I laid down for a few hours. I would meet them at the Embankment station at 12:30 pm and take the kids from Peter (who had a previous commitment). I knew the kids were in capable hands (much more capable than my hands at the moment), so I laid down.
At 12 pm, I headed in to Tesco in search of food so that I was not so shaky. I wanted plain Saltine crackers but the closest thing I could find were Belvita breakfast crackers (which are whole grain so that's something). That would be my lunch. I meet them at Embankment Tube Station and was so happy to see them. I apologized again for missing out on Stratford (again almost crying), but they insisted that they enjoyed their quality time with Peter at the Sherlock Museum and Covent Garden. Elizabeth was still glowing from the excitement of trying on a Burberry coat! I was so glad they seemed to enjoy it this change of plans. Peter took us into the crypt of a church (sadly I do not remember the name) that had a nice cafe so that the kids could eat. I found us a table and watched them eat (not hungry at all).
Our original plans were to take a full day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon with a stop in Oxford and at Warwick Castle. I was so excited about this! However, I had been sick the night before and still felt sick that morning, so my spirits were a bit dampened. A coach (bus) was set to pick us up at the hotel at 7:45 am and take us to the Victoria Coach Station for our final bus.
As I boarded this first bus, I talked to the guide about how poorly I was feeling and possibly needing to use the on board toilet. Guess what? They have a toilet on board, but they will not let you use it! Apparently in the UK, bus drivers are responsible for cleaning up the toilets, and so they do not let anyone use them...for any reason. I kind of jokingly said that I may have to throw up in the aisle, but he was unphased. No using the toilet...period. That was going to be a problem. His suggestion was to use the public toilets at the Victoria Coach Station before boarding the bus for the 1-2 hour ride (with no stops until the destination).
After a self pep talk ("I can do this" and "It will all be fine"), I was sick again in the Victoria Station. That is I was sick after I paid 30 pence to use the toilet in the Victoria Station. That's right; they charged 30 pence to use the toilet knowing full well that everyone sane person would use it before getting on his or her bus that will not let you use the on board toilet. What a racket!
Anyway, I was really feeling lightheaded and weak by this point. There were no seats left, so I sat on the floor. I was still determined to make it to Stratford, so I tried to hide how I was really feeling from my students. I think I told them I was sitting on the floor because my legs hurts. But I tell you what, I have some perceptive kids (or I am a terrible liar) because they offer a proposition to me: Let's not go. They gave several reasons why they did not want to go, but I know it was because I was feeling awful at this point. I felt so guilty about ruining their trip because I was sick that I made us all stand in line to board the bus. Then I started getting dizzy, so I knew that I could not make it. I felt so terrible physically but also mentally and emotionally because I was letting my kids down (and by this point they did feel like my kids) that I almost started to cry when I told them I could not make it.
So the decision to stay was made...now what. If I couldn't make it on the trip to Stratford, there is no way I could lead them around London on my own. I needed to call Peter. I dug out his card but had trouble dialing it from my cell (stupid international calling). Two of the kids asked a kind lady how to dial a cell number from an international cell (apparently I needed to add a 0). Finally it rang through, and I left a message for Peter explaining our change of plans. Now we just needed to get back to the hotel.
We spent several minutes searching for the Victoria Underground Stations which could not be that far from the Coach Station. Thank God for signs! Once we found it, I had to purchase Tube tickets for us. I had hoped to buy the group rate tickets, but that is only for 10 or more (not us), so instead I did two transactions to get enough adult and students tickets (I was still counting Gunnar as 17 in order to get a discount).
Back at the hotel, Peter was waiting for us. He saved the day. Our new plan was for Peter to take the students to see the Sherlock Homes Museum and Covent Garden area while I laid down for a few hours. I would meet them at the Embankment station at 12:30 pm and take the kids from Peter (who had a previous commitment). I knew the kids were in capable hands (much more capable than my hands at the moment), so I laid down.
At 12 pm, I headed in to Tesco in search of food so that I was not so shaky. I wanted plain Saltine crackers but the closest thing I could find were Belvita breakfast crackers (which are whole grain so that's something). That would be my lunch. I meet them at Embankment Tube Station and was so happy to see them. I apologized again for missing out on Stratford (again almost crying), but they insisted that they enjoyed their quality time with Peter at the Sherlock Museum and Covent Garden. Elizabeth was still glowing from the excitement of trying on a Burberry coat! I was so glad they seemed to enjoy it this change of plans. Peter took us into the crypt of a church (sadly I do not remember the name) that had a nice cafe so that the kids could eat. I found us a table and watched them eat (not hungry at all).
Afternoon
After the students ate, we headed to Trafalgar Square and to the National Gallery, which also has free admission.
Here we split up to perused the Gallery at our own paces. I mainly wanted to see paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gough. I was able to take one picture before the security guard accosted a gentleman near me for taking a picture. I felt guilty for taking my picture, but I had not seen a sign anywhere indicating that photographs were forbidden. So here is my illegal photo of a Monet painting. I wish I had the forethought to take the picture of my favorite Monet painting.
I must brag on my students for a minute. They were phenomenal! Any time we split up and had to be back by a certain time, they were always on time and often five minutes early! Today was no exception either. They seemed to enjoy this new plan for the day and never complained once.
After meeting up (five minutes early mind you), we headed back outside into Trafalgar Square. Here we were graced with more street performers, dancers to be exact. We watched their show and then made our way to the Leicester Tube stop in order to catch a ride to Russell Square so that we could revisit the British Museum. Our first trip was a bit rushed, and we all wanted to spend more time exploring.
Upon our return to the British Museum, we again split up with instruction to meet at the lion. Since I had seen the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian exhibit the previous trip, I sought out the Ancient Roman and Ancient Greek exhibits. After I surveyed these sections, I was tired (and all I had to eat was crackers). So I headed to the lion to have a seat on the floor about 30 minutes before we set to meet. Here I found Gunnar seated and eating chocolate-filled croissants. He was tired as well and found these treats delicious, which they are (I had similar ones in Spain).
Once again, my students were ready before the appointed time. They were quite tired from all the walking over the last few days. We traveled back to the hotel via our favorite method - the Tube!
After meeting up (five minutes early mind you), we headed back outside into Trafalgar Square. Here we were graced with more street performers, dancers to be exact. We watched their show and then made our way to the Leicester Tube stop in order to catch a ride to Russell Square so that we could revisit the British Museum. Our first trip was a bit rushed, and we all wanted to spend more time exploring.
Upon our return to the British Museum, we again split up with instruction to meet at the lion. Since I had seen the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian exhibit the previous trip, I sought out the Ancient Roman and Ancient Greek exhibits. After I surveyed these sections, I was tired (and all I had to eat was crackers). So I headed to the lion to have a seat on the floor about 30 minutes before we set to meet. Here I found Gunnar seated and eating chocolate-filled croissants. He was tired as well and found these treats delicious, which they are (I had similar ones in Spain).
Once again, my students were ready before the appointed time. They were quite tired from all the walking over the last few days. We traveled back to the hotel via our favorite method - the Tube!
Evening
This evening was wide open for us. Since we did not travel to Stratford, we had much more time this evening to experience dinner on our own. Tonight we would use meal vouchers (accepted at several area restaurants). After consulting the list, we settled on dinner at London's Hard Rock Café. We ran into a little trouble navigating the VERY busy streets around Hard Rock. |
After inquiring about the wait time - 2 and 1/2 hours! - we decided to just hit the Hard Rock shop before deciding on a Plan B restaurant. The gift shop literally pack wall to wall with tourists from many countries. After a super short debate, we elected to dine at Gourmet Burger! These were burgers were amazing! We enjoyed our dinner by ourselves as a Tuscola group. At dinner, we presented Gunnar with a birthday postcard that we all signed! |
After dinner, I took the group to Oddono's Gelati Italiani for some gelato to celebrate Gunnar's birthday! A few weeks before we departed, I contacted Liz in the ACIS Chicago officer seeking advice for a nice ice cream shop. She sought the suggestion of the local London officer, and thus we ended up at Oddono's, a few short blocks from our hotel. Most of us had never had authentic Italian gelato before; we were impressed. As we strolled home, we loudly sang "Happy Birthday" in a successful effort to embarrass Gunnar. :)
Although the day started out on rocky ground, we ended the evening on a high note. I still horrible about making us miss Stratford, but I think my students still enjoyed the day. Gunnar assured me that his birthday was not ruined (as I feared).
Although the day started out on rocky ground, we ended the evening on a high note. I still horrible about making us miss Stratford, but I think my students still enjoyed the day. Gunnar assured me that his birthday was not ruined (as I feared).