Zig-zagging London, Stumbling on Scenes, and Other Theatrics

Mouthful of a title. Quick recap of the first half of London since we're just packing in all kinds of scenery and events. We did stop in Oxford which was a wonderful, ritzy and classical campus. I could never get in but it was cool to act like a student. The drive in to London was surprisingly simple.

We proceeded to zig-zag all the big landmarks crossing the Thames back and forth on what was an unlikely sunny day in the gray UK. Our airbnb is right in the heart of Soho so we step out into straight action. Jammed sidewalks, hustle and bustle and people jaywalking again. Big Ben and the Tower Bridge are the real stunners in my opinion.

However, we happened to stumble upon some greatness when we went to check out St Paul's Cathedral. The annual Seafarers mass happened to be starting and a crowd was gathering and the security guards kept pushing people back. We heard sirens and knew someone important must be coming. We waited until just before 5 when it was supposed to start and a classic Rolls Royce swerves in with a royally-dressed gentleman. He gets out and stands on the steps clearly awaiting another arrival. The pomp and circumstance was out of control. The next arrival happens to be Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles. I don't know much about the whole royalty scene but it seemed to be a big deal.

Funny enough Tom and I asked some kid in uniform after who the guy and the lady were and he said he had no clue about the guy but the lady was Princess Anne.

The rest of our night was also hilarious as we took a Jack the Ripper Tour. It started in the dark alleys of White Chapel and from the first 10 minutes of hearing/seeing our tour guide we knew we were in for a treat. Again I came in pretty blind to Jack the Ripper, but this guy literally classifies himself as the first and foremost expert on the murder. He's made his whole life about the case. He was wearing a top hat, trench coat, and carrying a briefcase. He was acting out the strangling and butchering motions and had every word memorised for the hour and half tour that he gave. Check him out here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yyh3GmKI2I&themeRefresh=1)

He gave us some interesting and questionable facts but they all made for good stories. The term hangover for instance. He claimed the old lodging houses in London (basically cheap hotels for a night stay) would require 4 pence a night but many alcoholics would only have 2 pence and come in drunk. If you came with only 2 pence you wouldn't get a bed, but you could hang over a taught rope and sleep standing up. At 6 in the morning they'd cut the rope, you'd hit the floor, and boom right into your hangover.

Hell of a tour guide though and this guy became friends with people involved in the case just to get more facts and do more private investigation himself. His claims sounded reasonable and outrageous at the same time which made for some good entertainment. This was just night 1 in London, it was a good one.

I have a lot more to catch up on with us hitting the England game at Wembley last night and watching the Phils late but no one needs to think about that now. I'll check back in when it's over.