Nostalgia Train - July 30, 2001
Today we went to the Tower of London, which was so neat. We got to see the crown jewels… I never saw anything so beautiful. I can’t even describe what they look like…not too worry [sic], I won’t forget.
Also at the Tower of London are the famous Beefeater…they look after the famous ravens. Apparently, if the ravens leave the tower the kingdom will fall. A lot of foolish superstition if you ask em.
The coolest part of the day was probably seeing Buckingham Palace. The building and the grounds around it are so magnif (as Kate + I would say). I got a lot of pictures of the delegation there. I cannot wait to get my pictures back.
We ate dinner at Planet Hollywood, which I have never been. That was a lot of fun…then we saw Buddy, a play about Buddy Holly. That was so good, but it was insanely hot in there. Then we took the tube home and packed up to leave. I am so excited to go home. Tomorrow will come before I know it.
FOOLISH SUPERSTITION! MAGNIF! FUCKING G.D. PLANET ASS HOLLYWOOD, LIKE WHY.
I have come to appreciate Buddy Holly’s place in history. And I know now that England is basically the 52nd state of the Union, but why would we go to an “American” play or “American” restaurant? Odd…
This is the last entry from the trip and incidentally, in the journal. Well, my best friend from high school wrote in the back circa 1999. We’re still friends, she still has the same handwriting, and we both remain hornballs but that’s another series of posts.
Maybe I’ll use this as my travel journal from now on….it’s kind of sweet it’s reserved for this trip. Hmmmm….I have two trips coming up this summer. We’ll see.
Gotta end that I’m so grateful I had this opportunity to travel, much in thanks to my mom. I usually worked in the summers, didn’t really do the sleep away camp thing. I mean, I had to work anyway. But, experiences like this (travel) are just once in a lifetime and important for kids to see things other than their own home. It doesn’t have to be another country, but kids need enriching experiences to dream big and think outside themselves.
Those last two or so nights in London were great b/c I felt a huge connection to the city and knew I had to scheme my way in to going back. And, I DID! In college, during a sleepless night (OK, b/c I couldn’t sleep due to the diet pills I was taking; again, another post for another time), and mapped out what major I could be, what classes I would have to take, and English major had a study abroad program in London. So that was that for me. I didn’t keep a hard journal in that time, but I’m sure I still have some emails around from my nascent Gmail days.
Oh, lil 17 year old Jac - get ready to live, my girl! I hug my teenaged self a lot. She was stressed and trying to navigate a lot, especially at home.
Wow, it’s wild how it all blends together!! What fun it was to re-read and look at pics. I should have kissed more boys, that’s for sure. Oh well. Next life.
