London

Posted on May 7, 2022 by sumi

It was time for our Europe trip! I was pretty excited. Unlike most of our past trips where we were running around in a mad frenzy, we were taking it easy for the first couple weeks.

Pokin was still recovering from her surgery and the doctor had advised lifting “no more than 10lbs.” I guess her usual backpack loaded with camera gear is well over 10lbs, so she agreed to “no plans” other than to camp out in a Doubletree in London, and to just see what happens.

Flight over was pretty smooth. Everyone shook their head as Pokin busted out Costco sized bags of Strawberry popcorn and keto snacks. I approved of none of her selection and didn’t touch any all trip long. The others shook their head but partook. Weak souls.

After the customary expected flight time and an incredibly smooth arrivals through customers, we were in London.

At first when we got to our hotel I was pretty worried. We had arrived early, and we got a pretty awful room. There was barely a window and we were looking into a boiler. Some things were also not working. Luckily because the room was a bit broken, they had to upgrade us to a better room, with a much better bed.

While I laid claim to the bed, my bud and Pokin went looking for food. Looks like lots of good options around. They found a crepe place pretty fast.

Now since the trip was meant to be pretty laid back, my bud didn’t think much about wardrobe. Which is a mistake in London. Me, I’m usually a dapper bear, so I was all set in terms of attire, but my bud was not at all equipped for the typical standards in London.

Pokin wanted to go for tea with their friends… and my bud did not have anything but tech startup tshirts.

And London has a dresscode. Especially for high tea.

And thus came about the great London makeover. So my bud stepped out.

And came back a new bud – clean shaven, hair cut, mysterious bags.

Turns out his bags contained a whole new wardrobe, suit and all. Look at that transformation!

We were in London during the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, and there were decorations everywhere. It looked so festive!

(I’m glad we came too as the Queen would pass away later this year)

The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful. Saw some pubs. Went to some tea shops.

Perfect low key start before we continued on to Italy.

Oh here’s also a photo of the red door where Pokin spent like an hour trying to record a birthday tribute video.

Heading to Harwich

Posted on August 30, 2014 by sumi

After our London blitz I regained my composure and and we got ready to get on another train.

It was to be any regular morning. We went to the train station, I posed for photos with my bud.

But then I noticed the policemen patrolling the area. It must be because they were looking to pose for a photo with me.

I knew it.

And then we got on a train and I got my own seat again.

The Queens Guard

Posted on August 29, 2014 by sumi

I had to learn more about these guys. Apparently their dead animal hat is called a Bearskin. OMG! They are traditionally made with Canadian Black Bears! I’m going to faint!

I decided to stalk them. Problem was that most of them are behind gates and chain fences. Something about getting harassed too much by other tourists. Simple solution! Don’t walk around with a dead animal on your head! Let alone a BEARSKIN hat! Jerks!!!

Anyway I was walking down the street and I found some! A live one within touching distance!

It took all of the restraint I had not to reach over and stroke that guy’s poor dead bear with my paw. Nicholas said not to. he said I would be arrested and he said he wouldn’t bail me out. That wasn’t nice but I wasn’t going to take chances.

So I just stood in front of them to make them feel uncomfortable. So how does it feel to have a bear staring them and their bear hat down? That smile on my face? I’m trying to creep you out, you Canadian-slaughtered-bear-wearers. Poor bears. I think I need the comfort of a hot cocoa to calm me down stat.

London in a box

Posted on August 29, 2014 by sumi

This is it. Quintessential London. We found a telephone box and got inside. Didn’t change into superman though, I’m confident enough in my awesomeness not to need to put on any tight spandex. Nicholas however, decided to put on a nice outfit as he rather enjoyed the London business Yuppie scene and liked watching the hordes of people loitering around pubs sipping beer outdoors.

“I could live here,” he said.
“For how long till you miss Amazon Prime?” I countered.
“Ok I’m over it already”

Smart bud.

See some real sights, you say? I did tonnes of that too! I saw the Tower of London and the gazillion remembrance poppies.

And Tower Bridge

sumi bear tower bridge-1

I even observed the the London Eye and all the sucker tourists who paid to go on that thing.

Did my obligatory pose in front of Big Ben

And even pawed out good money to go see the Buckingham Palace.

Which is where I saw the guards. The Queens Guards.

These guys are strutting around with dead animals on their heads. I’m intrigued. I must learn more.

Wet dreary London

Posted on August 28, 2014 by sumi

It was a wet morning that two tired people and a bear who had spent the night on a bus were dropped off at Victoria Station in London. It’s great that we were near all the major attractions but not so great that our hotel was on the other side of town. I think it was 6:00am. In any case it was too early for this bear.

Pokin wanted to take a cab. Nicholas wanted to walk. I didn’t care so long as I was being carried, but about 10 blocks into the walk the light wet drizzle turned into an outright downpour. Pokin won. We got in a cab.

Eventually many twists and turns later we landed in front of the hotel…where they couldn’t find our reservation. That was probably due to the fact that they cancelled our room last minute and changed hotel locations. Everyone was too worn out to even freak out. We just stood there while the staff figured out what to do. Eventually we got a place. A one-bedroom room — even though we were reserved for four. Plus a bear. They solved it by giving us two cots to put in the living room. They still charged us for a two bedroom apartment though. Oh and extra for the cots. And for the missed night we were on the bus instead. I sense a trend.

Whatever, I’m going back to bed. It’s someone else’s problem.

And then the wedding was over and we were leaving

Posted on August 27, 2014 by sumi

Time to head onwards to London! The morning of, we bid everyone goodbye, and Pokin promptly forgot half her suitcase worth of stuff behind. We failed at finding a gas station but succeeded in getting on a train from Avignon to Paris en route to London. Not that we actually made it to London though. Unfortunately our flights were cancelled for missing the original outbound and we were met with an error message when we tried to check in to our Air France flight.

One unfortunately drawback of the villa was that it was without internet, so Pokin and Nicholas were unable to find alternate arrangements before this moment.

So it was that we found ourselves in Paris at 5pm trying to find a way to London. The two cities look so close on the map! You figure that would be easy!

Well unfortunately flights were now $500+ a person. At least there’s the train!

Somehow nobody told the trains that they were actually an inferior method of travel and thus ought to be priced more affordably. Because it turns out tickets for travel by train the day of were also about $500 a person. Well at least we could take the bus!

We looked up information about the bus and found out there was a station about a 20 minute walk away. So we hauled suitcases towards the bus station only to find out that it would be a 9-hour bus ride. Oh and also they were sold out for that day.

Well great.

Lucky for us there was still a midnight bus available. So we had the pleasure of paying more and sitting in Paris until midnight to catch this bus.

But a midnight bus meant we missed our check in time for the London hotel. I see a trend.

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