London: Boys About Town

Boys, Boys, Boys! I'm looking for a good time! I had only seen my Newark brothers three weeks ago until I received a rather random text message from Paolo suggesting a day out to London. I couldn't refuse this offer as life has not been the same since our Newark days and of course London is a place that holds close to my heart. With myself, Paolo and Thomas all in agreement for our day out it was set that the Las Vegas three would reunite a lot sooner than I thought we would!

London Town was calling, so there wasn't a minute to lose I booked my train tickets within a few days of this fantastic revelation. Setting off to the capital city on a super early train I wanted to do a bit of sightseeing before my amigos arrived in London, the home of the beautiful people! Trusting the London Underground I made it from Euston to Camden Town in search of a slice of something different. I've become quite a pro navigating the Tube as I've been to the US Embassy twice independently, practice hopefully makes perfect! 

The sun was shining, there were a few clouds in the skies but I wasn't going to complain, I was back in London! If you haven't been to Camden or any of its markets then I say shame on you! Camden is a retro and hip part of London, which has a bohemian feel with the range of diverse market stalls and shops that are on offer. I didn't need Sloane Square because I loved what I was looking at. I initially made it to Camden at around 9:45am I don't I was doing too badly, I just wanted to have a mooch around to get back to where I spent the day with my friends Joe, Jordan, Ursula and Rebecca back in late 2011. I do love the Camden Lock area where the canal meets the variety of market stalls where you can taste delicious food from the four corners of the world. I think you need to get yourself to Camden! Oh! I also made a quick visit to Covent Garden, I love that place!

Do you recognize these buses? I was now reunited with my Hallmark brothers, we hit London's Transport Museum like a bunch of excited little boys! We certainly made sure we had a great time. It was an educational visit from one perspective because we learnt about how Londoners of the past  used to make their way around this brilliant city. Paolo had to be Paolo by going crazy when he saw the interactive Tube driving games, ah well its a good job we are friends because you certainly looked the part! Before ending our rampage of London's Transport Museum we saw how the first London Underground tunnels were actually dug from street level, how the times have changed because those Tube trains are well and truly underground. 

Moving through our trivial pursuit I took in the views of Covent Garden and the Piazza for a second time that day while the other two decided our next move. We decided to make our way to The Strand to reach a post office because Tom and Paolo had a transaction to complete. I was back in the city where I was born, I know that London will always have a place in my heart. Anyway, lets move on! 

The sun was shining and the tourists were out in their thousands, let me just add we weren't tourists at all! I'll show you my Passport because that will prove it 100%! Looking down over Trafalgar Square was absolutely immense! This day was turning out be an amazing state of affairs, it was only going to get better! The boys were back in town, I would not of had it any other way! Where would we end up next? Would I get the chance to see the River Thames? All of a sudden I felt like I was at a film premiere! It's got to be Leicester Square, because that's where the film premieres are held in England. Making McDonalds our choice for lunch I said that I wanted to see the Thames that afternoon. Who honestly knows what the rest of our day will bring? 

Making our way through London's Piccadilly Circus we found ourselves going to Regents Street for a look around Hamleys, London's premium department store for toys. It was so amusing because we were like excited children in a sweet shop, well we were really young men in a toy store! One part of Hamleys that I loved the best was finding the Virgin Atlantic Airways airport set, yes they did have an Emirates plane which did impress me much. Oh! I loved the Disney Princesses as well! That's a secret!

Taking the Tube from Oxford Circus to Embankment in the middle of the 5pm rush hour was a tad stressful but we made it to the River Thames nonetheless. I captured the photo on the right as we made our way across the Golden Jubilee Bridge, don't you just adore London? Well minus all the busybodies that push through the crowds its amazing! The weather was still great, a minor miracle compared to the previous weather we had experienced the previous month. My wish to be close to the River Thames was granted, grabbing an ice cream all three of us found a place to relax on the grass overlooking the London Eye, it was bliss. Our spontaneous day in London was nearly over but so far I had enjoyed everything that we had experienced. Let us just take a little while to relax and take in the sites, shall we? 

I obviously was not ready for the final phase of our London adventure, because we were off to no other than G-A-Y for a few drinks! Meeting one of Paolo's friends from university we made our way to the popular London gay club for a few early evening drinks, why did I have a train booked back to Birmingham so soon! The drinks were super cheap and when I mean cheap, like £1.70 for a pint of Cider! I would have loved to of spent the night there but it was time to say our goodbyes and part once again. G-A-Y I shall be back!

Boys ... Let Us Not Be Strangers! Birmingham Soon?!

Joseph Harrison