A city steeped in history

Editor's note: Second-year students and some of the staff are on Cottey College's annual trip to Europe. This year's journey takes them to London, England, for a cultural experience that Cottey Public Information Director Steve Reed is sharing with Nevada, in the form of letters back home. This is the first in the series, which will continue throughout the duration of the trip.

Hello Mum! Well we are back in jolly old England once again. It is nice to be back in a country where they speak the same language you do ... well, sort of. My flight, with 15 students, was the last to arrive in London. All the others were off on their walking tours by the time we got to the hotel, so we didn't see other Cottey folks for several more hours.

Our EF tour guide is David. He grew up in Leeds and has lived in London for some time so he knows his way about, one might say. He instructed our group on the use of the tube and took us walking in some of London's more noted areas. We went to the Thames and walked along the Jubilee Bridge, we made our way through Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, Leicester (pronounced Lester) Square and ended in Covent Gardens.

David turned us loose in Covent Gardens about 4 p.m. Our group ran into Betsy McReynolds and Adam Dean near the end, so they tagged along.

Two students, Barbora and Kristen, asked to join us for dinner. I led them all to Wagamama, a great Japanese noodle bar I remembered from my last trip here in 2001. It was great fun eating noodles and beans with chopsticks whilst slurping the broth out of the bowls. Great fun and a filling, light meal, to boot.

Barbora and Kristen left us to go shop, and Adam and Betsy and I went on a walkabout. During our travels we ran into Kris Korb and Brianne Fulton who hadn't yet eaten.

We eventually met up with Brenda Ross and Mary and John Haggans. We all went back to Wagamama for food and fellowship. I just had something to drink while the others wrangled with their chopsticks and noodles. It was a very fun evening in all. However, about 8 p.m. the jet lag was catching up to me and I headed off to the hotel to turn in early.

On Monday morning, we got up for breakfast.

Our complimentary continental breakfast is served in the hotel pub: The George and Dragon. Quite amusing actually to be munching corn flakes and croissants in a pub, but I love the atmosphere. I'll have to take a photo for you, Mum. You'd love it.

We had our group bus tour in the morning and saw several sites of old London. Eddie was the name of our "official" Blue Badge tour guide. He took us by London Bridge, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace (the queen was not home -- there went my chance for tea) the monument to the great fire of 1666, and ended with a tour of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Eddie told us there were three important dates in English history to remember: 1066, 1666, and 1966.

1066 was when William the Conquerer established the first British kingdom; 1666 was the Great Fire of London; and 1966 was when England won the World Cup in soccer. It turns out Eddie is quite a fan of football, as they call it over here.

After our tour of St. Paul's we were turned loose for the day. I paired up with Brianne, because we had a particular mission: to find the pub used in the movie Shaun of the Dead.

We are both big fans of this zombie horror/comedy classic, and just had to find the spot where a great deal of filming was done.

First was lunch, we got "take away" (we call it to go) sandwiches and crisps (chips) from Marks and Spencer and ate them on the steps of St. Paul's before taking off on our adventure.

One thing I need to tell you about this trip to find a movie pub, Mum, it's located in the East End, which has a bit of a reputation as a "rough" part of town. We both decided that it was middle of the afternoon and broad daylight, and were sure we would be safe. Still, we both had doubts, but made sure neither allowed the other to be talked out of it.

The East End is definitely a poorer part of town, and one most tourists probably never see. Still I have to say the people were friendly and interested in talking to us.

The few people we spoke with were delightful.

We did find the Duke of Albany pub (called the Winchester in the movie), but you can imagine our disappointment, Mum, to find it boarded and padlocked. A very nice elderly gent told us it had been shuttered about three months earlier and was being converted into flats (apartments). He did tell us that if we were fancying a pint, there was a very nice pub 'round the corner called Five Bells which he recommended.

Brianne and I took a few minutes to take pictures of each other walking like zombies in front of the pub. I know, quite silly, but then again, when will I ever have the chance to do it again? As we were doing these fabulous photo ops, a couple of workmen came out of another building to watch us. Brianne apologized for our antics, but one of the workmen brushed it off saying, "As long as ye keep yer clothes on, we don't care what ye do." We got a good laugh out of that.

We decided to take the old gents advice and pop in at the Five Bells before heading back. We each ordered a pint and sat at a table. Several retired gents were sitting behind us and talking. I swear it sounded like English, but neither of us had a clue what they were saying. The conversations would go something like this: "Hello, mumble mumble, mumble, right?" "Well, mumble mumble, mumble, just so."

Brianne and I just looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.

Later that evening was our faculty/staff dinner. Mary did a great job, as usual, in selecting a great place to eat. I had a fabulous grilled sea bass and vegetables with a lemon tart for dessert.

Absolutely delicious.

Quite the day of contrasts all in all. From historic London, to poor East End, to a wonderful restaurant.

Only a city the size of London could contain all of them and blend them so well.

Well, Mum, feeling a bit knackered (tired), so will close this letter and toddle off to bed. More adventures await tomorrow.

Your loving son,

Steve