 |
Tsukitaro in London |  |
|
|
Tsukitaro in London | |
|
June of 1994, I dropped to London on my business trip to Greece. Of course I had great time in Greece, I'm telling you about London in this page.For me, Britain is a country of BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). Tsukitaro used to listen to the Japanese program of BBC overseas service. And also, Britain is a country of The Beatles! So Britain is my fevorite country and had been always ranked in the best 3 of "Countries I want to visit".
Although it was a short period, I really enjoyed there. This is a story about my first abroad, London.
The First Night Abroad | Sightseeing Tour by Paul | Abbey Road Studio | Pain in My Back
The First Night Abroad 1994/06/04 eveningTook off Narita at 13:35, arrived London (Heathlow Airport).
The destination of my business trip was Athens Greece, but not having so many flights go direct to Greece, I stayed 1 nights each on the way go and return. Time difference between Japan and London is 8 hours, so I flew for 13 hours. Although I was excited to the look of stores and houses of foreign country for the first time through the bus's window, it was the evening hours. So I did nothing until going bed, except for making a call to my friend, Mr. Paul Davis (appears later).
I was happy to find a gown in the room, I made merry wearing it. It also gave me an exotic mood that it won't be dark for a long time at the night.
Sightseeing Tour by Paul 1994/06/10 afternoon
Finishing the purpose of the business trip (attendance to the international maritime exhibition held at Athens), I got back to London. Left Athens at 8:20, arrived London at 10:15. I checked in the Cumberland Hotel before noon. Then I had a free time till tomorrow afternoon! I thought a bit about going Liverpool, but it was too far to go and back from London in a day. Then I hope I can go Liverpool next time!
On this important occasion, I had made preparations for this free time while my first staying in London, although usually I have an action without any plans. Mr. Paul Davis (photograph) who is a suburbanite of London, is my sisters' friend during their trip in London. I made a contact to him, then we met again at the hotel since we met in Nagasaki in May of same year.
He used to live in Japan, but he'd never been to Nagasaki. When he come to Nagasaki in the Golden Week during his trip to Japan, I and my mother took him around Nagasaki City. This time he was a guide of me!
After meeting again at lobby of the hotel, Paul gave me a free pass of bus and tube (photo), saying "Welcome to Gaijin Tour!" This was the start of sightseeing London guided by Paul. First moved by the double decker, then walked around town and had a late lunch at an Italian Restaurant. I passed the Carnaby Street but didn't go the Apple building. I think I should visit the building.
It was quite complete sightseeing, visiting many famous places like the London Bridge,the Big Ben, the Backingham Palace and so on. Only trouble was that I had a cup of beer at a pub, and Nature called me! I was looking for a rest room, but I could hardly find it and was really flurried, because rest rooms in parks are closed in the evening! I was glad to found many advertisements on the wall in telephone boxes, it's almost the same as Japan! I took a memorial photo there!
Abbey Road Studio 1996/06/11 morning
Last morning in London. Walked alone from St. John's Wood Station looking London map, I found the EMI studio easily. But I was not sure where the most famous zebra mark in the world is at first. (Because pattern of the zebra is different between now and then, the poles standing at the ends of the crosswalk is framed out on the cover of ABBEY ROAD.) In front of the studio, I met a group of tourist from Texas, maybe 2 couples, they also looked bewildered to find the crosswalk. At last we found that that is it! And they started to take pictures there.
Their photo session was fun. A woman moved to central area of the crossing, she was in charge of camera. One of the three took off his shoes, and they crossed again and again. I tried to recommended the woman to join them cross by four people and I'd be their cameraman, but she didn't (maybe she couldn't understand my English!). The woman repeatedly shouted "once again!", and their photo session went on. It was like an American comedy, I really enjoyed watching it!
When their pleasant photo session was over, I asked them to take photos of myself on the crossing. But when I saw the photos printed, I felt a little disappointed because the angle was far different from the ABBEY ROAD cover which was taken from the center of the road. If I have next chance to go there, I'd like to try the same angle as ABBEY ROAD (and 4 people, if possible). And I want to visit Liverpool next time! Oh yes, I found Paul's house nearby the Abbey Road Studio.
After coming back from Abbey Road, I went to see the EMI building, using little time before leaving. When I stood in front of the building, I was asked for money by a man. Well, that's the Beatles-related places where I visited at that time, during my staying in London. I'm sure to visit other places I couldn't go!
Pain in My Back! 1994/06/12And in the end of my trip, I met with a big misfortune. I got a pain in my back in the plane to Japan, I think it's because I couln't lie during the flight. We said goodbye to each other at Narita, I almost fainted moving with a heavy baggage. I felt it was really long way to go back from Tokyo to Nagasaki.
Get Back to Tsukitaro Private Room!