i think they hate americans in britain. maybe canadians too. but i do know that attitudes change when people hear our accents, the friendliness lowers, the smile disappears. this is not me being paranoid: others have noticed it as well. on my first morning there, before i could check into the room, before my parents arrived, i was sitting on a couch. i was sitting on a couch because i had been up for a long long time, i had already gone out for breakfast and wondered around for two hours, and all i wanted was to sit and to sleep. the waiter didn't offer me anything at all. not once. everyone else, coffee sir? tea ma'am? but not me. i am also going to blame it on me looking poor. it was a pretty ritzy place. i hate that i feel that way because it is certainly not the way i felt the last time i was here. perhaps i am simply being too sensitive.

however, once inside the room, oh, the sleeping was soooo good. mom and dad arrived a few hours later and we headed out for indian food. on my last visit, dad forced me to wander for ages looking for an indian restaurant. we finally found a place that is still the best indian food i have ever eaten. it was the only meal i could eat my first night back. it was no match for the dinner of my memory, but it was pretty good.

dad headed off to work in the morning, and mom and i wandered around. of course, this wandering was hampered by my own stupidity: i have very sensitive skin. change my laundry detergent, and i rash. well, i was wearing a band aid. for a day. when i took it off, it wasn't pretty. turns out, i am allergic to band aids. its not pretty. blistered, rashy, a terrible mix of itch and pain. of course, limping around all day killed my poor calf muscle. thankfully, taveling with the folks is different than traveling with friends: mom could afford to buy us metro passes. and i am happy to report that we still managed to walk (gimp) around for hours. and i bought a pair of wonderful green golas.

these are them:



i have a love affair with golas. you might remember that i have an extremely difficult relationship with converse. also, with addidas. but gola has been nothing but loyal and true. no pain, no blisters, and long lasting. this is my third pair. the attraction is multi-fold: they come in bright colours, they aren't terribly ridiculously expensive, and i have never seen them for sale in north america. so, when people comment on them, i get to say, "oh, i got these in europe." please don't think that i am not concious of being a snob.

today, mom and i did the typical bus tour. seriously, i was in pain. it was freezing and rainy and pretty miserable. we pretended it was all okay. but i did have to buy a scarf, even with all the pretending.



there were some highlights:

1) M:I III is opening in london today and outside our hotel, in leicester square, there was a some kind of premiere going on. so, i had the chance to see tom cruise. i didn't take it, but the opprotunity was there. now, how many people can say that?

2) we went to a pub today called 'ye olde cheshire cheese.' it dates from something ridiculous like the 16th C. which always makes me wonder how people could have been sitting in these rooms, laughing, drinking, being, before the country which my grandparents grew up was even discovered.

3) i am in lytham for the first time tonight. it was exactly what i expected and, of course, not what i expected. i am looking forward to having my own room tonight. both dad and i seemed to have bouts of insomnia last night (i blame the trundle bed and jet lag). and the thought "hearing people sleeping right now is not making this any easier." but, the house, and its space, are wonderful and beautiful and homey and i am amazed and how nicely my parents have settled in here. i am looking very forward to exploring the little town (and library!) tomorrow.

4) we took the first class train back to lytham. swanky. i already said that traveling with parents is vastly different right? let me emphasize that point again. we relaxed in a cushy lounge beforehand (mind you, it took some prodding for my mom to remember there was such a lounge..."is there somewhere we can relax and have coffee?" "just take away coffee alli, no where to sit" "oh really?" "oh wait, the lounge!" we had a good laugh. she'd even been in the lounger before.) and had a table with service for the two and a half hour ride. very relaxing.

the next few days shall be rather relaxing. i plan on reading at least nine books.