Guest post by one Ryan Book

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Much to my disappointment, the UK is not at all like the aforementioned Sex Pistols song. It is still pretty solid. Here is a summary of the last few days:

JUNE 15, 2009

I arrived latish at the airport and was grilled by an angry Iranian immigration officer at the gate. "YOU ARE ONLY COMING FOR THREE DAYS?!?" and "HOW CAN YOU AFFORD THIS IF YOU ARE JUST A STUDENT?!?" were among her inquiries. My standard answer of "That's what she said" did not help my cause.

We arrived back at the flat where Claire was greeted by a surprise birthday celebration, consisting of champagne spilled on floor and a torte bought by Catrina. Happy irrelevant 21st Claire!!!

JUNE 16, 2009

A list of British things that will never cease amusing me: "Way Out", "Mind the Gap", and "Picadilly Line". Honestly though, the underground is the greatest thing ever. It's like COTA, except completely different.

CCR (Claire, Catrina, and Ryan) visited the British Museum, which was both fun and free. The British Empire, after looting every nation on Earth, realized it could justify it by putting it on display for free. Estimates suggest that nearly half of ancient Egypt is contained within the museum.

Catrina took Claire and I to a swanky pub during the night (it's still Claire's b-day recall) and we tried various Sam Smith (the Sam Adams of the UK) beers. Catrina set up a date with a decent bloke working the bar, but at this moment she is skipping it. LAME. We then continued to a night club which was overpriced and Brits dancing to a cover band playing 'Sweet Home Alabama' much like our grandparents danced at sock hops. We went home, fairly intoxicated.

JUNE 17, 2009

We woke up at lunch and made our way to the original Hard Rock Cafe. Food was delicious and expensive.

NOTE TO ELISE: As I hear you are the only person who reads this, you'll be jealous to hear we sat by Jimi Hendrix's guitar. HA.
NOTE TO CHRISSIE: As you are the other person who reads this, it was a ES-135. I believe you own one of these. Me = jealous.

CCR continued to Parliament/ Westminister Abbey in the afternoon. Buildings big. I was hoping to take awkward photos at Abbey but fare was absurd. I can go to church for free in America, I just choose not to. There is a statue of MLK at WM Abbey. AMERICA....heck yeah.

Interesting note: Claire doesn't know the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

JUNE 18, 2009: BONUS DAY!!!

Due to a bizarre error with check-in at the airport, I was not included on my flight, much to C+C's chagrin. As they had schoolwork to do (aka no patience for my shenanigans) I set out alone into the city.

I headed over to the National Gallery. Trafalgar Square is real sweet. The Museum had a fair amount of recognizable names and it was free!

I then walked around Buckingham Palace, which is home to the world's most inefficient family. I was politely asked to leave the gift shop after asking where the Princess Di postcards were.

Finally, over to Hyde Park where I took some awkward self-portraits and headed back to the flat where the hungry girls awaited. Claire reminded me to get some sleep as I WAS leaving the next day. She pointed a knife at me while she said this.

Thanks for letting me handle the guest post, and as they say in the UK: au revoir!

-Ryan Book