June 23, 2000 Friday
Wow, it's hard to believe that most of the day has gone by withoutt me writing a word. Trip to London went off without a hitch. Caught every bus & train in a timely manner & caught the trains to be in London at 4pm.
Met this sweett Irish girl on the last leg of the trip. (Oh, the Norwegian soldier boys going to Glouchester for the concert were tasty, but not much for the English conversation - though they spoke it very well!) Her name iis Catherine Elizabeth, called 'Liz.' We had a wonderful lconversation on the political troubles in Ireland, US participation in global warming, different vacation spots and her Jewish boyfriend (who's actually the first Jewish person she's ever met!) - oh! and we also talked in depth about ethnic discrimination - the Albanians in Ireland and the Blacks/Hispanics/etc in the US. Basically how their living conditions seem to be worse than those of Irish (or whites/middle class in the US) and how it is difficult for them to get political representation to change the situation.
Also, no having money limits their poliical influence on electable officials. We also talked a bit about pubs. I've noticed tha the English can be almost militantly nationalistic about their monopoly on how to run a proper pub. she was not nearly so passionate about the Irissh pub - jus tthat it's a place where they drink - and that they really do drink a lot. It's funny - the things these Englishs take so much pride in.
Got to the Ty-Melyn Hotel & they'd accidentally deleted my reservation, so they've actually put me up in a nicer place two doors down. Unfortunately I had to climb ten flights of stairs to get to my room, but it's very pretty & I have my own bathroom. Called William & Natasha - waiting to hear back so we can go out. Hope he's not still sick.
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