The Incomparable Pythons!

This is Friday July 4th, the night of the Python Show.  

They are doing 10 sold-out nights in July.  

200,000 people will see them live.

The O2 Arena.

This the skit they do where The Pope wants to know why Michelangelo painted The Last Supper with 3 Christs and 28 Disciples.

Lumberjack Skit.

A Bitch of a day in the High Court.

Wink Wink Nudge Nudge.

Blackmail!

The Spanish Inquisition!

Ministry of Silly Walks.

Argument Clinic.

Spam - Segued right into - 

 - Dead Parrot and Cheese Shop. 

Christmas In Heaven.

Cast Call and Bow Out.

The 5 remaining Pythons with a combined age over 351 years.

The Encore was Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.  

It's pretty amazing when 20,000 people sing along.

Private Meet & Greet after the show.

Of the 20,000 that were in the arena, less than 100 were in this room.

Python Photobomb!

Tourist Time

Here are the vacation photos that nobody really ever wants to see.

Me in Trafalgar Square.  That's Nelson's Column disappearing into the top of the photo, and you can see Big Ben in the distance.   Yes, my eyes are closed.

A giant blue Rooster.  No idea what that's about.

Big Ben.  Parliament.

I'm not anywhere near as imposing as Churchill.

High Tea with the Queen.  Not me, but somebody was I'm sure.

Bentley.  This car does not suck.

Frosty, Yitzy, Dave, Allen.  

Piccadilly Circus in the background.

On Waterloo Bridge.  The Eye in the background.

Fans of Harry Potter will recognize the next two references.

Right under the Eye.

My Hotel, the Fabulous Strand Palace Hotel!

Christie's Auction House

On the Double-Decker for the after dark tour.  

Photo Bomb courtesy of Frosty. 

The Ritz Hotel behind us.

Big Ben at Night.

Big Ben, Parliament and the moon.

The Eye with Big Ben behind it.

This is some incredibly badass 6-wheel vehicle.

Bentley dealership.  *Drool*

The Life of Python

Well the day has come and gone.  Six months of anticipation came to a head tonight as the Pythons took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd for the fourth of ten shows at the O2 arena.  

I have become culturally saturated and emotionally satisfied during these 7 days in London.  I have met beautiful people in this city.

The after party was amazing!  A small group of people got to meet the 5 remaining Pythons in a more intimate climate.  Some of the crowd asked questions of the Pythons.  Got a bag of exclusive Python Schwag to boot!  

American Treasure?

I am surprised and even a little dismayed to find that not many Londoners are aware of the Monty Python reunion.   In fact, many of the younger crowd stare with incomprehension when I mention the name Monty Python. 

Perhaps there is a cultural generation gap in the UK?  

Day 2

Today was pretty awesome, and exhausting.  We walked 10 miles around Central London.  We got to see Trafalgar Square, 10 Downing Street, Big Ben -Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace & Hyde Park.  However, the thing that I connected with most, was not the visable history, it was the invisible history. 

The fact that I was walking the very same streets that Churchill, Vaughan Williams, The Beatles and Lady Dianna walked.  Streets that in the early 1940s were filled with the sounds of air raid sirens and terrified citezens. Buildings that were bombed by the Luftwaffe. It was a thrlilling yet somber experience. 

Spent the late night and early morning at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.  Good food, good music and good friends.  

I look forward to not walking as much tomorrow. 

London Lessons

The London Underground is not a Political Movement. 

24 hours to go.

On this, the eve of the grandest adventure I have taken to date, I find myself simmering in a stew of anxiety and anticipation.  Thanks to my loving and most thoughtful wife, I will be spending the next 7 days in London.  My first ever trip out of the contiguous 48 states.  On Friday the 4th of July, and no the irony (Sausha?) of being in the United Kingdom on independence day is not wasted on me, I will be seated in the O2 arena on the banks of the dirty river Thames to see, what I can only describe as the most talented group of comedians ever to grace the face of the Earth.

Yes I will be witness to the Monty Python reunion!


I find that trying to pack for such an adventure is proving to be at best, troublesome.

• New clothes, need new shoes to go with the new clothes.  
• Passport?  Check!  
• Umbrella?  I'll get one there if I need it. 
• European power adapter?  Check!  
• Suit, tie, dress shoes? Check!  
• Mr. Underhill's American Express Card?  Check! 

Did I forget something?  This is the thought that plagues my mind, nay, my very soul!  Boil it down and I suppose the only things that are absolutely essential are passport, drivers license, credit card. Anything else can be replaced if necessary.

I can say that I am truly excited to order Bangers, Fish & Chips and the ever popular Spotted Dick.

The Meet and Greet.  Oh yeah, after the performance, I along with select others, will be whisked away backstage to hobnob with the Pythons themselves!  Cocktails and a schwag bag of Python treasure. You can be assured that none of the precious trinkets will find their way on to eBay.