Status: Ow. *cries*
Yesterday I got so burnt on the bus tour, I spent the rest of the day soaking in a DEEP tub of cold water. If there's one thing I adore about this flat it's that the tub is one of the deepest I've seen in a long while. I can soak my entire body into it. It's a glorious way to cool down in this heat.
One thing was positive about yesterday, though. I think I might have seen a Tardis. It's a really tiny one, but it's sitting on one of the railings on the River Thames. The boat operator/amateur tour guide (who was very funny) explained that, for one reason or the other (can't remember), that is the one existing blue box and it cannot be moved. But it doesn't look like it has the Police Box markings on it. I'll have to investigate if I'm ever there again.
So, I guess found a Tardis. Alas, it was not on Platform 9 & 3/4
Today, my brother, mother and I decided to stay in for the hottest part of the day. My padre went on a HUGE walking tour all around London. I felt a little bad about not going with him, but as sunburnt as I am and as hot as it was, there was no way that I would be able to go outside. All the Londoners say that this weather - 90 degrees everyday - is extremely unheard of. That's why no one has air conditioning anywhere. Except the museums. They have air conditioning. I appreciate them more than words can say
So instead of going out, I began to write my screenplay. I have to add in camera directions and all that, so it's a bit different than what I've done before. Considering I've never filmed anything in my life, this might be a big challenging. But, I've got film theory on my side, as well as a fantastic imagination, so here's to hoping it all goes well.
At 8, my mother and I took the tube on over to St. Paul's Cathedral to see the English National Ballet Company. They performed a new ballet by Senior Principle Thomas Edur to music by Estonian composers Eller, Lemba, Kapp, Arvo, Part, Oja, and Suda as well as The Dying Swan by Saint-Saens and Les Sylphides by Chopin. The orchestra also performed a piece on their own: An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise (and with Pipe Major Iain MacDonald on the bagpipes)
I, personally, enjoyed watching the corp a good deal more than the principle dancers. Don't get me wrong, the principles were absolutely beautiful and I couldn't have asked for more, but I really love watching all of them dance together, especially in Chopin's piece when they were all dressed in white. With the inside of St. Paul's - the architecture and all that jazz- it made for a fantastic show. It was the perfect venue for this collection of ballets and music. The orchestra made fantastic use of the cathedral's organ. Blew my mind.
The new ballet was also very good. Not your classic ballet, but that was perfect. It made for a very well-rounded evening of ballet.
And I got to have a glass of chianti with my pasta for dinner. This is not anything spectacular, but it's kinda like the anisette in Delicate Balance - I had to try it because of the reference. Now I can say that Hannibal Lecter and I have both had Chianti ( "I ate her liver with some fava beans and nice chianti")
Pip pip, cherrio and all that rot. G'night!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Mind the gap, wouldja?
Status: Not quite over how beautiful all the flats and houses are in this area.
I think I've finally got the tube down. It sure is a lot more pleasant of a trip when you're not lugging around a 50lb bag and a camera bag stuffed with books and a $2000 camera.
We went out to dinner at Gloucester Arms (a pub right outside of our apartment/hotel). The bartender there informed us that the Kensington area does an ale trail kind of thing. So, last night I began my Kensington Ale Trail walk with Gloucester Arms and the Goat Tavern. I'm bound and determined to only try local ales and lagers. And from the map that they gave us, these pubs are ones shoved into nooks and crannies, which just makes this all the more authentic and exciting. AND, if I complete the tour of the four pubs in the Kensington area, I'll get a T-shirt. I'm halfway there and have 6 more days to go, so have no fear. I will complete the trail.
If you know of any local brews or anything you want me to look out for, lemme know!
This morning we went to church. The most I can say about it was that this was the first time I've ever taken the Eucharist via a Communion rail. Otherwise, the priest was very...unenthusiastic. I did see a friar, though, in full friar regalia. I tried to stop myself, but the goofy smile on my face would not be squashed.
Lunch was spent at Wagamama, which is a food chain in London (maybe the rest of Europe? I don't know). Fantastic food! I had the best damn Miso soup I have ever had. Ever. And it was only 1.60 pounds. I swear I'm going to live on that stuff.
Then, I had a date with Jack the Ripper
But before that, with the classic fish and chips sitting in my lap, I stared out at the wonderful Tower of London.
With my oh-so-covert eavesdropping on a tour group sitting nearby, I learned a bit about the Tower of London. I will share, because that's what you've come here for
There are still people who are living in the tower today. They are Yeomen Warders, or better nicknamed as the Beefeaters. This name originated from many practices and none of them had anything to do with the Henry XIII being a generous king. The Beefeaters were big, burly men whose job was mainly to guard the prisoners and taste the king's meat to make sure it wasn't poisoned (thus the Beefeaters). The name also might have had something to do with Henry paying part of their wages in beef. My personal opinion is that he didn't do this for their benefit, but instead did it to make sure they remain big and burly.
Nowadays, the Beefeaters still living in the tower and their duties are mainly to oversee the upkeep of the tower. They also make very enthusiastic and fun tour guides (or so said the red-headed Brit who I was eavesdropping on).
There is a higher-up Beefeater called the Ravenmaster. His job is to make sure none of the ravens leave the tower, and probably also take care of them. Back in the days when the tower was inhabited by royalty, the superstition was that if all the ravens flew away from the Tower of London, it would fall down around the monarch's ears. While this is a ridiculous superstition (as all superstitions are), they still clip all the ravens' wings, just in case.
For one to become a Beefeater, one must have had 22 years in the Queen's royal service (the army). You must be big and burly. A good 20 or 30 years ago, women could not be Beefeaters. Now they can. They must be big and burly, too.
Jack the Ripper walk followed this wonderful bit of history, led by the leading Jack the Ripper expert, Donald Rumbelow. He is the former Curator of the City of London Police Crime Museum (or sometimes call the the London Police Black Museum. You need to make an appointment to get inside this museum) and was Johnny Depp's unofficial advisor as he made his way through filming From Hell.
Excuse the ridiculous excitement to follow. For me, it's one thing to visit places that inspired movies and books (don't get me wrong, I adore those things as well), but to be traveling the same road as the Ripper took...it's a bit overwhelming.
I got to stand in the very same cobble square where Catherine Eddows was left, slashed and her entrails thrown over her shoulder! The actual cobble squre. Everything else in the square had changed (like the buildings and street lamps), but the cobble stones were the same ones from that night. I checked extra close for any traces of blood, but of course there was none. Disappointment.
We saw the church circle where all the whores would go to get a customer and where the Ripper most likely went to choose his girls (maybe he didn't pick all of them - some of it might have just been opportunity, but you get my drift). All of the women would circle around the church, going slower in front of the church (close to the street) and hurrying around the back (where no one could see them).
There is so much more information - it was a bit of information overload. I'm going to have to take some kind of recording device if I go on another walk with this company. They're absolutely amazing with the number of things they talk about, but I can't remember it all.
I did buy a book, though, so if you have any questions about Jack the Ripper, feel free to ask and I'll make sure I get the answer for you
Now, here I sit in the flat, in need of a glass of wine, but it's midnight and we're taking a bus tour super early tomorrow, so that's 'night 'night from here to there
Pip pip, cherrio and all that rot!
I think I've finally got the tube down. It sure is a lot more pleasant of a trip when you're not lugging around a 50lb bag and a camera bag stuffed with books and a $2000 camera.
We went out to dinner at Gloucester Arms (a pub right outside of our apartment/hotel). The bartender there informed us that the Kensington area does an ale trail kind of thing. So, last night I began my Kensington Ale Trail walk with Gloucester Arms and the Goat Tavern. I'm bound and determined to only try local ales and lagers. And from the map that they gave us, these pubs are ones shoved into nooks and crannies, which just makes this all the more authentic and exciting. AND, if I complete the tour of the four pubs in the Kensington area, I'll get a T-shirt. I'm halfway there and have 6 more days to go, so have no fear. I will complete the trail.
If you know of any local brews or anything you want me to look out for, lemme know!
This morning we went to church. The most I can say about it was that this was the first time I've ever taken the Eucharist via a Communion rail. Otherwise, the priest was very...unenthusiastic. I did see a friar, though, in full friar regalia. I tried to stop myself, but the goofy smile on my face would not be squashed.
Lunch was spent at Wagamama, which is a food chain in London (maybe the rest of Europe? I don't know). Fantastic food! I had the best damn Miso soup I have ever had. Ever. And it was only 1.60 pounds. I swear I'm going to live on that stuff.
Then, I had a date with Jack the Ripper
But before that, with the classic fish and chips sitting in my lap, I stared out at the wonderful Tower of London.
With my oh-so-covert eavesdropping on a tour group sitting nearby, I learned a bit about the Tower of London. I will share, because that's what you've come here for
There are still people who are living in the tower today. They are Yeomen Warders, or better nicknamed as the Beefeaters. This name originated from many practices and none of them had anything to do with the Henry XIII being a generous king. The Beefeaters were big, burly men whose job was mainly to guard the prisoners and taste the king's meat to make sure it wasn't poisoned (thus the Beefeaters). The name also might have had something to do with Henry paying part of their wages in beef. My personal opinion is that he didn't do this for their benefit, but instead did it to make sure they remain big and burly.
Nowadays, the Beefeaters still living in the tower and their duties are mainly to oversee the upkeep of the tower. They also make very enthusiastic and fun tour guides (or so said the red-headed Brit who I was eavesdropping on).
There is a higher-up Beefeater called the Ravenmaster. His job is to make sure none of the ravens leave the tower, and probably also take care of them. Back in the days when the tower was inhabited by royalty, the superstition was that if all the ravens flew away from the Tower of London, it would fall down around the monarch's ears. While this is a ridiculous superstition (as all superstitions are), they still clip all the ravens' wings, just in case.
For one to become a Beefeater, one must have had 22 years in the Queen's royal service (the army). You must be big and burly. A good 20 or 30 years ago, women could not be Beefeaters. Now they can. They must be big and burly, too.
Jack the Ripper walk followed this wonderful bit of history, led by the leading Jack the Ripper expert, Donald Rumbelow. He is the former Curator of the City of London Police Crime Museum (or sometimes call the the London Police Black Museum. You need to make an appointment to get inside this museum) and was Johnny Depp's unofficial advisor as he made his way through filming From Hell.
Excuse the ridiculous excitement to follow. For me, it's one thing to visit places that inspired movies and books (don't get me wrong, I adore those things as well), but to be traveling the same road as the Ripper took...it's a bit overwhelming.
I got to stand in the very same cobble square where Catherine Eddows was left, slashed and her entrails thrown over her shoulder! The actual cobble squre. Everything else in the square had changed (like the buildings and street lamps), but the cobble stones were the same ones from that night. I checked extra close for any traces of blood, but of course there was none. Disappointment.
We saw the church circle where all the whores would go to get a customer and where the Ripper most likely went to choose his girls (maybe he didn't pick all of them - some of it might have just been opportunity, but you get my drift). All of the women would circle around the church, going slower in front of the church (close to the street) and hurrying around the back (where no one could see them).
There is so much more information - it was a bit of information overload. I'm going to have to take some kind of recording device if I go on another walk with this company. They're absolutely amazing with the number of things they talk about, but I can't remember it all.
I did buy a book, though, so if you have any questions about Jack the Ripper, feel free to ask and I'll make sure I get the answer for you
Now, here I sit in the flat, in need of a glass of wine, but it's midnight and we're taking a bus tour super early tomorrow, so that's 'night 'night from here to there
Pip pip, cherrio and all that rot!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
I can't feel my toes!
Status: In great need of a beer or some sort of alcoholic drink just because I'm legal. yay
We have an ethernet cable of sorts so yay for high speed internet.
Our lovely flat in South Kenzington on the beautiful Glouscester Rd is without air conditioning, but all is well. I know I'll be able to deal. My mother and brother might be a different story. Nevertheless, it is way too cool over here. Seeing as I haven't seen the rest of London, I can't say for sure that this is a really Victorian area, but it is definitely getting there. My mother and I spent a good portion of the afternoon just touring the more private areas, just looking at the houses.
We are a hop, skip, and a jump away from Hyde Park. My mother was dead chuffed to sit underneath a tree in the park; I was merely glad to take a load off. But, I hear there are concerts in the park, and I'm totally up for that.
Well, it be time to figure out where we're eating for dinner and what pub looks the most intriguing.
Pip pip, cherrio and all that rot!
We have an ethernet cable of sorts so yay for high speed internet.
Our lovely flat in South Kenzington on the beautiful Glouscester Rd is without air conditioning, but all is well. I know I'll be able to deal. My mother and brother might be a different story. Nevertheless, it is way too cool over here. Seeing as I haven't seen the rest of London, I can't say for sure that this is a really Victorian area, but it is definitely getting there. My mother and I spent a good portion of the afternoon just touring the more private areas, just looking at the houses.
We are a hop, skip, and a jump away from Hyde Park. My mother was dead chuffed to sit underneath a tree in the park; I was merely glad to take a load off. But, I hear there are concerts in the park, and I'm totally up for that.
Well, it be time to figure out where we're eating for dinner and what pub looks the most intriguing.
Pip pip, cherrio and all that rot!
Friday, June 26, 2009
'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane...
Status: Hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express
Our plane leaves at 7:15 tonight. We will arrive at Heathrow at about 8 o' clock Saturday morning. Thankfully we don't have any layovers or anything like that - just a straight flight in which I will ingest a good amount of Valium, go loopy and hopefully pass out. *raises a toast* Here's to modern medicine and to the benefits of having a doctor for a father.
If our flat has wireless internet, you will be hearing from me a lot. If not, internet cafes will have to suffice until I move into the dorms.
Clocks away, mates!
Pip pip, cheerio and all that rot.
Our plane leaves at 7:15 tonight. We will arrive at Heathrow at about 8 o' clock Saturday morning. Thankfully we don't have any layovers or anything like that - just a straight flight in which I will ingest a good amount of Valium, go loopy and hopefully pass out. *raises a toast* Here's to modern medicine and to the benefits of having a doctor for a father.
If our flat has wireless internet, you will be hearing from me a lot. If not, internet cafes will have to suffice until I move into the dorms.
Clocks away, mates!
Pip pip, cheerio and all that rot.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Countdown: 10 days til take-off
Status: Preparing to search for Tardis.
This is my official London blog.
Hopefully I can find some kind of internet access while I'm over there
Follow along and I'll try my best to make it halfways interesting.
This is my official London blog.
Hopefully I can find some kind of internet access while I'm over there
Follow along and I'll try my best to make it halfways interesting.
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