The London Pop-up Book: Part 1

October 28, 2009

Amanda and I had been planning for London for so long that it was wonderful to finally be on our way. We had plane tickets, a place to stay, and a plan on how to get there. We packed the night before (and had a wonderful time with Chelsea’s family) and talked about some last minute things. We got up around 6 because wee had to be at the bus station by 7. Caught the bus to Arezzo, caught the train to the Pisa airport, waited in line to check in and then to security. Here are some tips for European airline travel:
1.) Check-in online if you can. It saves time, energy, and frustration.
2.) Make sure any and all toiletries are in a clear case and in 100mL bottles or less (And yes, Clinique face wash works just as well in a smaller bottle as it does in the bottle it comes in. Don’t go wasting 15 Euros in the shop at the airport just because you forgot about the bottle rule.)
3.) Make room for delays
4.) Bring money and food.
5.) If you find that your credit card has decided to not let you withdraw money in the country you land in and you have to call your bank, be kind to the person on the phone. They have very hard jobs and are much more likely to help you faster and more efficiently if you ask them how their day is.

So we arrived in London around 4 and made it to the hostel around 5. The hostel was just wonderful, a great find by the brilliant Amanda. Close to the Underground but in a nice residential area that felt very safe. We arrived in time to see a show that night. We decided on “The Woman in Black”, a thriller-type ghost story in which there are only two characters and one ghost. I thought the acting was wonderful, especially because one of the actors portrayed a number of different people. A man named Arthur Kipps has gone to an actor in order to receive help on a story he has written about his past and wishes to tell. The Actor, who has no other name, makes the story a performance and places himself in the role of the younger Arthur while the real Arthur takes on the roles of all of the other people involved in the story. I realize that this is a bit confusing but the performances were just wonderful. I won’t give away the ending; I will just say that it was the perfect show to see just before Halloween.

October 29, 2009

We woke up around 8 in order to get as much out of the day as possible. In some strange twist of fate, the weather, which had been bitterly cold when we left Sansepolcro, was surprisingly warm. This was odd for October, but I will always take blessings where I can. Our first order of business was the Globe Theater. Yes, that amazing building in which Shakespeare’s plays were first performed. Being a theatre major (and a past student of the infamous Gary Walton, whom has taught me the majority of what I know of that great bard), I could not bypass such an opportunity. Truly, it was as if I found water in the desert. I have been without stage and script for the whole semester. Being able to just sit in the Globe and listen to its history, I fell in love with the theatre world all over again.
After the Globe, Amanda and I visited some of the most famous sights in London. In order to visit the Globe, one must cross the Millennium Bridge. This modern structure crosses the Thames river right in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral. St. Paul’s was built in the 17th century and is one of the largest Cathedral domes in the world (this fact courtesy of my St. Paul’s mini card obtained from my hostel). Right beside the bridge sits the City of London School. According to Amanda, this is where Daniel Radcliff attended school for two years before making his millions as Harry Potter. Lucky lad. Not long afterward, Amanda and I took the tube to see such famous sights as Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. James’s Park, and Buckingham Palace. In truth, Big Ben is the name of the giant bell inside and the tower’s actual name is Stephen. Stephen the tower. I think I understand why everyone calls it Big Ben.
The London Eye is the world’s biggest Ferris wheel. For 17 Pounds, you can sit for 30 minutes in an enclosed glass egg and see the entire city. I did not spend 17 Pounds to see the entire city because venturing that high on a Ferris wheel is not my idea of fun. Heights and I don’t get along well. Still, just viewing the wheel was interesting. Even if the wheel doesn’t look like it’s turning, it is.
Westminster Abbey was next on the list, followed by the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Abbey has a small chapel next to it which is free to enter. Amanda and I had decided to go inside St. Paul’s and Westminster on Sunday because then you can venture in for free. Otherwise, it costs upwards of 10 pounds to get in. The chapel though, was just lovely. It reminded me quite a bit of the church I attended when I was younger. The walls of the chapel were covered in memorials and prayers for the departed and the stained glass windows pictured abstract art instead of traditional Bible scenes. We were lucky enough to have entered while the organist was practicing and so sat in silence for a few minutes just to enjoy the music.
We next wandered through St. James’s Park on our way to Buckingham Palace. This park is home to a large number of geese, swans, and ducks because there is a large lake located in the center. All of these birds recognize you as having one thing: food. This provides a lot of entertainment for the families who come to the park. It was such a lovely sight to see all the different ages present. Young and old, small and large; everyone can have a good time. We saw a group of children having a race on hop balls (those big bouncy balls that you sit on) and we saw people walking their dogs or just sitting on the grass and reading. At one point, Amanda and I found a marble monument in the shape of a wedge. A small amount of water flows from the top of the wedge to the bottom. The real sight came from watching all of the children climbing up and down this monument. They would slip and fall on the marble and some would laugh and some would cry. They would run and pose at the top for a picture and one little girl decided it was her job to collect all of the leaves which had gotten stuck. We sat and watched all the fun for a while until one parent read on the side that the monument was not to be climbed on. Everyone then vacated the makeshift playground. The monument is to commemorate the Canadians who came to help the English during both World Wars. The plaque in front states: In two world wars one million Canadians came to Britain and joined the fight for freedom. From danger shared, our friendship prospers. I understand honoring those who have given their lives for freedom, but at the same time I doubt those who passed would have been upset at seeing those children having such innocent fun. Especially if they could have seen the smiles.
Samantha and Vi met up with Amanda and I back at the hostel. They had been to Paris first and then made their way to London. We decided to see a show called “War Horse” that night but unfortunately it was sold out. We decided to see “Dirty Dancing” instead. “Dirty Dancing” was first a movie and is now a stage show. The dancing, of course, was amazing. The acting…not so much. Nevertheless, it was still a very enjoyable show. A successful first full day in London.