This was a extremely long day. It started out at 5 AM. I got up to get dress and to zip up my suitcase and inspected my room to make sure that I didn't leave anything. My ride to the airport wasn't going to arrive until 6 AM, but I got down stairs with my luggage at 5:15. There was a group of other students that had a ride to Heathrow at 5:30. Most of my friends had left for the airport at 4 AM. I actually woke at that time because of the mixture of the sound of the coach outside of the house and of the thunder from the storm that came through the city around that time.
As I waited for my ride to come I took pictures of Atlantic House before it started to rain again. At that time there was only one other person who was waiting for the same ride. When 6 AM came around there was three more. Everyone but me had had two big suitcases. We waited and waited for our ride to came. Finally twenty minutes past his arrival time our minibus driver came with three other people from Ambassador House. Student Services planned for seven people but they didn't plan for seven people's luggage. I was so happy that I only had one suitcase and a carry-on bag.
Somehow we managed to get all of the luggage and people into the minibus, but that didn't mean that we left for the airport immediately. The driver was talking to the security guard inside the house for ten whole minutes before we began to whistle and say that we needed to go. He finally comes out and we discover that he barely speaks English and that he didn't know how to get out of the area. We had to direct him towards High Street Kensington before he knew where he was going. Even then he began to run red lights.
All of us began to wonder if we were going to make it to the airport alive. But we soon found ouselves waiting in traffic to exit the motorway at the Gatwick exit. The driver asked us when our flights were, and we told him between 10 and 10:30 AM. He responded that we had plenty of time to get to the airport. It was 8 o'clock. We all told him "No" and that we needed to check early at least three hours before we take off. Thankfully, the driver began to make more of an effort to get through the traffic and we finally arrived at the north gate.
Inside the airport we got in line to check in at British Airways and then went through security. I didn't go straight to my gate. I went to do a little shopping. I got a chocolate bar and a British Flag from one shop and I bought two books from the bookstore and then a sandwhich from a EATS for breakfast. I then found my gate and the Yanoff sisters, who were once again flying with me.
The flight was actually quite nice. I had a window seat this time, which I never had before. I think there is actually a little more leg room by the window and you are able to lean up against wall. It was comfy. Though you have to plan when is the best time to go to the bathroom. Always went when the sisters went. I watched two movies, one was V for Vendetta and then Ice Age 2: The Melt Down. My headphones weren't very good and then I fell asleep at the end of both, so I don't know what happens at the end of the movies. The meals weren't as good as when I flew to London, but I still ate it. Overal, however, everything was nice, and we landed in Dallas nine hours later.
Going through passport control was easy and finding my suitcase was easy too. I was almost in the clear when the last guard to see decided that I needed to go through more customs. So I went through the double doors to the side and waited in line for about twenty minutes. As I was waiting I realized that I did have some candy in my suitcase that I completely forgotten about and didn't mention on my Declaration Card, but I don't think that was the problem. (I am still exactly why I was sent through those double doors.) By the time I through the line all that the guard did was look things up on the computer and ask some questions like what I was studying and if I had a connecting flight to Austin. I told him about my classes, that my parents were picking me up, and also that forgot to mention the candy in my bag. But that was the extent of it. He didn't ask to look through my bags and he actually walked me to the door and told me where to go.
Finally free from security and customs I go through the double doors that lead to the main area of the airport. I spotted my mom and dad immediately. I was so excited! After my dad took some pictures of me and Mom, we got into the car and left the airport. We went to Steak n Shake for lunch. I got to eat a great tasting meal (the first in a very long time) and I got to call my grandma to let her know that I made it back home safe and sound. Stomachs full of burgers, fries, onion rings, chili, and milkshakes, we then headed for Austin.
Four hours later we are siting with my sister Evie at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant Chuy's for yet another wonderful meal and great big drinks. Then an hour and a half later I'm rummaging through my carry-on bag and handing out presents. I wanted to give my brothers their presents but they both left for camp today. I'll just have to wait until next week when they come back. The rest of the evening I lounged on the couch, watched TV, played with the cats and checked my email. But now it's time to hit the sack. My body is telling me that it is 4:30 AM instead of 11:30 PM. I'm going to have fun re-Americanizing myself this next few days.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
A Quick Tour of London on My Last Day
I spent my last day in London with Sarah D. and her friend Keya. Keya had arrived in London late Wednesday night. Today Sarah invited me to tag along as they did a a fast tour of the city for Keya. I thought it would be great to see the city for the last time and be with a friend for a day.
We started the day at the Tower Hill Tube station. There we took pictures of the Tower of London and of the London Wall. We then took the Tube to St. Paul's and took picture of the cathedral. We then walked across the Millennium Bridge and went into the Tate Modern so that Keya could see the interior of the converted power station. We went up to the second floor and sat on a balconey that had a great view of the Thames, the Millennium Bridge and St. Paul's. Plus the we got a good breeze from the altitude and from the air conditioning from the museum. It was very refreshing after walking in the heat.
From the Tate Modern, we walked down the river to see the Globe Theater that is next door. We then turned down the street. Sarah was going to show us where the Rose Theater stood and where the site of the original Globe Theater. When the plan to recreate the circular theater the wanted to build it on the same spot, however there was a house that is under the National Trust and so it couldn't be torn down. This is why the Globe is only a few blocks away. After this we found a McDonald's for lunch.
Stomachs full we then took the Tube from Tower Bridge to Westminster to show Keya Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament, and the Eye of London. The we went to St. James' Park and walked to Buckingham Palace. There took pictures of the palace and of the Victoria Memorial. I also told Keya how the all the flags were framed the streets and how the entire place was a sea of people during the Trooping of the Colours. From Buckingham we walked down Buckingham Palace Road to Victoria Station.
There we went into a Marks and Spencers, which is a department store that has a Food Hall that is found all over London. This particular M&S was only food. Sarah and I split a carton of fresh Pineapple and a Rasberry and Cranberry sparkling water. The Pineapple was so fresh, sweet and it was refreshingly chilled. It was great. After sitting on the floor, up against a fencing that seperates the stores from the train platforms and eating, we did a little bit of souvenier shopping before we took the Tube back to Gloucester Station.
We to the Atlantic House and situated Keya in the computer lab, which were Sarah and I left her while we went to eat our last meal in the cafeteria. We then went back to the computer lab and played around on the web for a while before we went to veg in front of the telly in the commons.
Around 9 PM we left to go to the Gloucester Arms pub to give Keya the traditional pub experience. Sarah and Keya each bought a glass of Pimm's, and was happy with my water. The pub was actually quiet tonight. Of course it was Friday and it was late. I liked it. If wasnt't for the smoking and the fact that I was leaving tomorrow, I would've gone back there for a meal.
From the Gloucester Arms we all went to the Ambassador House where Sarah lived. This was the first time I have ever been inside of Ambassador House. It wasn't that bad. I liked the stairwells better than the Atlantic's. Sarah's room was on the second floor and through a corner door. You woud've never thought that was a room and a public bathroom there, which maybe one of the reasons why Sarah hadn't gotten fresh sheets and her trash taken out for most of the six weeks. Her room was big enough to be a double, however it was single. I thought it was very nice. It was out of the way and you didn't hear much noise, except from the little kids that lived in the house behind the Ambassor.
After seeing the room, we went down to the commons, which really the front room of the town house. We watched TV for a couple house. It was nice to just hang out and do nothing. When there was nothing left on the telly to watch we went back to Sarah's room. Sarah and Keya began start organizing their room so that it would be easier to pack. I just sat there in the doorway talking to them for a while before I had to say good bye and go off and pack myself. It was sad to say bye to Sarah. Other than talking to her via the web, I wonder if I'll ever see her again.
Back in my room I began to pack. I had already began to the packing process earlier today, however I needed to pack all of my souveniers and presents and the remained of my clothes. I packed my suitcase full with the clothes from today, all of my notes from both my classes, by two bags (one of which I realized that I really didn't use except for a few times towards the beginining of the program), and all of my theater programs, tickets, maps that I've collected over the six weeks, and finally my shoes. I had just enough stuff that I had to use the expandable feature of the suitcase, especially if I wanted to fit some of my remaining toiletries that were worth taking back to the States. Done with the suitcase I then turned to my weekend bag. This I've deemed as my souvenier bag. I packed my teapot's box full of toilet paper and plastic bags so that the teapot wouldn't rattle around during the flight. The sugar bowl and cup and saucer were already wrapped in paper but I wrapped them up in one of my shawls so that they would be etra protected. I then began to back everything else into the bag. I was surprised that I actually had a little bit of room left over.
After my room was basically empty of everything, I decided to take a break and get a Mars bar from vending machine and cool down in the computer lab, which is almost completely empty. Everyone is off to the pubs and clubs to celebrate their last night with their friends and in London. It feels sorta weird to be leaving London. I told Sarah that I'm going to miss the Tube. I actually like the Tube. It is so easy to use and it gets around town fast. I wish there was a Tube in Texas. Even though I'm going to miss the city and the Tube I'll be happy to be back home.
We started the day at the Tower Hill Tube station. There we took pictures of the Tower of London and of the London Wall. We then took the Tube to St. Paul's and took picture of the cathedral. We then walked across the Millennium Bridge and went into the Tate Modern so that Keya could see the interior of the converted power station. We went up to the second floor and sat on a balconey that had a great view of the Thames, the Millennium Bridge and St. Paul's. Plus the we got a good breeze from the altitude and from the air conditioning from the museum. It was very refreshing after walking in the heat.
From the Tate Modern, we walked down the river to see the Globe Theater that is next door. We then turned down the street. Sarah was going to show us where the Rose Theater stood and where the site of the original Globe Theater. When the plan to recreate the circular theater the wanted to build it on the same spot, however there was a house that is under the National Trust and so it couldn't be torn down. This is why the Globe is only a few blocks away. After this we found a McDonald's for lunch.
Stomachs full we then took the Tube from Tower Bridge to Westminster to show Keya Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament, and the Eye of London. The we went to St. James' Park and walked to Buckingham Palace. There took pictures of the palace and of the Victoria Memorial. I also told Keya how the all the flags were framed the streets and how the entire place was a sea of people during the Trooping of the Colours. From Buckingham we walked down Buckingham Palace Road to Victoria Station.
There we went into a Marks and Spencers, which is a department store that has a Food Hall that is found all over London. This particular M&S was only food. Sarah and I split a carton of fresh Pineapple and a Rasberry and Cranberry sparkling water. The Pineapple was so fresh, sweet and it was refreshingly chilled. It was great. After sitting on the floor, up against a fencing that seperates the stores from the train platforms and eating, we did a little bit of souvenier shopping before we took the Tube back to Gloucester Station.
We to the Atlantic House and situated Keya in the computer lab, which were Sarah and I left her while we went to eat our last meal in the cafeteria. We then went back to the computer lab and played around on the web for a while before we went to veg in front of the telly in the commons.
Around 9 PM we left to go to the Gloucester Arms pub to give Keya the traditional pub experience. Sarah and Keya each bought a glass of Pimm's, and was happy with my water. The pub was actually quiet tonight. Of course it was Friday and it was late. I liked it. If wasnt't for the smoking and the fact that I was leaving tomorrow, I would've gone back there for a meal.
From the Gloucester Arms we all went to the Ambassador House where Sarah lived. This was the first time I have ever been inside of Ambassador House. It wasn't that bad. I liked the stairwells better than the Atlantic's. Sarah's room was on the second floor and through a corner door. You woud've never thought that was a room and a public bathroom there, which maybe one of the reasons why Sarah hadn't gotten fresh sheets and her trash taken out for most of the six weeks. Her room was big enough to be a double, however it was single. I thought it was very nice. It was out of the way and you didn't hear much noise, except from the little kids that lived in the house behind the Ambassor.
After seeing the room, we went down to the commons, which really the front room of the town house. We watched TV for a couple house. It was nice to just hang out and do nothing. When there was nothing left on the telly to watch we went back to Sarah's room. Sarah and Keya began start organizing their room so that it would be easier to pack. I just sat there in the doorway talking to them for a while before I had to say good bye and go off and pack myself. It was sad to say bye to Sarah. Other than talking to her via the web, I wonder if I'll ever see her again.
Back in my room I began to pack. I had already began to the packing process earlier today, however I needed to pack all of my souveniers and presents and the remained of my clothes. I packed my suitcase full with the clothes from today, all of my notes from both my classes, by two bags (one of which I realized that I really didn't use except for a few times towards the beginining of the program), and all of my theater programs, tickets, maps that I've collected over the six weeks, and finally my shoes. I had just enough stuff that I had to use the expandable feature of the suitcase, especially if I wanted to fit some of my remaining toiletries that were worth taking back to the States. Done with the suitcase I then turned to my weekend bag. This I've deemed as my souvenier bag. I packed my teapot's box full of toilet paper and plastic bags so that the teapot wouldn't rattle around during the flight. The sugar bowl and cup and saucer were already wrapped in paper but I wrapped them up in one of my shawls so that they would be etra protected. I then began to back everything else into the bag. I was surprised that I actually had a little bit of room left over.
After my room was basically empty of everything, I decided to take a break and get a Mars bar from vending machine and cool down in the computer lab, which is almost completely empty. Everyone is off to the pubs and clubs to celebrate their last night with their friends and in London. It feels sorta weird to be leaving London. I told Sarah that I'm going to miss the Tube. I actually like the Tube. It is so easy to use and it gets around town fast. I wish there was a Tube in Texas. Even though I'm going to miss the city and the Tube I'll be happy to be back home.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Woman in Black
After I turned in my paper and completed a class evaluation sheet, I headed out to Leicester Square to the TKTS ticker booth to buy a ticket for The Woman in Black play. By the time I got through the line the only ticket that was available was in row E in the Upper Circle, but it was only £7.50.
With my ticket safe in my wallet, I then went off to do a little a bit of shopping for people on my list. Then with presents in one hand and a bag of Jelly Bellies in the other, I went back to the Atlantic House for dinner before I went off to theater.
The Woman in Black is a thriller play that is at the Fortune Theater in Convent Garden and is across the street from the Drury Lane Theater. The play was adapted from the novel "The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story" by Susan Hill. It is scary. It is about a haunting experience that the man Arthur Kipps had when he was a young man when he was sent out to handle the estate and papers of a deceased client.
The play had only two actors, sans who ever plays the Woman in Black, the actor or actress anonymous, that reenact the story of the haunting. It got really creepy at some points. There would be screams from the ghost and then from the audience, which would laugh afterwards to relieve anymore fear they had left over from the screams. However after awhile I couldn't tell whether the screams where coming from the stage or from the audience. It was great. I have to admitt that I was a little scared walking back to the Atlantic House at 10:30 PM. The Tube was fine cause all of the people, however the number of people thin out when I got to Gloucester Road.
My seat wasn't that bad actually. The theater was quite small and intimate. Of course, because of the height and the fact that The Fortune theater is an old theater, it was a bit stuffy and hot. I had to break down and bought an ice cream during the intermission. If I was going to see the show again, however, I think I would like to have a seat either in the front few rows of the Dress Circle or somewhere in the middle of the Stalls. If anyone likes ghost stories, this is a great play to see. I would like to read the book.
With my ticket safe in my wallet, I then went off to do a little a bit of shopping for people on my list. Then with presents in one hand and a bag of Jelly Bellies in the other, I went back to the Atlantic House for dinner before I went off to theater.
The Woman in Black is a thriller play that is at the Fortune Theater in Convent Garden and is across the street from the Drury Lane Theater. The play was adapted from the novel "The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story" by Susan Hill. It is scary. It is about a haunting experience that the man Arthur Kipps had when he was a young man when he was sent out to handle the estate and papers of a deceased client.
The play had only two actors, sans who ever plays the Woman in Black, the actor or actress anonymous, that reenact the story of the haunting. It got really creepy at some points. There would be screams from the ghost and then from the audience, which would laugh afterwards to relieve anymore fear they had left over from the screams. However after awhile I couldn't tell whether the screams where coming from the stage or from the audience. It was great. I have to admitt that I was a little scared walking back to the Atlantic House at 10:30 PM. The Tube was fine cause all of the people, however the number of people thin out when I got to Gloucester Road.
My seat wasn't that bad actually. The theater was quite small and intimate. Of course, because of the height and the fact that The Fortune theater is an old theater, it was a bit stuffy and hot. I had to break down and bought an ice cream during the intermission. If I was going to see the show again, however, I think I would like to have a seat either in the front few rows of the Dress Circle or somewhere in the middle of the Stalls. If anyone likes ghost stories, this is a great play to see. I would like to read the book.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
School Work Finished!
I'm so happy that I thought it deserved a post. I have finally finished my last paper for my Museums and Galleries class! This paper counts as my final and was on the topic of how I think future generations will view and interpret our contemporary art.
Writing this paper was a little stressful. This past week I've been keeping random notes about certain works of art I've seen during my museum visits. My plan was to go through them and organize them so they would provide the base for my paper. Our professor first said that the paper can be turned in either Thursday or Friday. However, it was just today that two other girls and I found out that the rest of the class had decided yesterday, while we we off on an errand, that the paper was going to be turned in Thursday - tomorrow. We had no idea and now found ourselves with one day less to work on it.
So I decided to forget the idea of seeing another play tonight and to spend all afternoon in the computer lab and write this paper. I wish I had more warning to organize my notes and thoughts, however I think I did quite well under such a time constrant. I must thank my dad for helping me proofread it. After spending several hours at a computer my brain had turned to mush and I couldn't tell if my paper made any sense. Thankfully, it does. I hope that my teacher likes it.
As I think about it now, I really didn't mind being in the computer lab all day. It's the only place in the Atlantic House that has air coniditioning. It is brutally hot over here - it's well into tho 90s! If I had gone through with my idea of buying a theater ticket and then finishing my shopping today I would've died. I even decided that I had to wear a skirt today and flip flops, however even then I was still hot when I went to see the Wallace Collection for class this morning.
Of course, I shouldn't complain too much about the heat here cause on Saturday I will be returning to Texas. But at least in Texas we have air conditioning all over the house! I can't wait!
Writing this paper was a little stressful. This past week I've been keeping random notes about certain works of art I've seen during my museum visits. My plan was to go through them and organize them so they would provide the base for my paper. Our professor first said that the paper can be turned in either Thursday or Friday. However, it was just today that two other girls and I found out that the rest of the class had decided yesterday, while we we off on an errand, that the paper was going to be turned in Thursday - tomorrow. We had no idea and now found ourselves with one day less to work on it.
So I decided to forget the idea of seeing another play tonight and to spend all afternoon in the computer lab and write this paper. I wish I had more warning to organize my notes and thoughts, however I think I did quite well under such a time constrant. I must thank my dad for helping me proofread it. After spending several hours at a computer my brain had turned to mush and I couldn't tell if my paper made any sense. Thankfully, it does. I hope that my teacher likes it.
As I think about it now, I really didn't mind being in the computer lab all day. It's the only place in the Atlantic House that has air coniditioning. It is brutally hot over here - it's well into tho 90s! If I had gone through with my idea of buying a theater ticket and then finishing my shopping today I would've died. I even decided that I had to wear a skirt today and flip flops, however even then I was still hot when I went to see the Wallace Collection for class this morning.
Of course, I shouldn't complain too much about the heat here cause on Saturday I will be returning to Texas. But at least in Texas we have air conditioning all over the house! I can't wait!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Harry Potter Walking Tour
This evening I went on a Harry Potter walking tour. I liked it. Instead of going to certain parts of city where they filmed some of the movies this tour visited sites that inspired parts of the stories. Of course, now as I read the desctiption of the walk on the walking tour's website - The Original London Walks - I understand the walk even more. This is what it says:
Wizards, Werewolves & Vampires
Nothing like a night-time stroll to give you ideas
Let's put the cat amongst the pixies: Harry Potter isn't just kids' stuff. There are very real tales - and real locales - behind the stories of Harry and friends. Those tales, those locales inform this walk. Was there really an invisibility cloak? What's the truth behind the Philosophers' Stone? What place inspired Diagon Alley? Where was the legend of Dracula born? Where in a famous movie did a werewolf go on a rampage? There's good gripping London stuff behind a lot of the Harry Potter goings on - everything from characters' names to the origin of monsters. We'll solve a mystery or two: e.g., where is the entrance to The Ministry of Magic and can we get in? In short, this walk is a serious study of a subject more fantastical than fiction. And, yes, there's even some magic.
Yes, there was magic. There was a lot of swishing of a wand that would send out sparks. It was a little corny, but the guide was so into it that it was cute. So onto the walk. Yes, we did learn about the the idea of the invisibility cloak. There was a man, whose name and profession I have now forgotten, that thought that he had an invisibility cloak that was covered in symbols and such. However, it was all in his head and people really saw him when he was wearing it. He did ask a friend once "Why then does no one talk to me?" Are you thinking what I'm thinking?We then learned about Nicholas Flamel. Flamel was a real man. He was a French alchemist and a bookseller. He dreamt of a book one night and then the next day a man comes into his shop with the very book. It was The Book of Abraham the Jew, and it was written in an ancient form of Hebrew, which Flamel did not know. Later in life, Flamel met a man who could translate the text, but the man died before he could finish. Left with only the translated bits, Flamel took it upon himself to use what he had so far to finish the translation. And what did this book talk about? The secret of the Philosophers' Stone, which not only brings you enternal life but the ability to make metal into gold. Through Flamel's experiences he became rich and used the money to build hospitals, churches, and housing for the poor.
Now the question is whether or not Flamel gained eternal life. Well, on his death he was supposedly buried his wife and the tomb was sealed. However, over the years people claimed to have seen him and his wife alive around the world. So people began to actually buy stocks in whether or not Flamel was alive. After awhile, the police were tired of the idea of such a silly notion of such a stock and the only way they could prove that the Flamel and his wife were dead was to open the tomb. And when they finally did they found - nothing. It was empty. And what happened to The Book Abraham the Jew? No one knows.
We then walked over to Trafalger Square and found the call box that is the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, which is across the way from the entrance of the National Portrait Gallery. No, we didn't try to get in.
We then walked up the street a little and then to a street that leads to Leicester Sqaure. There we saw the hardly noticed door that goes to a very exclusive gentlemens club. It was in here that writer Bram Stoker met a man who came from the region around the area of Transylvania. Through stories from this foreigner, Stoker learned about a man named Vlad the Impaler and his horrid method of putting people, while they are still alive, onto stakes. He was a man that did not like his borders crossed and his peace distrubed. Stoker was inspired and took Vlad's surname of Dracula and decided to turn him into a vampire, and the story of the Dracula the vampire was born.
At the end of our walk we headed up Charing Cross to a little alley, the only one on this street, that must be the inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. There are a lot of little bookshops and antiquities shops, one of which does sell stuffed owls. It was really cool.Oh, because it was mentioned in the walk description above, the location for the werewolf in the movie American Werewolf in London is at Picadilly Circus.
Over all the walk was fun. I liked learning about little known facts behind the stories such as the story of Dracula and so on. If anyone is interested in the walk, it is normally done on Sunday. But be wary, there will be a lot of kids who especially love the call box that leads to the Ministry of Magic. We were told by the guide that every single kid wants to try to get in it. Sounds very cute.
Monday, July 17, 2006
A Day In Leicester Square
I had a packed day in Leicester Square. Since I hadn't signed up to see Evita with the rest of the program, I decided that I was going to see the Agatha Christie's play "The Mousetrap." This is the longest playing show in London. It premiered in 1952 and has never stopped showing. I got lost finding the theater. I accidently went down the wrong way on Charing Cross, but I soon found it. I decided that I really wanted a good seat for once and so I spent £20 for a front seat in the Upper Circle.
Once I had my ticket I headed back to Leicester Square to do a little bit of shopping for my people back home. I then broke down yet again, because it was so hot, and I bought a rasberry frap from Starbucks. It might be a little expensive but it was sure worth it.
Normally after I finish what I set out to do I head back to the Atlantic house and eat dinner and then later go to my show. But today I decided to stand around and wait for a movie premiere to start. The movie was Stormbreaker, which was filmed in London, and has stars like Alex Pettyfer (a teen hearthrob here), Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, Robbie Coltrane, and so on.
So I stand around for a bit and then they start putting up the barriers, so I get my spot second row from the fence. After an hour or so the crowd grew bigger, especially when they laid out the red carpet. After a while the woman that I was standing next to and I began to talk. After another while I figured out that she was from Manchester and was in London for the day talking to casting agencies. We both wanted to see Ewan McGregor.
Finally, after standing for almost two hours, the stars began to arrive. Since we were standing right in front of the theater, we saw everyone. Billy Nighy was the first to arrive, then there was Alicia Silverstone, and then there was Alex Pettyfer. Of course they all head to the spots where the news cameras were first and then they made their way towards us. By that time two 14 year olds had weezled past us and were making horrible high pitched screams and yelling "Come over here!" all the time, and from behind and from both sides I was being squished. I could barely move, but at least I got some pictures.
It was getting closer to 7:30PM, which was when I really needed to leave for the theater, but I decided to wait a little longer and see if anyone else was coming. And finally, Ewan McGregor showed up. He looks better in person than he does in his pictures. He's very handsome and has great hair. Satisfied, the lady and I slowly made our way out and compared pictures of the clebrities we saw. We didn't do too badly. We then parted ways forever. I decided that I will probably never go to another premiere again, or at least one that involves teen heartthrobes.
I hurried up the street to the St. Martin's Theater to see The Mousetrap. I got to my seat and chugged down an entire bottle of water. I was really looking forward to sitting in a comfy seat and watching a mystery play.
The show was great. I loved the set - which apparently hasn't changed much since the show started in 1952. The actors were very good and were very convincing. I tried my hardest to figure out who was the murderer. I was close, but I didn't get it. But I won't tell you who did it. It's tradition explained at the end of the show to tell the audience that now that we have seen the show we are part of the crime itself, and should never reveal the murderer's identity. Ironically enough, this was done by the murderer. A nice touch. I really liked the show and the seat was great. Well worth the money.
I made my way back to the Atlantic house and took a well needed shower. I then had a very late dinner of Cadbury chocolate and a orange soda from the vending machines down in the commons and then it was on to the computer labs.
Once I had my ticket I headed back to Leicester Square to do a little bit of shopping for my people back home. I then broke down yet again, because it was so hot, and I bought a rasberry frap from Starbucks. It might be a little expensive but it was sure worth it.
Normally after I finish what I set out to do I head back to the Atlantic house and eat dinner and then later go to my show. But today I decided to stand around and wait for a movie premiere to start. The movie was Stormbreaker, which was filmed in London, and has stars like Alex Pettyfer (a teen hearthrob here), Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, Robbie Coltrane, and so on.
So I stand around for a bit and then they start putting up the barriers, so I get my spot second row from the fence. After an hour or so the crowd grew bigger, especially when they laid out the red carpet. After a while the woman that I was standing next to and I began to talk. After another while I figured out that she was from Manchester and was in London for the day talking to casting agencies. We both wanted to see Ewan McGregor. Finally, after standing for almost two hours, the stars began to arrive. Since we were standing right in front of the theater, we saw everyone. Billy Nighy was the first to arrive, then there was Alicia Silverstone, and then there was Alex Pettyfer. Of course they all head to the spots where the news cameras were first and then they made their way towards us. By that time two 14 year olds had weezled past us and were making horrible high pitched screams and yelling "Come over here!" all the time, and from behind and from both sides I was being squished. I could barely move, but at least I got some pictures. It was getting closer to 7:30PM, which was when I really needed to leave for the theater, but I decided to wait a little longer and see if anyone else was coming. And finally, Ewan McGregor showed up. He looks better in person than he does in his pictures. He's very handsome and has great hair. Satisfied, the lady and I slowly made our way out and compared pictures of the clebrities we saw. We didn't do too badly. We then parted ways forever. I decided that I will probably never go to another premiere again, or at least one that involves teen heartthrobes. I hurried up the street to the St. Martin's Theater to see The Mousetrap. I got to my seat and chugged down an entire bottle of water. I was really looking forward to sitting in a comfy seat and watching a mystery play.The show was great. I loved the set - which apparently hasn't changed much since the show started in 1952. The actors were very good and were very convincing. I tried my hardest to figure out who was the murderer. I was close, but I didn't get it. But I won't tell you who did it. It's tradition explained at the end of the show to tell the audience that now that we have seen the show we are part of the crime itself, and should never reveal the murderer's identity. Ironically enough, this was done by the murderer. A nice touch. I really liked the show and the seat was great. Well worth the money.
I made my way back to the Atlantic house and took a well needed shower. I then had a very late dinner of Cadbury chocolate and a orange soda from the vending machines down in the commons and then it was on to the computer labs.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Walking Around London
Today I was on my own. So what did I do? I basically went all over the northern part of the city to find houses that belonged to famous writers and poets. I started off with the local area.
Just around the corner there is the apartment building where T.S. Eliot lived and died. His widow still lives in the apartment. When I first arrived in London, on my Kensington walking tour, the tour guide told us that one time the fire alarm went off and everyone had to evacuate, however the Mrs. Eliot didn't come out. Everyone started to get worried, but then she suddenly comes out with an armful of papers that must have belonged to her husband. But what type of papers were they? Were they an unseen manuscrpt of some sort? Who knows.
In the opposite direction there is the street De Vere Gardens. Here is the house that the poet Robert Browning lived and died in.
From this place I walked up to and along High Street Kensington and then up towards Notting Hill. On Sheffield Terrace, which is off of Campden Hill Road, there is the house that Agatha Christie once lived. I couldn't really read the blue plague with her name on it because the house was behind a wall and cause I think my eye sight is changing.
I walked further up the road to the Notting Hill Tube station. I took the Tube to Baker street. However on the way there, at the Edgware Road station, we had to leave one train and go to another one because there was something either wrong with the train itself or the tracks. I could barely understand what the man was saying on the P.A. system, so I just followed the other people to the other train. However, from there we didn't leave the station either. Thankfully it turns out that I had to actually find another train that was heading the direction that I wanted. Even though I was finally on the right train I still had to wait almost ten minutes before it actually started moving. Blah.
Finally at Baker Street I walked down to Gloucester Place where Elizabeth Barret Browning lived, and then I walked all the way to Wimpole Street where she also lived. On Upper Wimpole Street 
I saw the house where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loved and wrote his famous mysteries.
I then took the Tube to the Russel Street stop and walked to see the Dickens' House Museum. 
I then took the Tube to Moorgate. On this road is the building were John Keats was born. I thought I had found the building, however it turns out that I didn't. I think I passed by the pub that that now stands on the site and didn't even realized it. I'm really disappointed. I'll have to go back sometime and really search for it.
Since I was in the area I went back to some of the sites that I had seen while on my Jack the Ripper walking tour. I really didn't have a lot of time during the tour to see everything. I'm surprised that I remembered exactly where things were. After that I had lost all of my energy. I walked to the Liverpool station where I broke down and bought a rasberry frapaccino from Starbucks and took the Tube back to Kensington.
I took a cold shower to wash off all of the grime that I picked up as I ventured around the city and then took a nap. For dinner I broke down yet again and had an Ameican style dinner - McDonald's. Since I had a chocolate muffin for lunch with a orange soda and the rasberry frap, I decided to stuff myself full with chicken nuggents and fries. I rarely eat at McDonald's but I certainly loved it tonight.
I'm actually getting homesick for good food. Food in London is actually sort of bland. The only thing that was really savory was the West Cornwall pasty, but that's it. I miss my Tex-Mex, the sugar free ice tea, grape soda (yes! I admit I love grape soda!), chinese food, and of course my mom's cooking. But when July 22nd comes around I'll get all of this back.
Just around the corner there is the apartment building where T.S. Eliot lived and died. His widow still lives in the apartment. When I first arrived in London, on my Kensington walking tour, the tour guide told us that one time the fire alarm went off and everyone had to evacuate, however the Mrs. Eliot didn't come out. Everyone started to get worried, but then she suddenly comes out with an armful of papers that must have belonged to her husband. But what type of papers were they? Were they an unseen manuscrpt of some sort? Who knows. In the opposite direction there is the street De Vere Gardens. Here is the house that the poet Robert Browning lived and died in. From this place I walked up to and along High Street Kensington and then up towards Notting Hill. On Sheffield Terrace, which is off of Campden Hill Road, there is the house that Agatha Christie once lived. I couldn't really read the blue plague with her name on it because the house was behind a wall and cause I think my eye sight is changing.I walked further up the road to the Notting Hill Tube station. I took the Tube to Baker street. However on the way there, at the Edgware Road station, we had to leave one train and go to another one because there was something either wrong with the train itself or the tracks. I could barely understand what the man was saying on the P.A. system, so I just followed the other people to the other train. However, from there we didn't leave the station either. Thankfully it turns out that I had to actually find another train that was heading the direction that I wanted. Even though I was finally on the right train I still had to wait almost ten minutes before it actually started moving. Blah.
Finally at Baker Street I walked down to Gloucester Place where Elizabeth Barret Browning lived, and then I walked all the way to Wimpole Street where she also lived. On Upper Wimpole Street I saw the house where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loved and wrote his famous mysteries. I then took the Tube to the Russel Street stop and walked to see the Dickens' House Museum. I then took the Tube to Moorgate. On this road is the building were John Keats was born. I thought I had found the building, however it turns out that I didn't. I think I passed by the pub that that now stands on the site and didn't even realized it. I'm really disappointed. I'll have to go back sometime and really search for it.Since I was in the area I went back to some of the sites that I had seen while on my Jack the Ripper walking tour. I really didn't have a lot of time during the tour to see everything. I'm surprised that I remembered exactly where things were. After that I had lost all of my energy. I walked to the Liverpool station where I broke down and bought a rasberry frapaccino from Starbucks and took the Tube back to Kensington.
I took a cold shower to wash off all of the grime that I picked up as I ventured around the city and then took a nap. For dinner I broke down yet again and had an Ameican style dinner - McDonald's. Since I had a chocolate muffin for lunch with a orange soda and the rasberry frap, I decided to stuff myself full with chicken nuggents and fries. I rarely eat at McDonald's but I certainly loved it tonight.
I'm actually getting homesick for good food. Food in London is actually sort of bland. The only thing that was really savory was the West Cornwall pasty, but that's it. I miss my Tex-Mex, the sugar free ice tea, grape soda (yes! I admit I love grape soda!), chinese food, and of course my mom's cooking. But when July 22nd comes around I'll get all of this back.
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