When traveling to London for the first time it is important to hit all of the historic sites of the city.
That is why I walked the London Bridge at Midnight, directly after my arrival in the city. And not 6 hours later found myself crossing the Millennium Bridge to get to the Tate Modern (which is free, like all British Museums and currently featuring POP- dadaism, surrealism and pop art in general). One of my favorite new pieces was “Alice in Wonderland” were the viewer had to clamber about 15-20 ft pieces of furniture. It is a baffling experience exploring everyday objects such as a kitchen table and chairs from a new lower perspective.
At the National Gallery I saw Michelangelo’s “The Entombment”, Holbein’s “The Ambassadors” Vermeer’s “Young Woman at a Window” and so much more, including many Renoir, Monet and VanGogh. Due to rain I ended up at the British Museum, viewing the Rosetta Stone, figurines from the Parthenon, mummies and entombment clothing, a Hispanic Revolution exhibit and the oldest clock in the world. My travel companion, continually noted that everything was “just like in his textbook pictures!” Funny thing that…
Big Ben has a rather quiet ring for all the hype, standing on the Westminster bridge waiting to hear it ring at twenty meters away Icould only just discern it’s bells over the traffic. The Tube is an incredibly effective mode of transit. The automated voice reminding me to “mind that gap” is still reverberating in my head. Double decker buses on the other hand push thought the streets at reckless speed, but as I never once saw an accident I must assume that the British have a method to their madness.
Fear not dear readers: I am not through with my adventures yet. After watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace. I at lunch under the great monument at Trafalgar square. I climbed the London Fire Memorial to see the entire city from above and I traveled into Shakespeare’s Globe and the National Theater for the afternoon.
In order to hit up the West End Theatre I acquired tickets to La Cage Aux Follies, The birdcage. The second night I went to a show called Mrs. Klein. As soon as I entered a voice called over the house-announcer: “all rise for her majesty”, I shot out of my seat so fast I almost fell over the balcony. The Queen was attending the same show as me! She is a patron of the theater and always attends opening nights. Judging by the back of her head I dub her to be charming with a very elegant wave and purposeful way of sitting down, dainty but controlled. She also had a great hat green with a partial face veil and two feathers sticking out of the top, very English.
The show itself was incredible. Directed by Thea Sharrock, (the same woman who directed Equus at the West End and then for Broadway, As you Like It at the Globe, etc) it was a show which had so much internal struggle that I was blown away by the subtlety of the acting. Having seen numerous shows in my life I have never been as impressed or emotionally invested as I was as this tine. Perhaps viewing a show with royalty near me skewed my vision, but I would like to believe that the British really got this right. This was realistic theater at its best, it was story-telling which demanded catharsis from the audience, just as any good theatre ought to.
Not to leave out Cinema while on my London-Arts-Kick I went to see the opening of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Heath Ledger’s last movie, with roles shared by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Ferral). It was a Terry Guilman film, enough said. To make it a double feature I also watched An Education, I will admit I believe Mona Lisa Smile got a better message through to the audience. But as a devout Emma Thompson fan, have nothing more to say than that.
For my final day in London I attempted to go out to Stone Henge. Two hours out on the train I found out that it is a 30 quid taxi ride to the stones themselves. Since that was not feasable (low budget traveling) I turned around and toured Charles Dickens’s childhood home and writing studio. The space was dark, dreary, and dank. Even the aging of the carefully preserved quills he used to write with were gloomy and droopy. Following such depression I allowed my young new acquaintance, Eddie to guide me on a library hunt in the city. Together we saw the King’s Cross Library and three other inner-city branches “ooing”and “ahhing” in unison over the brilliant fundraiser ideas each branch used and over each collection.
Then it was over, far too quickly. I hit the highlights. I saw the queen. But can one really write down all the interesting people, beautiful places and fascinating moments that one has? Suffice to say I had a wet and touristic time in the historic city of the English.
intrepid trekking 