The Theatre

How on earth am I going to live without this? I really just don't know. Everyone knows that during finals week if you study non-stop your brain will actually explode- it's a proven fact. So I choose to break up my centre isolation periods by seeing a bunch of amazing shows. Here are their run downs.

Mama Mia:
Surprisingly good. I would have to say that they had the cleanest dance routines out of the 7 musicals I've seen this year. And their vocals were relatively solid as well. Overall, it was just a fun show.

The RSC's Hamlet:
Probably the best show I've ever seen or might ever see. First of all, I was so lucky. I was able to see Tennent's last night of performing Hamlet before his back injury was too much. If he comes back, it'll be after Christmas, so basically if I hadn't gone Saturday, I wouldn't have been able to see him in it and that would have been very sad.
So the play- why was it so good. It was a more comical interpretation than is normal, but the comedy was a done as a dark sarcasm. There were amusing elements but you never forgot that the play is essentially rather depressing. It was really just little things. Like how Ophelia brushes Hamlets hand as she walks by him in the second scene, and the masterful bumbling by Polonius, and the cut to intermission as Hamlet is about to kill Claudius as he's praying. It was pure brilliance. And oh my gosh, the bedroom scene with his mother. I don't even know what to say. His violent emotions pushing him towards the edge of madness exhibited by pulling her about the room. It was so powerful. I'm hopefully going to see it again tomorrow with the understudies because I loved the production so much and I'm such an RSC groupie.

Twelfth Night:
Well in it's defense, I saw the RSC three days beforehand, and I doubt any company in the world can compare. But it wasn't the most impressive production I've seen. I'm not exactly sure what era of dress they were going for, but it was rather confusing. And at times I consciously felt like they were speaking a Shakespearian dialect, which is not so when you see his plays done by a really good company. However, Derek Jacobi did quite a good job as Malvolio and it was enjoyable. And it certainly helped when I took my Shakespeare final.

War Horse:
Totally enchanting. The two horses were done even better than the animals in the Lion King and that's saying something. They were beautiful and the story was touching. The production in general--- the musical narration at the end of every scene. The "ripped paper" backdrop that is connected to the officer's notebook. It was really a very impressive piece.

Les Miserables:
for the second time. And let me tell you, it doesn't get old. I was still blown away by the production and the voices. Oh they were so good. They get my vote for, best vocals in a musical in London, best use of a rotating stage, and best musical of all time. :)

And that's all. I mean I did have to write three papers and study for tests this week too. So there's my highlights of the london theatre this week. Hope you enjoyed it cause I certainly did.

Hyde Park Chapel

I would venture to say that the Hyde Park Chapel, located on Exhibition Road right by the V&A and Royal Albert Hall, is among the church's most visible meetinghouses in the world. With its amazing location, come great responsibility. The chapel has regular musical recitals and a permanent Genealogy Center; both of which allow investigators and curious passers-by to stop in and learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Little did the first missionaries to the great city of London know that not far from Hyde Park Corner where they were persecuted and heckled, there would stand a central feature of the Church in Great Britain. This would be a beautiful and imposing building where the saints could meet and worship in peace, and a location that would allow the building itself to function as a missionary tool to forward the work.

Our visit to the neighborhood synagogue

Living in the society we do, mostly people learn snippets about many different religions, even if it is from the popular medium of movies. Judaism is one of these religions that is frequently portrayed, though often with stereotypical practices. But it is a very different matter to actually talk to a member of a congregation, such as the one right around the corner from our home. What I thought of most of the time during our visit was the many similarities we share (understandable considering Christianity is a sort of break ofr of the Jewish faith, and if not that, the culture) such as: strict sabbath worship, diet guidelines, and the central feature of a temple in religious practices, though theirs is more in memory of previous temple.

But in addition to this, I thought of how much of their religion, and religion in general, functions as a preserver of culture. In the Jewish faith it includes learning the Jewish language and practices that set them a part from the rest of the world. It's easy to see how people are still able to have so many of the cultural characteristics frequently showcased in film, they're cultivated as a part of practicing their faith. Just as the new wave of Mormon film showcases our little quirks.

Sainte Chapelle

I went into Sainte Chapelle with absolutely no expectations. Someone had mentioned that they wanted to see it and it wasn't far from Notre Dame so we went. I wasn't expecting anything, but what I got was the embodiment of everything associated with Catholicism as opposed to the heavily Anglican-ized cathedrals in Britain. It was fascinating to actually see the painted walls that I've heard of so often in reference to their being painted over during the reformation. These colors, combined with the massive amount of stained glass had an overwhelming affect, something I think the Catholic church was going for when they constructed the chapel for the monarchs of France.

Walk Among the Scholars

My photo essay for the Scholars walk documents one of my favorite quirks about London. Because the homes here are generally all Victorian or Georgian they look relatively the same. However, the British people in an attempt to express their personality, have painted their doors in many different shades of many different colors. Blue, Green, Black... whatever they felt would suit them best. And seeing these doors just makes me happy as I walk by them and is another little thing that I love about London.

Sherlock Holmes

I'm not going to lie, I didn't spend an exorbitant amount of time at the Sherlock Holmes Museum. I found a little bit creepy and didn't feel like sticking around. Although I did stick around long enough to take a picture with Dr. Watson.

A couple of things that I did take note of:

First of all, how bustling Baker Street is. For some reason I imagined it to be a tucked away back road, or even a mew style of street. But in reality it's quite busy and the museum at 221b looks out over all the action. It actually would have been a very noisy location.

It also spoke leaps and bounds about the cult that is Sherlocktonia. The people all in period dress and all of the little details gleaned from nuances in Connon-Doyle's inconsistencies. It would have been any one of these anonymous fan's dreams to ramble around the lodgings of the character that's almost become alive in their imagination. Though eerie to me, I'm sure a true fan would love all of the wax figures throughout the upper rooms and be able to identify each of them from their particular short story.

It was also interesting to see so well restored the home of a more middle class individual. So often through the program we've been to visit the great houses of Britain and the luxury that the aristocracy live in; however, the Victorian era witnessing the birth of the middle class, it was fun to see the conditions they were likely to live in.

The Shore

I've been to the rocky beaches of San Pedro, California and the sandy beaches of Waikiki, Hawaii, but neither of these are quite comparable to what I encountered in Cornwall at Porthcuro beach. While reading Rebbecca by Daphne du Marier I wasn't every able to wrap my mind around the setting that is so central to the novel until I actually saw it. It is a different form of beach all together. I never understood how the rocky cliffs recede into rolling hills of course grass and as you walk along them you encounter coves of sandy beaches. The scenes truly overwhelm the senses. As beautiful as they were, its apparent how easily the experience could turn painful. There are cliffs to fall off, harsh storms brought in by the ocean, and a seclusion that could easily give the privacy needed for a murder to occur. Something could happen in one cove and people in the next one down the shore would have no idea. Daphne du Marier uses this wonderful setting and couple it with the dimension of a country house to create a pervasive romantic, yet thrilling suspense throughout the course of the novel. Though effective without the firsthand knowledge of the terrain, Porthcuro beach has actually opened my eyes to the majesty of Rebbecca's setting and the master way du Marier utilizes it.

National Portrait Gallery- Romantics and Victorians

Though many of the other portraits were done with a great amount of skill, because I didn't know who they were and what their lives had been like, they remained a row of anonymous face, while the arts and literature rooms were like meeting some of my heroes. It was actually quite enjoyable to wander through the National Portrait Gallery because I discovered that over the semester I have truly come to know some of our authors. For instance, I went into the Romantics section first and recognized Mary Wollstonecraft immediately. In addition to Mary I was also able to pick out the Brontes and Queen Victoria, but several others were new to me. It was great to be able to finally connect a face with the names printed on the covers of our texts. I must say-- Lord Byron was nothing like I expected. There were definite elements of his time living abroad and I never thought of him with a mustache. Elizabeth Barret Browning was quite an unattractive woman, so much so that the contrast between her appearance and her poetry was almost jarring. I must add that I developed a new respect for Robert Browning for loving her purely for herself and her mind. And lastly, I've decided that Tennyson is officially my literary crush. He's a brilliant poet and quite an attractive man if the painting is any likeness.

Pre-Raphaelite- Tate Britain

I absolutely fell in love with several of the Pre-Raphaelite paintings at the Tate Britain, two of which are Saint Euralia by Waterhouse and Hope by George Fredric Watts.

In Saint Euralia the contrasts are what set it apart. The scene at first glance appears serene because of the fallen snow and disinterested people, but when the true subject matter is brought into context, it is actually about the violent death of a saint. The stark contrast between he hair and the the whiteness of the snow is intriguing. And the fact that her body does not lie straight down the center of the frame, but instead torques to the left expresses the rebellion of the Pre-Raphaelites against classical forms as well as jarring the viewer of the painting further.

Hope is one of the most simple and profound painting I've ever encountered. The figure is centered in a humble and vulnerable position and yet it remains valiantly firm in its conviction not to give into discouragement. The piece is set off by the deep palate of rich blues Watts uses. But the overall message is mainly portrayed in the symbolic attributes of the piece. That hope continues on blindly through all circumstances, and that she attempts to create beauty with what she has-- even if it's only the music produced from the one string left on her instrument.

Tintern Abbey

I had a lovely experience at Tintern abbey For me it was peaceful and picturesque to sing in a very natural and ancient setting. These are some of my favorite memories of the trip; however, it was easy to see how the setting could quickly turn quite frightening. It was remote, only surrounded by a small village, and even then, tucked away into the forest on the outskirts of society. it reminded me of the parish in A Morbid Taste for Bones and the spread out community that they served. In addition to its seclusion, there ware many potentially creepy aspects of the building itself. The scarcity of natural light (when it had a roof of course) would create many dark corners and through the ruins you can also see signs of different rooms and levels. Being a house of religious worship, not all of the areas were used as living space, and many were probably left empty unless specifically they were being used in a religious service-- or perhaps a secret murder.
The abbey was bound to have a thriving community within it, in addition to the one it served, Priests, nuns, monks, cooks, etc might have all lived under this relatively small roof. After several years they were bound to get on each other's nerves. And finally-- the treasures of which the abbey was stripped of during the reformation, were a constant liability which they did take some precautions to protect. One of which was the surrounding wall. A crime, though more interesting from a writers perspective to come from the inside, could also be perpetrated by an outsider for this very motive.

James Bond Exhibit the IWM

Going to the Ian Fleming exhibit focusing on his authorship of the James Bond novels was especially enlightening already knowing a bit about the subject. I particularly enjoyed the set up of the exhibit because it highlighted the inspiration Fleming gleaned from his work with the government by juxtapositioning some of the missions he was involved in planning and those that 007 accomplishes in the novels. I also found interesting the many hobbies and interests of Fleming's that found their was into Bond's character. There was a good balance between discussion of Fleming as a person, the books, and the movies which I felt all contributed to a well rounded view of the topic as a whole.
Although the books and movies do focus on military exploits, it was interesting to me to find the exhibit at the Imperial War Museum. James Bond has always represented a romanticized military figure created purely for entertainment value, rather than having any connection to the horrible reality of war. However, with Fleming's inside knowledge into the secret service activities of the British government, I will concede that there are probably some insights into this subject that can be gained from the James Bond novel.

Turn of the Season

I've been away from my beloved England for 5 days and it's already changed during that time. The wind now bites as it rushes past you, the last leaves have fallen from the trees, and the shopping centers are now into full fledged Christmas decorating mode. I'm sad to see fall pass away and with it most of my stay here in London, but as I rambled around Little Venice and Chelsea this afternoon, I realized that I love this city more than ever. Leaving it will truly be like leaving a good friend and so I'll attempt to enjoy every blessed second here.

But you were probably wanting to know a little bit about my trip to Paris.

We basically walked around all day (no exaggeration there) and so there would be a lot to describe. Therefore you just get my favorite parts.

The grounds at Versailles were stunning
Sants Chappel was my favorite cathedral by far (out of the entire trip)
Crepes everyday (and sometimes two)
The salad I had at the Pizzeria by the Louvre
Doing the polka down the gallery at the Paris opera house
And number one on my list goes to all of the museums.
The Louvre, The Rodin, The Orangerie, the Orsay, the National Gallery of Modern Art. It was mind blowing to see real life Micheal Angelos, and Picassos, and Van Goghs, and Monets and so many others. Seriously so awesome!

You can check out my pictures to see what else I did.

Little Venice

Little Venice really is a quiet little secret hidden away amid the hubbub of London. I was amazed by how close it really was to central London and yet, how serene and picturesque the location was. It really is a unique feature of the city that a lot of quick tourists don't know about. It was really quite lovely, but like all of London it too is in a state of constant renovation and this feature is what I choose to photograph. I think it’s a matter of pride. They love the fact that their houses are over 100 years old, and many far more than even that number; however, with that distinction come the responsibility to keep it up. Even the best built building fall apart over time, and so in order to keep the characteristic London streets lined by Georgian and Victorian architecture scaffolding is a must.

Walk Among the Superstars

Maybe it’s because I’ve just returned from a week in Paris, but I didn’t feel like the Chelsea area held up with it’s reputation of the lower income area of London. Either Princess Diana and her friends did a fantastic job, or I just have really high standards for my sketchy neighborhoods. But somehow I feel it can’t have been too bad even 100 years ago, considering so many intelligent independent people choose to live there. It has been fun to see a few blue plaques as I’ve explored different parts of London, but very few areas have quite so many in concentration.

In contrast with the great men and women who lived there, as I wandered the streets today I couldn’t help but realize that there is a thriving active community that are building their own lives there everyday. Some might be the next great author or painter, but every one of them creates their own masterpiece in the interesting lives that they live and characterize it with the everyday things that they choose to do. To show a little part of that I documented the commuter times: Pedestrians, bicycle riders, bus passengers, and sardines on the tube. What we do with this “empty” time is a true defining characteristic.

Church History Trip

Our church history trip really opened my eyes to the conditions of the new British converts. Some were like the Benbows, who were well-off landowners, but most were not. Most had very little and made due with what they had. Things such as the pond on the Benbow farm that they had to use instead of a formal font, and barns to congregate in instead of meeting houses really showed me the humble circumstances that were a way of life for them. How very proud thy must have been of their little chapel. Their converted farm building just went to show me that religion came first for these people-- even if they had to make sacrifices elsewhere.

Additionally, I was struck by the sense of community in faith they exhibited. Even before they became members of the church they were all searching together-- the Gadfield Elm chapel was just that. A place where a community searching for the truth could do so together. I imagine that once the first families heard the message of the gospel and realized it as what they were all looking for, they must have been so excited to share the news. And it was these wonderful sweet spirited people that was able to re-energize the membership of the church.

Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral was really interesting because it was in many ways very similar to the Anglican Cathedrals that we've visited. There is a knave which leads down to a front alter surrounded by smaller chapels in honor of saints; the golden ceiling reminded me of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the alter was likely the inspiration for the panels that were present in Canterbury and Kings College. While more highly decorated than most of the other churches, I found the geometric pastel stained glass refreshing. However, the main decorating difference was the colored marble used throughout. It gave the entire place a sense of rich grandeur that contrasts with the motif of the others we've visited. I must say that I really agree with what was said in class: Westminster Cathedral was a statement to everyone that the Catholic church was back, because they certainly didn't hold back when they were building it.

Another week bites the dust

Well, it's been another week here in London-town and I really don't feel like doing more homework for at least a little while so here I am writing in my blog.

What have I been up to...
Well I went to Wales last Monday and Tuesday. It was beautiful and wonderful. Even though it's not very far removed from England, it really has kept a lot of it's own culture. Everywhere you go things are written in both English and Gaelic. We were able to go into a coal mine and really grasp the reality of the mining. We spent the night in Cardiff, the capital, and a few of us went to the Doctor Who pilgrimage locations, namely the Millennium Center where the Tardis generally lands and which is the secret headquarters for Torchwood. But my all-time favorite thing about our trip, was Tintern Abbey (the inspiration for one of Wordsworth's famous poems). It's an abbey ruin that's absolutely gorgeous. We were able to walk around it and then the group decided to sing in the old knave. It was a really powerful experience.

I spend the rest of the week discovering the V&A which is one of my all-time favorite museums. They have the British exhibit that is fascinating and then also a fashion through the ages gallery and a sculpture room that is unbelievable. That's all that I was able to see in my two afternoons, but I'm sure I'll visit it a few more times before I leave.

Monday we had a Fireside on the London Blitz from a man who lived by the docks (kind of by Canary Warf) during the second world war. I think I forget how much this country was affected by war in this century. I mean they lost a tenth of their male population in the Great War, and then finally turned around and made a stand against Hitler before they'd completely recovered. And everyone was directly involved in the war that lived during that time, even if they were only a child, they remember.

Tuesday was Remembrance day. It was wonderful to see the somber consideration made by everyone. There were little red poppys that you would receive when you donated to the veteran fund and pin to your lapel. For the last two weeks, wherever you go, everyone has them. And then yesterday at the Imperial War Museum I was able to go their In Memorium gallery commemorating the war and it was unbelievable. I actually got teary eyed just reading the men describe their experiences. The Great War is unique because it was a very literary war. The way people talked about it was beautiful and terrible at the same time. Very touching.

I think it was Tuesday of this week, but I finally did Portobello Road. It was really cool. They had such a variety of goods and an amazing cupcake shop called the hummingbird bakery. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon just window shopping. Plus, in getting there I got to know my neighborhood a little bit better (that's my euphemism for getting lost multiple times).

Wednesday I went to Hampton Court Palace which was pretty cool. I got to stand on the ledge that Shakespeare first performed Macbeth before James I. However, I think my favorite part were the Palace Gardens. We just walked around them for over an hour. Because Hampton court is so close we were able to get back relatively early, and so that night I got to go to Les Miserables! It was the best musical I've ever seen, granted I've only seen two others. But oh my gosh I loved it sooooo much. I don't even know how to describe how good it was. The stage was often circling and so it made the play really fast paced, but not rushed. And it was just so well done. I'm so glad I got to see it.

Unfortunately seeing Les Miserables the night before I saw Lion King made me not enjoy it as much as I think I might have in another situation. That being said, I loved Lion King too. I thought they did some interesting things with both Zazu, Rafiki and Scar's characters. And like everyone says, the costumes were unbelievable and the music was spectacular.
Earlier that day I was able to got to the Imperial War Museum. I walked right in and thought of Scott and Joshua and how cool they would think it was. I was there to go through the James Bond exhibit for my mystery class, but my favorite was the In Memorium room. It was amazing.

And today, I've been spending my free time getting caught up on some stuff that I didn't do on my last two musical nights. And that's it for now. London is amazing. Love you all.

Tracy

Wish List- Holland Park Walk.

Having gone to many different parks in the greater London area, there was definitely a marked difference between Holland Park and others. Whereas, Hyde Park and St. James Park were former Royal hunting grounds from medieval times, Holland park is a relatively new creation. This was visible in the more intimate pathways and civilian use sports areas. I felt like it was more of a neighborhood park (though nicer than any park I've seen in the states) where you can actually go to spend the day, as opposed to others where you walk around and admire them and then move on to other activities. Part of this might also be the abundance of shops right outside of other parks such as Bayswater Road, Queensway, the shopping near Marble Arch, and all of the touristy places in the Whitehall area. Granted one side of Holland Park does go onto High Kensington Street, but for the most part it is linked to the residential area surrounding it. What is remarkable is how unbelievably quiet and private this area is for being close to downtown London. And after spending a Sunday afternoon rambling through these streets, I've determined that if money were not an issue, and I could live anywhere in the world, I think I might choose one of the streets around Holland Park. These pictures are a documentation of some of my favorites.

Victorian exhibit at the V&A

It was interesting to learn about the Victorian era from the V&A because the British exhibits don't isolate the 1800s. They have information and extracts from society starting as early as the medieval ages and so you really get to see the Victorian period in the context of the times that surround it. These British Studies rooms are amazing because as you walk through them you can actually see the culture metamorphosize around you.
This was especially true with their room reconstructions. As you walked through you went from dark wood paneling of the Medieval ages, to light walls and molding in the Georgian times, and then the unique Victorian style that drew from all of these traditions but had some new features.The most surprising thing I learned from the gallery was how un-British the Victorian time was as far as decorating is concerned. Because of all the colonizing they were involved in, they became fascinated with the culture of these new lands and looked to them for new ideas in design. Because of this there were new colors and patterns that in many cases were very randomly matched together.
It also put into perspective how superfluous the developing Victorian practices were. The different sets of clothes for every activity--its a wonder people didn't waste their days changing their clothes, or maybe they did. After seeing their closets in comparison with those from earlier times, I can really understand Wilde's inspiration. And really all of our Victorian author's inspiration reacting against the strict societal rules that everyone secretly broke. It was an age of culture, but also an age where there were major social issues that were finally being addressed.

Mousetrap (Spoilers- don't read if you haven't seen the play)

A mystery play, like a mystery novel, is based upon the suspense of a murderer among the characters, and the attempt to discover who this is. A truly enthralling one successfully casts doubt on everyone of the characters' innocence and The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie certainly does that. Everyone is up for grabs, which is why I think she doesn't break "the rules" by having the detective be the culprit. Especially since she makes it guessable that he isn't actually a detective. She clearly establishes from the beginning that she isn't going to make discovering her secret plot twist very easy for us. And yet, because it's Agatha Christie, we know that the clues are in our hands to unravel the mess. These classic elements of a good mystery are undoubtedly what has made this the longest running theatrical show.

The performance we attended on Thursday was interesting for me because I had already seen a production of The Mousetrap, last fall in Cedar City, and therefore, already knew who the murderer was. This being the case, it was fascinating to see the play unfold and recognize each of the clues as they were laid out- some of which were red herrings, and some of which were given nonchalantly, but were actually of substantial importance.

Kensington Museums

To be honest, I haven't really spent any time in Kensington excluding the Gardens and the Hyde Park Chapel, but now that I know what it has to offer, I'm sure that will change in our last month here. Outside of the time I took for this walk I was able to wander around both the science museum and the V&A this week and was stunned by how interactive, interesting, and dynamic they were. I think the V&A is actually my favorite museum that I've been to... ever. There's art, sculpture, historic artifacts. It really has a little bit of everything and it's set up in a way that is conducive to learning. Not only are you admiring the beautiful furniture from such-and-such estate, they also include the fact that it is inspired by the french style which became very prevalent in the 1800s. So if you haven't noticed, I really enjoyed the discovery of this area only a short walk from our very own center. And was inspired to base my theme: houses of learning, on the experiences I've had there.

Pictures from the last little while

Oedipus the King

The question of Oedipus the King as a mystery depends entirely on its audience. In the form that Sophocles framed it, the play would not be a mystery. This is due to the fact that it was a common story in Greek mythology and everyone in the audience was aware of the final plot twist before they even entered the amphitheater. This same interpretation of the play also applies to those who, before they read the story, have the ending revealed to them. Because the story is so highly alluded to in our culture, this is not an uncommon occurrence for readers of the play. That being said, I suppose, that for those who had never encountered the myth, long before Sophocles’ time, when it was just beginning to be circulated from Greek city-state to Greek city-state, and also those whose first reading of it is completely free of plot spoilers it could be considered a mystery. However, it should be noted, that the play would likely be less effective in this form, seeing as Sophocles played with the common story and focused on the secret that would be exposed and manipulation of dramatic irony to affect those who would view it as opposed to a story built around the discovery of a mystery.

Despite the entire plot of the piece revolving around solving the murder-case of the deceased King, the real horror doesn't come from the murder or discovering that our noble protagonist was, in fact, the murderer. The shocking aspect is introduced because these acts were in fulfillment of the prophecy with disgusting repercussions. So while, it wasn't truly intended to be classified as such, if the reader or viewer is unaware of the horrible reality of Oedipus' situation until it is revealed in the play, then it would be considered a mystery (though an easy one to solve.)

Happy Halloween

Just a little tidbit. Apparently the house we live in here in London used to be a hospital and the two housekeepers we have won't go anywhere in the house alone because they think it's haunted. So, ya, as you savor your spooky Halloween night, have pity on those who actually have to live in haunted houses. (And if I go missing, you guys now know why)

Cambridge, Stratford, St. Paul's Oh My

Scotland and much much more.

Hmm, so this month sped by. And I've been so busy seeing England and doing homework, but unfortunately mostly homework, hence why I'm at home procrastinating on Halloween instead of out on the town. Despite the fact that I have two papers to write in the next twenty-four hours, I don't really feel like that right now, so I'm going to finally write on my blog.

Today we had a "London study" at Greenwich. Here's a little bit of trivia for you all: What is the easiest way to get to Greenwich? Riverboat. Although it's not too difficult to take the tube to a DLR train. Anyway. We took a lovely river boat ride up to Greenwich were we explored some awesome science museums, I straddled the Prime Meridian, and found my favorite park in the greater London area. It was seriously one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life as far as parks go.

Thursday we were able to go to a performance at the Royal Festival Hall. I love it here in London. It's one of the only places where they have a building that's sole purpose it to host orchestral concerts. Needless to say, ours was fantastic. Even though we were up at the back of the top balcony, I could still hear things well.

Wednesday we went to two very awesome places. First we went to Canterbury Cathedral and I saw the place were Saint Thomas A' Becket's brains were smeared on the floor. I also saw Edward the Black Prince's effects, and walked down the steps were countless others came on their pilgrimage to the shrine. It was a pretty cool place.
Then we drove down to Chartwell, the family residence of Winston Churchill during a much of his life, though it was shut down during the war so as not to be a target of the bombings. Before he was the PM, the living room there was often referred to as the Country Foreign Relations Office because anyone who had information on the situation in Germany would often debrief Churchill seeing as he was the only one who would pay attention. It was easy to see where his inspiration came from. The property was beautiful and he was surrounded by books. Seriously, there were multiple book shelves in every room.

Tuesday I saw Lord Voldemort. Actually I saw Ralph Finnes, the actor who plays Lord Voldemort in a production of Oedipus. it was truly fascinating, because I've read the play numerous times, but it leaves you with a different impression when you see it live. For instance, I normally skim over the chorus parts, but the way that they portrayed the chorus in this production was really interesting and constitutes one of my highlights. And there are a few things that are more shocking when you see a performance. Like when Oedipus is making out with his wife, but you're completely grossed out because you know it's his mother. And when he clings to Antigone at the end and his blood stained hands smear over her face and clothes. I have to say, although it wasn't my favorite play, it was done phenomenally well.

Well this was a week of performances because I got to go to another one on Monday. A colleague of one of our professors was doing a reading of one of his plays here to try and win over investors, and they needed a few seat fillers so we were kindly invited.
The play was called Sounds of Joy I believe and it discussed events surrounding Handel's composing his masterpiece The Messiah. It was really good, and quite interesting to see a play at that stage in development.
I also sent in my ballot on Monday! Which was exciting but annoyingly expensive. I had to spend 8 pounds and that doesn't even give me a time guarantee. Oh well, I couldn't get around it.

Sunday was Stake Conference and we got a new Stake Presidency. I really enjoyed the addresses we got from the two area authorities. I believe one of them was from Spain and the other from Germany and it was just cool to really see the gospel as an international religion. We aren't sequestered behind our own country's barriers, we're part of a single unit and or work is in unison.

This past weekend a group of us spent in Edinburgh. After class on Thursday (23rd) Michele, Jenny, Kelsy, Sabrina, and I made our way to Kings Cross Station and caught our train north. We got in a bit later than we'd planned (as a result of gale force winds and debris on the tracks we spent close to two hours at a stand still on the tracks). But it wasn't too bad all things considered. We stayed with the sweetest missionary couple from Michele's home ward and they had a pot of traditional Scottish gruel on the stove for us. So our first night ended pretty darn well.

The next day we took a bus into town and did the Royal Mile. This starts at Edinburgh Castle which was basically amazing. Some of the highlights are the Destiny Stone (which every Scottish and then English monarch has been coronated on for hundreds and hundreds of years), the room where Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to Elizabeth I's successor James I, a really good demonstration of the history of all the weapons throughout Scottish history, and in the prison, a carved American flag from a colonial rebel during the Revolutionary War.
There were a few other interesting stops on the Royal mile and some interesting shops, but we didn't spend that much time in them. The Royal mile ends at Hollyrood Palace and Park. In the Park there is a rather large craggy hill called Arthur's seat. Even though it was windy and rainy we decided to climb it, and I'm soooo glad. It is probably one of my favorite memories from the trip. It's windy anyway in Scotland, but at the top of this hill away from anything, I seriously was nearly blown off but it was worth it. I've seen a lot of views in the last week- Saint Mary's in Cambridge and St. Paul's of London.

That night we went to Mary Poppins which was amazing!!! There were a lot of interesting elements in the musical version that weren't in the movie. For one thing, it's quite a bit darker. I loved the song Temper, Temper, where the children's toys put them on trial. It was super creepy. And then Mr. and Mrs. Banks played more of a role. It wasn't just about the children learning to be better behaved, but also about the parents learning how to improve their marriage and be better parents. I really quite liked it.

My second favorite part of the trip was the Elephant House cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of Harry Potter. It was freezing and the wind was blowing horizontally outside, but life in this cafe could only be described as cozy. We sat and worked on our hot chocolate (and my milkshake) and wrote stories on napkins like Ms. Rowling did. It was just a really nice low-key morning, and I loved it.

The rest of my month is going to be really out of order because I'm too lazy to look up when everything was, but enjoy.

The week before last we visited St. Paul's Cathedral. And I have to say that it's my favorite of Christopher Wren's. It's magnificent inside and the view from the top is probably one of the best I've ever seen. I really understand why it's one of the hallmarks of the city now.

The weekend before that a couple of us ventured out to Cambridge. My highlights were the lunch performance at Kettle's Yard with a fantastic string quartet and then the art gallery in the house as well. It was really just a fascinating art gallery, probably one of my favorites. And another notable adventure we went on in Cambridge is we went to a sung Eucharist at King's College Cathedral. For those of you who don't know. I'm basically in love with the boys choir at this college and idolize their amazing talent so actually listening to them was a huge deal and one that didn't disappoint. One thing I really liked that they did, that not a lot of other choirs do is they sang Latin versions of the songs rather than English.

The night before Cambridge the group went to Stratford-upon-avon and I stood in the room Shakespeare was born and it was cool. And then that night we went to the RSC's production of Love's Labour's Lost (starring my Doctor: David Tennant, I know I was super excited) and it basically changed the way I view Shakespeare. It was a whole different level of performance and, oh my gosh, it was SOOOOO good. Make a point of seeing a RSC production before you die, because it is unbelievable.

And I have a few of my experiences posted from the North Trip, but I just wanted to add how much I love the lake district. It was like walking into the land of fairytales. I have never seen a more magical place. And the Haworth Parsonage (where the Brontes lived) is my all time favorite grave yard. They're on the side of a moor and the grass is overgrown and they're all crammed into the tiny churchyard. It's cool. And you really get a better insight into the scenery they're describing in their books. Those were my two additional favorite experiences from the trip. Well, I'm sure that I did some other things, but since I can't remember them now, you'll just have to talk to me when I get back and drag it out of me. I really should get focused on my paper so, I love you and I'll talk to you soon (if you're my family) and see you in two months or so otherwise.

Scotland Pics

Oxford and Cambridge

While I was at Cambridge this past weekend, I was able to view a university that was actually in session. That meant that only a handful of colleges were open to the public, but it also meant that we were able to glean a little bit of the atmosphere of the university. We were able to slip into a lunchtime performance by a fantastic string quartet, dodge cyclers who were racing off to their lectures, have a punting adventure in the afternoon, and when it started getting cold, pop into a crowded cafe and pick up some hot chocolate. It was a really interesting couple of days, and part of that was the proximity of the visit to my reading of Gaudy Night. The setting of the piece is really what makes it unique; Sayer's insider descriptions create a tangible, yet romanticized view of the college. The reader almost feels a sense of otherworldliness, that the world of Oxford and academia is disconnected to the one in which we live. However, what really struck me on my visits to both Oxford and Cambridge is how normal they are, considering that they' architecture is amazing and some of the greatest thinkers in the world attended. In the end, the students are really people and lead similar lives to mine. So while I was able to match up certain experiences of mine with those of Harriet Vane, the visits actually showed me the realistic side of the colleges as opposed to the fantastic portrayal in Gaudy Night.

Battle of the Sexes

As far as the text of Love's Labour's Lost is concerned, the only real interest I had in it was the commentary it provided on the relationship between the sexes. Rather than the traditionally idealized form of a submissive and fiercely loyal woman portrayed in such works as Odysseus and the Castle of Otranto, Shakespeare allows the women to use biting wit to combat their pursuers. Despite their attraction to the young men of the play, the women never passively accept the ideas and propositions the men put forth. When they are told that they will be staying in a field so that the men can keep their contract, the women immediately argue the irrationality of the contract and the rude inhospitable impertinence it is causing them to inflict. Even when the men pronounce their love, the women point out the superficial and playful manner in which they have gone about the courtship and challenge the depth of the love that they claim.

While the men are constantly attempting to do what is right, in having the ideal study program and the ideal courtship of the women-- Shakespeare exaggerates the situations to show some of the inherent problems in the accepted norms. In fact, he uses the women to this very end. It is through their visit to the court that the impractical promise made by these men is revealed, though pointed out previously by Berowne. And once again the women who resist the men because of the artificial nature of the relationship that has bloomed between them.

The real question is, if this is a battle of the sexes, who won? Well, the men do gain their object, in convincing the women that their love is true and they really wish to marry them. However, their efforts are temporarily thwarted by the death of the king of France. This being said, most people who read or see the play, depending on the choices of the director, will see the women as the victors. They repeatedly win the battle of wits, and their promises are loose and contingent on certain conditions that will better the men and give them the type of education they were seeking at the beginning. In this we see the women gaining their own ends, and the men bending to their will.

Whitehall

On Tuesday Danielle announced to our room an interesting piece of news that she had just seen pop up on her news feed. Apparently, Gordon Brown has moved out of number 10 Downing to make way for the extra people that are working on the economic crisis. Granted he's only moving next door to number 12, but rather than expressing a mild interest in the fact, I was able to respond: "Hmm, I was there last night and it didn't look very busy." It was really cool to have an inside opinion, and all because I'd done the Whitehall walk. I feel like this walk really gave me a better sense of London and how this country runs. And it was fun to actually see Buckingham Palace and St. James Park too.

Warrior Queen

There might be giants

Below the equator, way below the equator.

Larger than life
Remember the fallen

On the wings of angels

They're all Greek to me.

For God and Country

Trip Report

For some reason I didn't put very much thought into the social status of my ancestors before they made the journey to Zion previous to this class. Despite this, and the fact that none of my family that I know of worked in a mill, the visit to Quarry Mill really made me come to terms with the reality of their socio-economic status. It is likely that their lives would have been similar to those that were described in the tour. Waking early, working all day, and little time to themselves. They would have started work at a young age, and continued throughout their entire life, because they couldn't afford to stop. And knowing this reality, I have found one more reason to be grateful that they found the hope and peace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Liverpool holds what will probably be one of my favorite experiences of the trip. As we stood as a program on the docks of Liverpool where our terrified and excited ancestors stood staring at their new life and sang their hymns of dedication and joy, I really felt the spirit of that great emigration movement, and their desire to gather with the saints and be unified in his gospel both spiritually and temporally.

In Preston, it was fun to actually see the places where stories that I've heard and will probably hear repeated throughout my life took place. It was wonderful to understand that a special thing happened on the very ground that we were standing on. That the people were prepared to be the salvation of the lords church and they fulfilled their divine purpose creating the thriving religion I am a part of today. It was strange to realize that I am a part of their legacy, and that their strength and sacrifices have contributed to who I am today and the many blessing that I am able to partake of. It was a truly humbling experience for me.

Country House

Every time we visit one of the country estates, I can't help but softly hum to myself, "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous". It truly is a different life that live. The grandeur, the sheer size, and the awe-inspiring landscapes don't even compare with middle-class America--and they definitely didn't compare with those of different classes during the Romantic period.
Having seen these spectacular monstrosities, it is now easy to comprehend how the Gothic genre was born. Even to this day, the people of Britain have a fascination with their aristocracy because of the different life that they live. These idolized figures were meant to live to a certain standard-- they had to be "gentle" folk and well mannered, and if any vices manifested themselves, they were to be kept hidden. Every family has their own secrets, and this naturally led the servants to wonder and let their imaginations run away with them to create tyrannical fathers, hereditary curses, and so on... These works of imagination were then developed and published to satisfy the ever present curiosity of the public.

Pictures from the North Trip

The City

Something I really had to adjust to when I first got here was the vast amount of churches that pop up randomly throughout the city. You're in the middle of a shopping district and then all of the sudden there's a church next to a supermarket. Or amidst the skyscrapers there is a small gate that will lead you into a pocket of sanctuary. I chose for my photo essay of the City, to portray that peculiar aspect of London's financial district. One that I quickly grew to love despite my first shock.

Kensington Gardens

Even the name Kensington Gardens sounds romantic; and sure enough, any day of the week you're sure to find a handful of couples sprinkled about enjoying the beautiful scenery. To me it's just a testament that wherever you go people are essentially the same. They have their own special quirks, but everywhere everyone is looking for the same things- someone to feel connected to and care about.

So basically they were all so cute that I couldn't help but be a stalker and take their pictures, and here they are...

Hyde Park

As I was walking through the park today it was interesting to see how the children were spending their day off of school. And very few of them were sitting still. They were playing sports, jumping in leaves, chasing squirrels; it was a joy to see. That's one thing that I notice in my people watching every time I venture into the park-- how many families are there to enjoy themselves. It's wonderful, the concept that they seem to have that the weekend is family time, and that they should spend that time exposing their children to the beauties of nature. Here are a few of my observations.

A Walk

I went for a walk through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park today. You'll see my photo essays too, but these are a lot of the nature shots I took. They're pretty good, but then again, it's not hard to take awesome pictures when everything around you is gorgeous.

New Pictures

The Crime Festival

The crime novelist interview I went to this week was fascinating. And while I’m sure I would have found it interesting at any time, I was able to get so much more out of it considering that they were discussing topics that we have been covering in class and referencing texts that I am now familiar with. Of particular interest to me was the conversation on why the Victorian time period is so effective a setting for crime novels. Their comments rang true with me as I analyzed what I enjoy about the novels we’ve been reading. We love the glamor of the Victorian ages- only set off more by the contrast there was between the rich and the poor. And corresponding part of that glamor was the aspect of appearances and reputation. We all identify with potentially embarrassing habits in our lives that we don’t mention to anyone but intimate friends and family; but during this period, revelation of these secrets was social suicide that there was no way to recover from. Though I hadn’t spent a lot of time pondering this concept, I now think that it’s a quintessential part of novels set in the time period. It adds quite a bit more suspense to crime novels because of the many mysteries that must be solved before you arrive at the truth.

Experiencing Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis was a lot different than I expected it to be. In some aspects, I believe it was very close to the Lyme Regis that Jane Austen knew, as far as the sandy beaches, little shops, and beautiful coast line go, but at the same time, I think for the people who were on the beach that Friday, bathing in the ocean and finding fossils in the sand isn’t quite the novelty it would have been in the 1700s. That being said, each new experience I’ve had here in England has been invaluable in helping me understand the inspiration behind some of my favorite works. I can see Jane and Cassandra walking along the Cobb and her mind conjuring up a silly little girl jumping off the deceptively high edifice of her own accord. Then building on the story as her active imagination likely did, and having the repercussions of that lead Captain Wentworth to his epiphany about Anne. For all we know that is how the story of Persuasion was conjured—one morning as Jane took a walk down by the Cobb. She drew from her real life experiences to create her masterpieces, and having seen the Cobb, I can understand how she couldn’t resist including it in a pivotal moment of one of her novels.

There and back again

This is the account of my trip to the west and the last week back in London, because I've been shirking my blogging duties.

Sept 17: Wednesday started our trip to the west. The first place we visited was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen: Stourhead. It was unbelievable. I seriously didn't realize places like that existed outside my imagination or the movies. I walked around the grounds in complete awe the entire time. And to prove my point: they did all the lake scene of the new Pride and Prejudice so apparently I’m not the only person who thinks it’s amazing.
That night we stayed in Penzance and ran out to the beach first thing. I never thought my first touch of the Atlantic would be on this side of it, but life is full of surprises. And opposing the fierce prefaced warnings of our advisers, the hostel experiences weren't too bad.

Sept 18: The next morning we went to the place that ties for the most beautiful place on earth and that is Porthcurno beach, near Penzance. The water was clearer than anything I've ever seen before and then there were the most magnificent cliffs making up the coast line which would recede at intervals into sandy beaches. And instead of tropical greenery, the vegetation was a rich mossy forest variety. It was amazing to climb to the top of the overlook and see for miles. There really aren't words...

Sept 19: We spent this day in Lyme, which in case you don't know, is where a pivotal part of Persuasion takes place and Jane Austen as well as many others vacationed. I have to say, for spending these three days outside, we were lucky enough to get three of the sunniest days of the season. It's been such great weather for the last week in fact. I haven't even pulled out my umbrella except for the Mary Poppins picture I took with it. But going back to Lyme... Once again it was just a beautiful landscape. A lot of the people went out to the edge of the Cobb and sat down with out feet dangling and laughed and talked as we looked out over the Cornish coastline. Seriously, I could live in Cornwall someday, I just loved it.
In the afternoon we were at St. Michael's Mount where the Archangel Michael is supposed to have been seen, and because of this story became a place of great pilgrimage. What's even more interesting, is on the other side of the channel off the coast of France there is another mount to the Archangel Michael and chapel and the building of them was not related. But anyway, we got to go to the mount and tour the castle that is still there. A really cool part of this site is that at high tide it is a island, but at low tide there is a pathway that leads to it from the shore.

Sept 20: So most of the group had gone to the National Gallery before this week, but I hadn't gotten there, so I set off to mend that mistake on this bright Saturday morning. I just went through the 1500-1600 exhibit because that alone took me almost three hours, but it was unbelievable. First of all, I'm a big fan of a lot of Renaissance art so it was huge, but even if I hadn't, it's HUGE to see a real Leonardo da Vinci. "Virgin on the Rocks" and "Virgin and the Child with Saint Anne and John the Baptist" are the two at the gallery and they were so unbelievably beautiful. The thing you don't usually understand is how massive the paintings are. They dwarf you as you stand before them. He really was brilliant. But besides his paintings I've discovered a great love for the artist Holbein's portraits. For that matter, I've found that I generally enjoy portraits from this era quite a bit. For instance, my preferred painting of Raphael is "Catherine of Alexandria" and "An Elderly Couple" by Jan Gossaer. There is something raw and human about them that really speaks to me. Anyway, I must say that it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sept 21: Sundays aren't too eventful, except for the fact that I really like my ward. A lot of them are converts to the church and it was interesting, because in Relief Society we were discussing a really deep doctrinal issue, one I had never encountered before, and to see the actual learning and discovering process happen all around is unbelievable. To see how we have our faith in the gospel and then expand it as we learn and reflect on new doctrine until we accept that as well. And how we’re there to help each other through that process. I'm really glad I'm in such a great ward.

Sept 22: Mostly I just did school work; however, that night Jo and I went to see Timon of Athens at the Globe. I have to admit that Timon is not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays and when I've read all of them, will likely still be near the bottom, but the actors did a really good job with it. And the staging was phenomenal. There was a net above the open arena where the figurative vultures, Timons debt collectors, would lurk and sometimes bungee among the audience. In fact one of them did just that on the other side of Jo. So I commend them on that, but in general the play drags on and is really rather crude. But I'm still glad I was able to see it, because there aren't very many opportunities to see that play performed, and fewer still that are worth sitting through.

Sept 23: Basically this day was consumed with prepping for a project I did Wednesday morning (which went rather well) and writing a paper so I'll forgo the details.

Sept 24: The program went to see A Mid Summer Night's Dream at the Globe. And once again, this isn't my favorite play by Shakespeare, but now I realize where it gathers its mystique. It's hysterical when performed. I had the opportunity of reading the play for my Shakespeare class just a few days prior, and there were several jokes that I thought only worth a small smile when reading, that caused me to laugh out loud in the theatre. Especially the final play within a play performed by the common people with many many mishaps.
They also did quite a lot with the costuming. The faeries were fantastic with an 80's punker influence mixed with Elizabethan period clothing. It was a somewhat darker interpretation of their characters, but it contributed significantly to the mood. I really enjoyed the 4 young lovers, which were really quite a bore on paper, but came alive in their silly endeavors on stage. The only real disappointment for me was Puck, who I envision taking the play, but who somewhat faded into the background in this version.

Sept: 25 Yesterday was a busy day, I stopped by an old church called St. Anne's for my religion class, but after that I was able to stop into the Museum of London, which is pretty cool in how it outlines the history of the city. And then an interview with three crime writers who focus on the Victorian period. That was quite interesting since it really applies to what we've been discussing in the mystery class so far and hearing it's relevance on fiction of today, and why it works was really cool. I like their insight into Victorian motive. There was a reason to keep things hidden in that time--anything embarrassing could be detrimental to your reputation and take you from society forever. A lot was at stake. And then Anne Perry talked about the question of suspicion, and how well we know the people in our lives. It was all very interesting.
After that I had to go to Westminster Abbey for a class and that was just basically amazing, but once again I've already posted my thoughts about it for an assignment, so I won't repeat except to add that Poet's Corner was fantastic. I think some of the tourists thought I was weird because I was freaking out over Charles Dickens and Lord Byron and Chaucer and Tennyson and everyone else there. It was awesome.
And lastly for Thursday, which also happens to be one of the highlights for my week, I saw Ivanov starring Kenneth Branagh. It was probably one of the best plays I've ever seen in my entire life. First of all the subject matter is so intense and so thought provoking, but then multiply that with the skill of the acting and it was phenomenal. It's about a man who in the last year has lost all drive and passion in his life and through this process has also leached the happiness out of the lives of those around him. While few of us have ever felt these emotions in such extreme, I think it resonates with everyone. We have all had experiences where we're agitated and discontent without knowing why. It addresses the effects that we have on others, it addresses how we should deal with our problems, and it addresses those who made assumptions about Ivanov that were, from the point of view shown to the audience, false. It was literally brilliant and worth paying 10 pounds to stand through for sure.

Sept 26: And finally today. Well, I was wandering around trying to find someone to fix my computer when a literal miracle happened. I opened it for the computer analyst and the problem was suddenly gone. I don't know how it happened, but I am so unbelievably grateful that this invaluable part of my life is restored. It’s kind of sad that I’m so reliant on it, but I think that’s just part of the life of a student.

And that was my run down of the last week. I sincerely hope that this will satisfy you. And I will try to keep my absences short so I am not forced to make anymore entries of this length.

Love you all and hope you're keeping busy and happy,
Tracy

St. Anne and St. Agnes Church

On a rare free morning here in London I took the tube to the St. Paul exit and went north. It really puts you in your place walking among the skyscrapers—so tall, imposing and impersonal. But tucked away within them are little gemstones. It’s one of the best parts of London: how preserving pieces of history is seriously considered during city development, how even the billionaire corporations are forced to comply, and how you can walk by the massive St. Paul’s Cathedral, ten skyscrapers, and then suddenly stumble upon a little church yard slipped in between the buildings.
I loved the 20 minuets I spent sitting in St Anne and St Agnes’ Lutheran Church. It was small and deteriorating from age, but it had a spirit of piety about it. While the church holds to its early roots, there are traces of a contemporary community that calls the chapel home; the scenes of African conversions on the wall and the child made quilt in the corner are just a few. But despite this, not many people venture to church at 11 o’clock in the morning on a weekday so I was able to have the chapel to myself and just sit and bask in the morning sun as it filtered through the large windows.
Living with 50 people in confined spaces, and then going from there into the crowded tube and packed theaters and galleries can wear on a person. The contrast was so rejuvenating—to just take a moment to myself and ponder in solitude. And as I was leaving the little church yard and returning to my busy life among all the other people buzzing about, I realized that I had just been able to enjoy the church as it is designed to be experienced-an escape to a place of peace, a place away from our world and closer to another.

Westminster Abbey

As I walked through the abbey, I couldn’t help but stand in awe at the shear majesty of the building and the monuments. The fact that someone as great as William Wilberforce and Elizabeth I, so far removed from my mundane existence, lay before me was unbelievable. But at the same time it reminded me of human mortality. Those great figures of history are dust at the bottom of their great gilded effigies just as my ancestors are dust in their rotting wooden boxes. While it is good of us to remember and honor them for their progressive achievements, they are now without the ability to affect change. They gave their lives in passion for their beliefs and efforts, but now are at rest and have left us with the charge of creating a better tomorrow.

The Great City of Londinium

Venturing out to do the Londinium Walk was one of my first experiences with London outside of 27 Palace Court’s immediate surroundings. I think there was something special about starting at this great city’s roots and, as I have continued through the week to everything from the Clink to Bath, the Houses of Parliament to Tate Modern, I have been able to do so with the a concept of where it all began.

I love how the remaining pieces of Roman society are just interspersed throughout the City. Even as I was looking for them, I was always surprised to find them where they were. Monstrous modern skyscrapers have built up around these glimpses into the past, and yet for me they do not overshadow them. The human eye finds history just as beautiful and fascinating as the most artistic building that could be created today with all of our fine resources.

The necessity for walls is such a foreign idea to me, coming from a day and age where we come and go at will. But seeing the wall and other gates that were a requirement for any settlement to be secure, helped me visualize how the world must have been. Because of their enormous power, the Romans had many other factions who wanted a piece of it. The settlement of Londinium, on the very edge of Rome’s empire, would have been an easy target to be picked off and probably was attacked multiple times to this end. There was also the matter of the Vikings, Visigoths, and Vandals that would see and envy the growing wealth in Londinium and want it for their own. Not only did the Romans have to worry about those outside influences, but also rebellion within. Strict rules and regulations must have been imposed on the native peoples in order to maintain Roman supremacy, yet we know rebellions did occur. I can see the Romans believing themselves to be superior, coming to rescue the inhabitants of Britannica from their obscurity and barbarism, and in contrast, many Britons, such as Boudicca (who frankly had a good reason) resenting the conquest.

The uneven brickwork that characterized the wall seemed crude to my eye, which is accustomed to smooth streamlined modern glass buildings, but at the same time, it is difficult to comprehend how a society without cranes and state of the art machines was able to create what they did, and at the level of quality that they did it. Today, over a thousand years after its construction, the London Wall still stands. There are fragments that are blackened from bombings during the Second World War, but they also remain. The brilliance of human society is baffling to me. So I find myself at a loss—in awe at the sure genius they must have possessed to create what they have, and at the same time, horrified at the brutish deeds they committed. But I suppose they would say the same thing about me and my ability to vote and wear pants and my country’s ability to devastate an entire region with the drop of one bomb. Keeping it all in perspective is the task at hand and looking into the past is a great tool to accomplish this.

I've been a bit busy

So I've gotten extremely busy the last couple of days trying to explore the city and fit in all of my required assignments, but I'm going to try and update semi-regularly from now on, once a week at the very least.

Hmm... I guess I should catch up from Wednesday.

Wednesday was our first day trip. We went to Stonehenge and Bath and it didn’t disappoint. They were amazing. Driving to Stonehenge is an interesting experience because you’re out in the English countryside, tiny farm after tiny farm, where it's so green your eyes hurt, and then all of the sudden Stonehenge is in front of you. It's not even a kilometer from the road either. It's a bit smaller than one generally pictures it, but amazing all the same as it sits there in the middle of a field--not ostentatious at all, and yet you can feel that it's important as you stand there and gape. If any of you are in London ever, it's definitely worth the hour and a half drive.

Bath, is a completely different experience altogether. Most of the city is preserved in the neoclassical style, the way it was at it's height when Jane Austen and many others would have visited there. It has it's own majesty about it. Many of the original Roman baths are preserved, I know the water is running through the same man made channels it did in 100 AD or something. And then I was also able to tour Number 1 Crescent Road where there is a museum showing what a rented flat would have looked like in the Regency time period. Also, I went to the Jane Austen Centre that they set up in one of her previous residences as well as have a traditional English “tea” (hot chocolate) in the Pump Room. The exact same one that is mentioned in several of Austen's novels and was probably used when the queen came into town. So Wednesday was basically awesome.

Thursday I explored the southwark (pronounced suth-uck) area (or south of the Thames) where Shakespeare's Globe is, and he lived for parts of his life. For a lot of London's history it's been a bit of a bad neighborhood, but recently they've added the city government buildings, the London eye, and a theatre district and it's become a centre for modern art. It's basically become my favorite part of London (that I've seen so far). But part of that is probably because there was a Thames festival Saturday, which I went to, it was a ton of fun.

That night (Thursday) the programme went to a mystery play called "39 Steps" that was ingenious. There were only 4(ish) people in the cast, the lead stayed the same, but the other three actors had to play several characters each and the switches and the staging was hysterical. Everyone was laughing for the whole two hours. I did learn something about Britian though: they don't have air conditioning in most of their buildings. The theatre was boiling when everyone got in and there was no air conditioning at all. It was really a weird thing for me, coming from a desert and all. But it'll be cold here soon enough and no one will have use of air conditioning anyway, so I don't think it'll matter much.

Friday we went to the Houses of Parliament otherwise known as the Palace of Westminster where the House of Commons and the House of Lords operate. There was a fire in the 1800s and most of the building burnt (and was rebuilt by Queen Victoria), but there was one hall that was saved. And it just happens to be the hall where Braveheart was tried and sentenced to death and the dead body of Cromwell was tried for treason. It was built by William the Conqueror's son and additions done by Edward the Confessor.

The whole thing is utterly fascination. All of the little detains and tradition that are a part of their culture. The House of Commons was destroyed during the bombings in WWII, but Winston Churchill had it rebuilt and I got to walk through the same doors as he did when he was Prime Minister. It was brilliant.

Other than Houses of Parliament and the Thames festival, Friday and Saturday were both pretty uneventful. Mostly I've stayed home and read and done homework because I have a project due on Tuesday. But once it and the one the following week are done, I won't have to worry as much for the rest of the semester.

Well, I'll keep you posted as more happens, I know I won't post between Wednesday and Friday because I'll be in the West of England. But I know I have several Field Studies to post so you can read those if you really want to know what's going on over here.

39 Steps to a Hysterical Play

The “shocker” 39 Steps is exactly as its author John Buchan described it: “an adventure where the events in the story are unlikely and the reader is only just able to believe that they really happened”. And it seems when the story was adapted for the stage the writers took this idea and ran with it, creating an extremely entertaining parody of a cozy drama.

Through a parody we are able to learn some of the common elements used by the subject matter being presented. For example when it comes to characters, a cozy drama will generally include: the innocent ordinary (yet dashingly handsome) man (and don’t forget the pencil mustache) that always gets pulled into the conflict and ends up solving the mystery in the end; the unassuming (yet somehow stunning) young girl who will inevitably be pulled into the mess (and despite her best efforts, fall for the leading man); and the two dim-witted henchmen (who’s thoughtlessness will aid the plot in its unlikely escapes).

Parody happens to be my favorite genre of literature, so it probably wouldn’t surprise you that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire play. What most impressed me was the staging throughout. For instance: when they were on the top of the train with their coats flapping in the breeze, the swaying and theme music whenever the love birds would meet, and the movement of the picture frame window during Hanney’s escape from the farm house. The effectiveness of these moments came about because the actors choose to make use of every moment and weren’t afraid of making fools of themselves: two ingredients necessary to make any play a success, and this one definitely was.

Modern Art on the Southbank

As you walk along Thames path on the south side of the river, the most striking characteristic of your surroundings is the wide spectrum of art present there. From the tribute to Shakespeare with the rebuilding of his Globe, in addition to National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, and Queen Elizabeth Hall, to the various Museums such as Tate Modern, Movieum, and The Hayward Gallery this area clearly is a haven for the liberal arts. But the artistic flair has bled through the gallery walls and performance halls. As you walk along the path it is startling to find that around every turn there is a new artistic venture. These include graffiti art, sidewalk musicians, and large green living rooms. These qualities give the district it's wonderful atmosphere; an atmosphere that is easy going and open minded to the many forms of beauty presented to it.


Going Green
Black Oval
Street Art
The Tree of Life
Music on the go
A Young Boy Dreams
Cleaning the World: One Pair of Lost Sneakers at a Time
Captain Shakespeare
Room of Hidden Things