I am in a pensive mood this afternoon, possibly facilitated by the overcast skies and soothing piano music drifting up to me from my classmate’s gentle fingers that are coaxing the keys in the corner. Nevermind that the piano is just a tad out of tune, its comforting anyway. So my apologies if my loving London list for today waxes a tad more philosophical than usual. But here goes:
* Sitting in the window seat of our "classroom" with the evening light hitting the windows across the street just right and making them glint gold and the white curtains playing in the breeze to the tune of I's beautiful voice accompanied by A's playing. The sky the bluest blue imaginable.
* Walking down the street and hearing at least thirty languages spoken every day!
* How the British government buildings are all so grand and impressive. They actually are an incredible monument to British might.
* The sign we saw while driving to Portsmouth: "Flash your vits" Yes for some reason that is an acceptable Vitamin Water advertisement...
* Touring the Victory in Portsmouth! It was amazing to be on that ship and see everything like it was during the time of Trafalgar! I learned some really neat things like how after Nelson died they put his body in French brandy to preserve it so that he could be buried in England. Kind of ironic don't you think? Also, I learned how captains and admirals brought their own furniture with them which they took off the ship and towed behind them during battle to protect it. Apparently there's an old navy saying that goes: "You can sink my ship, you can kill my men, but you can't take my furniture!" Hahaha
* Learning about how navy surgeons could amputate a limb in 1 1/2 minutes! That is so amazing! And during Trafalgar 12 limb amputations were performed. That surgeon is pretty much my new hero. Seriously that would be so difficult, he must have been way skillful!
* Racing D. up the moving climbing wall in Portsmouth! So, so fun! I totally dominated. Haha
* How little kids here always seem to be holding hands or have their arms around each other as they walk down the street. I wish American kids were more like that.
* The Stoddard family motto: "After clouds, light"
* The magnet I saw in a little shop that said: "Fridge pickers wear big knickers" haha
* The depth of the English sky, it is so common to see dark thunderheads right next to sunny blue skies
* The way everyone always falls asleep on the bus, flopped all over the place with their mouths hanging open. It's kind of a hilarious sight
* Looking out the bus window and seeing horses silhouetted against the skyline on the top of a nearby hill, nothing behind them but wide open sky. It was amazing.
* Seeing genuine Picasso, Monet, Chagall and Pollock paintings in the Tate Modern! I was kind of in awe of seeing the real things. I love them! Also, the piece called Thirty Pieces of Silver was really cool. The artist took all these random silver objects like plates and trombones and such and had them run over with a steamroller and then hung them from the ceiling with gold wires. It was kind of like being in a really clean, metallic field of seaweed. Haha
* Going to see Harry Potter and our group being so big we took up almost half the theater. Laughing at all the parts that weren't supposed to be funny but that E and I found hilarious!
* The great hall at Hampton Court. A tapestry in the hall cost Henry more money to commission than a warship! And they were seriously so beautiful! Totally worth it.
* How in the privy chamber near the king's receiving room, you must "make water" or "cast annoyance" alone or else disguise the sound by coughing! Yeah that'll make it all fine, just cough so no one can hear you... right.
* The roof of the chapel at Hampton Court. Possible the most gorgeous ceiling I have ever seen!
* That in Queen Anne's bedchamber, there was a wire running from the door to the bed so that you could lock the door from the bed. How awesome is that? Yay laziness! haha
* Playing hearts and the bidding game on the train.
* Watching the Importance of Being Earnest in the open air theater. Such a quality play! It was so witty I love it.
* Similarly, the wittiness of Notting Hill. That movie is hilarious.
So in a nutshell I still love London. And now I'm off to try to scrounge up any play tickets for tonight! Cheerio folks!
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