A true english breakfast |
Foyles Bookstore and Café
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January 3, 2019
For my first English breakfast I am drinking an English Breakfast tea. Fitting. As I am sitting in this FIVE STORY bookstore, everyone around me is working away at their newest endeavor. Beautiful ideas are floating through the air, only known to exist through the click clack click of the keyboards and the scribbles of pens in notebooks. Heavenly. If only this were a used bookstore, that way these new ideas and stories could be accompanied by the old as they fly in and around our minds. |
one stop Gift Shop |
Southbank Book Market
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January 4, 2019
Although today was one of the more scheduled days, I ended up really only enjoying this market. We spent the first half of the day wandering around Westminster and Trafalgar Square. By the time we had gotten to Southbank, we were only given 45 minutes to explore the book market and the Tate Modern. I decided I would come back to see the Tate and took my time with the market. Good thing, too, because I found nearly all of my gifts for my family here. Running my fingers over all the titles, I opened front covers to uncover the books' past owners. My favorite part of used books is finding notes written inside for and by the previous owner(s) and these books were filled with them. |
Everything is hunky Dory |
Portobello Market
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January 5, 2019
Within forty-five minutes of being at the market I find a first press of Hunky Dory. Due to how expensive it was, I told the vender I would think about it and come back. As I walked away, all I could think about was that someone else would snag it. B and I continue to peruse the market but my mind is back with the record. Finally I cave and we stop in a coffee shop so I can get on the internet and see if I can get it cheaper somewhere else. After some research, I rush back to buy it, terrified that it would be gone. We reach the stall and I power walk to the album and grab it. Once I had my hands on it, I relaxed and had a really interesting conversation with the vendor about gender and government. I didn't really agree with most of what he said, but there was the occasional tidbit that struck home. |
Wait, we weren't just walking through? |
Bayswater Road
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January 6, 2019
Chopan walks us down the street toward Hyde Park. We keep passing entrances and I wonder why we are walking along a dirty street when we could be enjoying the lovely paths surrounded by gloriously green grass (Heh heh, nice alliteration). A silver lining appears, though, when beautiful pieces of art start showing up on the fence beside us. As it continues, I begin to wonder if they are all connected somehow, or if artists just started placing their work up after seeing others do it. I then notice there are tabs on some saying they are licensed exhibitionists. It isn't until we reach the end when Chopan states he wasn't impressed by the turn out that I realize this was part of our trip for the day! If I had known, I would've taken my time instead of keeping pace with the others in order not to get left behind. Pity. |
Photograph taken at Hyde Park
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Vender Bender |
Covent Garden
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January 7, 2019 I have come to notice that when B and I go to a market together, the venders always seem to haggle with her but not me. Is it because I seem harder to convince? Or because I always say hello and converse with them? I'll have to play around with these theories. One thing I do know, however, is that if a vendor haggles with me, I am much less likely to buy from them. When I buy something on a trip, it is because I want something to remember it by. Why would I want to remember a pushy vendor? The ring I bought while I was here (which unfortunately doesn't fit me as well as I had hoped) was from a vendor who I had a lovely conversation with. The whole experience was great. I searched for heart lockets with another shopper as I listened in on her conversation with the vendor, who proceeded to compliment my purse and point it out to the vendor sitting next to him. We then all talked about a woman who had just passed by whose dog would fit perfectly in it and how silly that would look: A dog in a chicken. Then, when I found my ring the second vendor (from whom I was purchasing) held my tea as a searched for a fiver. The other vendor then offered if I would like to have the ring polished before I put it on. All in all, an absolutely fantastic interaction as I walked away with a smile on my face. This, compared to the vendor who, as I was taking my time browsing his ring collection, asked me why I didn't like any of them (which was nothing compared to the haggling he gave B). Good sir, it is not that I do not like the rings, it is that I am very particular and honestly I do not particularly like you. |
Photograph taken at Portobello Market
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"I have to come back" |
British Library
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January 7, 2019
We continue on to the British Library, which, at first glance, seems more like a museum. I scurry off with my squad to try to find Chopan's first book. As the token librarian, I take the lead. We enter the respective reading room (this one wasn't even purposeful) and head to the man who seems to be in charge. Turns out, you need to have a pass to reach any of the actual books. We backtrack to the front entrance and see a sign above the ticket counter: Students £8. No one with me wants to spend money on a library and I figured at this point, we only had about forty-five minutes left anyhow; so we split up and wander around (AKA we wasted time). B and I find a bench and we twiddle our thumbs. I start a list of places I'd like to return to when I have the time to actually enjoy them. Eventually it was time to meet back up. On the way out I noticed a small sign pointing down the stairs to "reader registration." B and I follow it to nowhere. I tell her I'm going to check with information and she leaves to find the class. Turns out, its absolutely free (AKA we REALLY wasted our time). Bummer. |
Places to return to with proper amount of time (A continually growing list)
British Library
Buckingham Palace
x Borough Market
x Tate Modern
Bayswater Road
x Word on the water
Alfie's Antique Market
My new happy place |
Word on the Water
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January 7, 2019
I could spend all day here. It is cozy and warm; there's a furnace in the corner and velvet padded benches with antique pillows. An old dog claims the coziest chair at the entrance of the boat, lethargically guarding his trove of stories. His owner wanders around, in and out of the boat, having lively conversations with anyone willing to participate. It is said that a dog will look like their owner, but these two were all but the same. The shop attendant was animated and ready to talk to and about any and everything, telling us stories from Edward Lear's The Book of Nonsense, which he had memorized. The dog just sat there, observing the observers of his trove, occasionally accepting pets. After perusing the books, I decided to buy Winnie-the-Pooh: Doubts and Disquiets for Worriers. I wanted the Gloom and Doom for Pessimists, but J snagged it first. I'll probably continue to look for it because it gave me some gut feeling when I opened it. I don't know how to explain it, but it just made me... happy? No, not quite happy, Serene? No, I just don't know. |
Wrong Lake |
Sadler's Wells Theatre
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January 8, 2019
My first true ballet experience, I was so excited. We all get dressed up and Uber over together. I grab a double glass of Sauvignon blanc for the show and we all find our seats. And everything goes to shit. As a performer, I have a great deal of empathy for those on stage, and to see half a dozen people get up in the middle of the show to use the bathroom and then have HALF of our class leave during the intermission... I was livid and beyond disappointed. Apparently, people thought we were going to see the true Swan Lake, but we were, in fact, going to see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. |
Photograph taken at Hyde Park
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the Canonical Four |
Whitechapel
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January 9, 2019
I decided last minute to go on a Jack the Ripper tour with three of my classmates after being invited to join an hour before we would have to meet up. Not having any idea what I was getting myself into I put on my shoes (unfortunately not my comfortable walking ones) and headed off for what turned out to be a two and a half hour walking tour of London. Our tour guide was one of the Queen's body guards, which we learned are also called Beefeaters, ironic since he talked about gin a lot during the tour (Gin was nick-named mother's ruin because prostitutes used it as a birth control). It was cool having him be our tour guide since he lives in the Tower of London, which we had just visited during the day. We set off with a large group of primarily Americans to visit all of the murder sites and places that the victims were last seen. Though I thought it was going to be super spooky, it ended up just being fun and informative. A must do, but if you're looking for a good scare, I have heard the London Dungeon is the better place to go. |
Jack ripping
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Dinner for twenty |
Brixton Market and Eckerd House
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January 10, 2019
Tonight was our group dinner and Chopan wanted us to buy and cook everything for the meal ourselves. A group of us, myself included, were tasked to create a menu and make a list of ingredients that would be split up among the group to buy in the market. For some reason, today was not my day and I was in a horrible mood for the entirety of the brainstorming and shopping processes. Everything anyone said I would snap at and was on a mission to just get out and back into my bed, which sucked because I had actually really been looking forward to this event. In the end we decided on tacos and pasta and some potato and veggie dishes. For some reason I had it in my head that we should make something fancy but I'm so glad we didn't after it took us two and a half hours to prepare. And it turned out really good anyways, I used my mom's taco meat recipe and guac and the veggie dishes were delectable. Unfortunately my class is a bunch of snowflakes and my meat was the never ending topic of the dinner table. They just couldn't handle the heat. |
Feeling Antique |
Alfie's Antique Market
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January 11, 2019
It was bound to happen, a twenty-year-old American in Europe, over-drinking was inevitable. What could have been avoidable was doing so the night before going to the largest antique market in London. So there I was, absolutely miserable at Alfie's. The second I heard there was a café upstairs, I sluggishly booked it up the three stories and peevishly arranged for our group to get a table. After making this poor server put together enough tables for twelve, half the group ended up on the balcony. Classic. My irritable ass ended up in the corner, where I was trapped until everyone was ready to leave. After ordering breakfast, I realized I would be unable to actually keep any of it down. Again, classic. Long story short (if you want the long story, check out my diary entry), I wound up home in bed for the rest of the day with no souvenirs from Alfie's. |
OVerwhelmingly perfect |
Brick Lane Vintage Market
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January 13, 2019
We walked down the stairs under a large sign: HUGE VINTAGE CLOTHING MARKET DOWNSTAIRS TODAY. I couldn't be more excited, I emerged from the monochromatic stairwell into a garden of clothes bursting with color. As we whipped our heads back and forth trying to take it all in, a plan was made that we would all return to the front in about 45 minutes and come back with pieces in mind that we wanted opinions on. Though a good idea, it was never put into place. As I imagine the others did too, I was so overstimulated that I was nervous I would get lost and never find the group again so we stuck together throughout the exploration. I could have spent hours in there, The individual stalls all had a unique style and was filled with copious one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing, accessories, and trinkets. If I went back there every day for the rest of my life, I assure you I would still find something new that I would just have to have. I caressed item after item that piqued my interest, a wool sweater, a sequins brassiere, a mesh and metallic lightning bolt crop top, a soft, tight sweater you know would make any boobs look good, a lace button up sundress, sequins bell-bottom pants. Anything and everything that I'd ever want in my closet was here. No experience will ever compare. |
Ya Wanker |
Brick Lane
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January 13, 2019
Today I heard someone use the term "wanker" for the first time. As a man recklessly bicycled toward us between buildings, another biker yelled and cursed backwards after he passed, "ya fuckin' wanka!" and continued to mumble on as he rode away, The other bicyclist just continued speeding through the people and rang his bell back, bring bring! I can honestly go home happy now, I didn't realize that all I needed from this trip to London was to hear someone be called a wanker. |
Blessed are the filmmakers |
Neal's Yard
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January 15, 2019
Another excursion that I didn't know we were taking was one into Neal's Yard, an adorable courtyard which, according to a blue plaque between two blue windows, was where Monty Python lived! After further research it turns out that they did not live there but did, in fact, edit and record some of their videos there, which is way more interesting in my opinion. This was such a cool surprise. Monty Python have always been my role models for acting and film making. I've been thinking about how much fun it would be to follow in their footsteps and create a comedy group that completely writes, acts, and produces their own work. |
Villians |
Covent Garden
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January 15, 2019
What a line up. On our way to Neal's Yard I passed a tourist shop that had rubber masks of celebrities and characters. Of course, I've passed a thousand and one of these types of store with the exact same set up. But I had to do a double take when I saw their selection of masks. The Joker, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Trump, the Grinch and not one more. It hit me right away. These are all bad guys and villains and our president is grouped with them. What is the world coming to? The most common thing people ask me when I'm abroad is how I feel about our president. Is he the only thing people think about America now? If so, that is atrocious. |
BRITS WITH AMERICAN ACCENTS |
Shaftesbury Theatre
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January 15, 2019
Motown was absolutely amazing. I was dancing in my seat the whole time. I somewhat feel bad for the people behind me having to watch around this six-foot lady moving around the whole time... but then again I bet they were doing the same thing. When each song started I perked up and a smile formed across my face. And every time I thought to myself, Oh man, you need to get this vinyl. They were all songs I loved but never thought of when searching for records. Every time I go to a performance I kick myself for not pursuing acting. I had the same feeling when we saw Swan Lake. But I also get so much joy from working in lab and learning new things in my science classes. Will I ever be completely fulfilled by any one thing? Probably not. |
My very own religious breakdown |
Saint Paul's Cathedral
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January 16, 2019
As I explored the crypt of St. Paul I came across a statue of the Virgin and Son. It was simple, contrasting the vast architecture and murals of the cathedral floor above. I’ve never been compelled to kneel before the Virgin Mary, but there I was, in the crypt of one of the most magnificent places of worship in the world, and I knelt. It felt wrong. I was too tall. I was awkward. But I stayed despite my discomfort, despite how on display I felt, and I prayed for my mom. The shadow I made as I knelt appeared to be in the shape of a spade, my mind wandered as I pondered if that could be where the shape originated. Now I sit in the makeshift pews and I cry. I think about the Wicca coven I’m about to start on campus and I think about how disappointed it makes my mom. I don’t think it matters how you worship. God, or the Goddess, or whatever form you believe He/She/It takes understands that we will never truly understand their power. Honestly, I think They can take whatever form feels right to you in that moment. Right now, I feel His presence as I sit in a Christian place of worship. When I’m in the woods I feel Her presence. I think all that really matters is that you acknowledge that there is something, and that whatever it is cares about us. This is the first time I have prayed in over five years. Maybe even closer to ten. |
Yer a wizard, anwen |
Warner Brothers Studio London
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January 19, 2019
I FINALLY GOT MY LETTER!! Just kidding, but I did get to see Hogwarts! M and I bought tickets a month in advance, this was the one excursion that I was actually fully prepared for. We got to see the real sets and costumes and props and ate butterbeer ice cream. It was absolutely amazing. At one point we walked through a recreation of the forbidden forest that was made by the same artist who created the real one. My brother would have died if he was with us because it was crawling with giant spiders. One poor kid was crying the second he walked in and hadn't even seen the spiders. M tried to warn his mother but she didn't hear her. Good luck, kiddo. We tried to take some polaroids but unfortunately none of them turned out. Maybe there was some sort of magic at play that prevented Muggles from taking pictures. The last part of the tour, which ended up taking us all day because we both geeked out the whole time, was the actual model of Hogwarts that they used to film the aerial shots. M started crying and I won't lie, a tear may have plopped out of my eye. It was the closest we'll ever get to actually seeing Hogwarts and even if the rest of the tour was horrible (which it wasn't) this would have made it all worth while. |