Almost End of Week 1

Been a very busy week, so I'll try and summarize the last few days. Photos for all days so far are here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2260131&l=8caf2&id=11832732 You should be able to view them even if you don't have a facebook.

Tues: Had an 'orientation' to the London pre-sessional; just an idea of what our schedule will look like, when we would have class, what we would see as a class, etc...

In the afternoon, we went on a walking tour of Kensington (photos are on facebook - this link should work for everyone, even those who don't have an account). We saw Kensington Palace, where Diana lived, as well as a statue of prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. That was something interesting I learned today; if you are a king and you get married, your wife becomes a queen. If you are a queen and you marry, however, your husband does not become king. Seems kind of strange to me; but it appears to work for them, so whatever floats your boat (or crowns your monarchy).
(Photos 17-19)

After the tour was officially over, I yielded to weakness and visited the dinosaurs at the British Natural History museam. It was very impressive. I also got to see a Dodo bird; the famous flightless bird driven to extinction. I do feel that this museam should take several days to explore properly; meaning I will need to go back if I get the time to do so.
(Photos 20-24)

Weds: In the morning, we took a tour of London via tube (the subway for those not up with British slang). It was interesting; I learned how to get around London on my own. When we got off the first stop, we walked to St. Paul's Cathedral; I paused to take a pic of the London Eye (first time I saw it). The we proceeded to St. Paul. I took a pic or 2, and noticed a hoard of pigions, which I couldn't resist taking a pic of ("Feed the birds, tuppence a bag..."). I didn't have a chance to go inside the main building; but I did go in the crypt and see an amazing monument. It was dedicated to a captain who died serving under Nelson. The man previously was commanding a ship, when an iceberg hit it; severly damaging it. He encouraged any of his crew who did not feel safe to abandon ship. He considered it a dereliction of duty to do so himself; so he stayed aboard and kept the ship afloat for 10 weeks, bringing it into port while still severly damaged and barely afloat. I was impressed by his dedication to his duty.

After St. Paul's we traveled to the Tower of London, and the Tower Bridge. We didn't go inside due to time constraints, but I now know how to get there. Ditto parliament/Westminster Abby; know how to get there (we are going on a tour on Monday). We then walked by Buckingham palace on the way back to a different tube station.

In the afternoon, we had our first class - just a general introduction of England/UK/London in general.
(Photos 25-33)

Thurs: In the morning we had class; in the afternoon I took a nap (I was exhausted).

In the evening, we went to a show, "We Will Rock You", written by Queen. I don't love Rock music, but the show was enjoyable because it was a comedy, and sort of poked fun at Rock and Roll as well.

Fri: Toured the British museam in the morning; it was facinating to see all the artifacts 'collected' from British occupied territories. It was a little disturbing, because the museam claims that the objects are best viewed in the British museam (even though the native museams want them back). The treaures of Egypt and Greece; the Rosetta stone and the statues off of the parthenon.

Went by the London Eye, but it was closed for maintenance; I'll have to try again in a week or so.

In the afternoon, I toured the science museam. There were a few interesting things, such as Apollo 10's Command Module; but for the most part I received the impression that the museam was mostly for little children.
(Photos 34-45

Sat: Today was kind of a slow day; all I really did was tour the Sherlock Holmes Museam at 221B Baber street. They turned it into a museam to Holmes after the popularity of the novels. For those of you who don't know, 221B Baker Street is where Sherlock and Watson lived while in London. It was an interesting museam; I want to reread the stories I read, and read for the first time the ones I have not.

I ended up buying a hat as a soveineer; a 'detective hat'. I think for next year's Halloween I will be Holmes.

Tomorrow, I am planning to attend Church at St. Paul's; who knows what else I will do tomorrow? I guess I will have to wait and find out.