What is Done Cannot be Undone

    This quote is from Macbeth, very appropriate since I saw it last night at Trafalgar Studios near Trafalgar Square. The play started at 7:30 my friends and I got there about 7 and went immediately to the shop so that we could buy playbills that James McAvoy could sign. We had decided long ago that we would wait out back after the production to see if we could meet him. The theatre was small, only about 70 seats and we were in about the 3 row. It was extraordinary, we were so close to the stage. The production was in traditional Shakespearean language but took place in a the future, with people in futuristic/ dystopian dress, carrying swords and modern weaponry. There was lots of fog and flashing lights, tons of intense movements and fighting. In an article in the paper James McAvoy said that it was the most rigorous production that he has ever been in, and I can see that. The play was about two hours and 45 minutes long with an intermission. We were so close that we could really see the actors faces and it was amazing being so close tot he action. Afterword we went around the corner to the back and waited with some other people for the actors...well one actor. We only waited for about 10 minutes out in the cold, but then he came. James McAvoy emerged, ginger beard and all. He told us to move over to the left so that we did not block the exits. He went to sign my playbill, but my pen was broken. "Your pen is out of ink, love," he said and I almost died(his Scottish accent is awesome). Taylor gave me her pen and he signed my playbill and Melissa got a very blurry picture of us. We practically ran back to the Tube station, where we saw Lady Macbeth waiting for the train. It was an extraodrinary nigth.

Melissa, Taylor and me

Trafalgar Square

The theatre

Look how close we are to the stage.

A very blurry picture of me and James McAvoy

The Triangle

       As many of you might know, on Thursday my parents flew into London to visit me. We were supposed to meet after my class, but my parents ended up getting delayed and after two trips between Holborn and King's Cross-St.Pancras, we met up at the train station. I accompanied them to the hotel and then we after they settled in we made our way to Angel Station so that I could show them City University  where I bought a school sweatshirt to go with the new bag my mother bought be for Valentine's Day from Fossil. Then we went to Holborn so that I could show them Arcadia Center, where I have most of my classes. They were amazed about how nice it was, and we stopped at EAT(a Panera-like restaurant) to get my favourite honey and chili nuts that I love. We made our way to Notting Hill and after showing them Palace Court, and hiking all the way up to the top so that they could see my bedroom, we went to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. We got there through Embassy Road, which they enjoyed(unsurprising since the houses/buildings are amazing). I tried to show them everything in the park, but it was very cold and we were soon forced to pop into a pub to warm up. We then made our way to a restaurant where we had a wonderful dinner. The hotel that my parents stayed at was beautiful and attached to King's Cross-St. Pancras. For convenience I stayed with my parents overnight at the hotel since we would be up early the next morning.
      We woke up early up got delayed due to my father's meeting running late. After a fabulous breakfast at the hotel we slowly made our way around the city, going to Harrods and then onto Greenwich. I accidently brought us to the wrong tube stop so we took a ferry across the river, which was fun and allowed us to see the city. We walked around Greenwich, despite the biting cold and saw the town, the ship Cutty Sark, and the main sights(the palace and old hospital). We went back to central London by boat and walked around Westminster seeing the main tourist areas.

The Arcadia Centre. I showed my parents City University and the Arcadia Centre where I have my classes.

We visited the ever expensive and beautiful Harrods. 

Taking a break at the Admiral Hardy Pub in Greenwich by the Greenwich Market.

The Greenwich Market; it is usually busier and has more stands on the weekend.

My mom and dad at the pub where were had lunch.

The painted chapel in Greenwich. One of the queens, Anne I believe, turned part of the palace into a hospital for seamen. They refused to use the extraordinarily beautiful dining room, saying that they would use the basement instead. While they were at the hospital they were required to go to church, this is where they worshiped. 

My parents hotel, which was connected to King's Cross-St. Pancras. It used to be apart of the train station. 

Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately we could not take pictures inside. It was amazing and dad said it was one of his favorite places that he had ever been. 

One of the places that we were allowed to take pictures in. The monks would gather here and have meetings. It was called the Chapter Room.

Statue outside of parliament. It is based on the British coat of arms. We do not know if it is a fountain or not since it looked like it was covered in ice from being on. 

The hot chocolate that I got with my lunch. It came with a side of M & M's 

The area where we gathered for our tour of Parliament. It was huge and amazing. I recommend looking up Parliament and Westminster Abbey for more pictures. 

       On Saturday we went back to Westminster and  started off with doing a fabulous tour of Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures inside, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and spent a good around of time inside looking at the extraordinary church. When we left we bought our tickets for a tour of Parliament. Due to the two hour gap we walked across the river to the side with the Aquarium and the London Eye. We had lunch at the a wonderful restaurant and then walked back across Westminster Bridge. We still had time so we walked around Parliament Square and looked at the statue and went into St.Margaret's which the chapel for the House of Commons. At 1:45 we went to Parliament and got a 75 minute tour that showed us the building. It was wonderful, but afterward we were all tired and we went back to the hotel so we could get all my stuff. At about five my parents brought me back to Palace and we said good bye. It was amazing having my parents in to visit me and so nice to spend some time with them. I think we had a amazing time!

Day of the Fandoms

 My friends and I in London are nerds. We accept that and today we went around London looking for the places of our fandoms. For those of you that do not know what fandoms are they are is "he community that surrounds a television show/movie/book etc." So... we set out into London in search of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where Sherlock Holmes jumped to his 'death' during the end of series two on BBC's Sherlock. We thought that we were unable to find the place, but when we looked online later, it turns out that we were there we just did not know it. The place where he 'landed'/where it was filmed is basically a shrine/memorial to Sherlock Holmes. There was a phone box that had letter to Sherlock and Watson on it. After that we went to St.Paul's since Angelica had not seen it yet. To me glee there was a wedding. It was beautiful! I wanted to use the bathroom before we left so we went to the restaurant  cafe, and gift shop area, where I bought a post card. Then we took the Tube to King's Cross-St. Pancras and saw Platform 9 3/4. You could not get pictures with the trolley and the set up they had unless you paid and waited in a long line, so we just got pictures of the wall. 

This is St.Paul's during the Blitz, which is the image on the postcard that I got. 

St. Paul's

The wedding party

St.Paul's

A statue of John Smith, (yes, the one from Pocahontas) that we found down a random alley.

Notes to Sherlock

Letters to Sherlock

Memorial to William Wallace, the guy from Braveheart, on the side of St. Bart's

Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross

History Overload

 
  This is going to be a bit different sort of post than ones I have done in the past. This morning, as you probably know, I went to the Tower of London, which for me was a dream. I had a few hours rest and then Melissa and I went to cinema. Down the street from us is a small little theatre; and when I say small, I mean small. The Gate, as it is called, has one screen, and in the front of the building there is a small bar-like concession stand where you can get beer, wine, or buttery popcorn. When you go you actually pick your seat when you get your ticket, like you would at a normal theatre. You have to wait until the designated time then you go in and find your seat. You do not get the normal trailers, or trailers at all actually, just advertisements. Melissa and I were there to see Lincoln, which I have to say was an excellent film. I was not expecting much, someone had described it as two and half hours of CSPN, but it was not. It deserves all the nominations and awards that it has received and will continue to receive. Melissa, who is a political science major, loves American history and the Civil War is her favourite period. We both very much enjoyed it and I would recommend everyone seeing it. The British people in the theatre also seemed to enjoy it, and laughed quite heartily at the joke poked at them by Lincoln in the movie. Overall it has been a fabulous day and the historian in me is quite satisfied. 

I was a Queen

    The title of this post refers to the fact that my friends(Sarah, Taylor, Melissa, and I) decided that I was a queen in a former life. We came to this conclusion while we were touring around the Tower of London, which was majestic. I will describe our experience to you through the pictures that I took.

It is a beautiful sunny day(which is surprising because it is not often sunny here in London),. When we walked out of Tower Hill Tube Station we saw this statue. We thought it was Julius Caesar  but it was not. Melisa loves the Romans though and wanted a picture.

The Tower of London which was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. 

This is Taylor in King Edward I's bed room. 

This room has been reconstructed to look like how the king's room would have looked back in the Norman period(I believe). There were people dressed in medieval garb playing music and such. 

The king's private chapel.

Melissa trying on one of the soldiers helmets. She looks like John Smith from Disney's Pocahontas  We felt like we were a part of the Night's Watch from Game of Thrones. It was epic, we walked along the whole wall. 

One of the many towers that we walked into as we were walking the wall. Look how blue that sky is...

The White Tower where we saw all the armour and weaponry. It is where lords would have stayed is is the strongest structure in the fortress. 

The Bloody Tower which got its name in the 16th centuray after two princes went missing while staying in there. It is believed that they were murdered. 

Sarah, Taylor, and Melissa in their natural state. 

This awesome statue was hanging out on the wall, showing us twenty-first century girls how to protect a the Tower.

The ravens. There was once a prophecy that stated that if the ravens left the Tower of London the realm would fall. Now, ravens are kept here permanently. Fun fact for the Game of Throners: The old Celtic word for raven is Bran...

A beautiful stain glassed window in one of the towers.

The chapel that many of the people who were executed int he Tower of London(including Anne Boylen ) are buried. The last execution took place in 1941. The tower was used during the Second World War. 

This marks the spot where many famous people died; including two of Henry VIII's wives, Anne Boylen and Katherine Howard, along with Lady Jane Grey(the nine days queen) and many more. The tower was not always a place of execution and prison though. It was a place of royal residence and royalty stayed there the night before their coronation. 

This is a rack and was a form of medieval torture. 

The tower as a prison was not all bad. These rooms belong to Walter Raleigh. 

Traitor's Gate which is how the condemned were brought in. In the past the best way to get around London was by river so it made sense to enter the fortified Tower by river. Originally a moat surrounded the Tower of London. 

Henry VIII's armour from the time when he was married to his fifth wife, Katherine Howard. 

In the White Tower there was a collection of gifts from around the world that was given to the monarchy. There were shields and swords and armour and this Native American headdress that America gave...

This dragon is supposed to symbolize how the Tower of London was a symbol of power. 

You are probably wondering, where are the Crown Jewels? Unfortunately we were nnot allowed to take photos of any of the jewels. It was a marvelous day though and I was geeking out the entire time from a history overload. It was extraordinary and we all had a ton of fun. To end the post here is Sarah with a stuffed hawk from the gift shop.