London Bridges Falling Down

London. The mere idea of that city conjures up images in my head of red phone booths, fashion, narrow roads, the tube, and many of the city's recognizable icons. These images have been floating around in my head for years, and yesterday, I finally got to see many of them for myself. I have been waiting for years to go and experience this city that I have heard so much about - and I am so glad that I finally had that opportunity.

Stace and I got up early to catch the train into London. The train ride was about 2 hours - just long enough to get bored. By the time we got to Victoria Station, I was ready to go. The first place on our list was the Tower of London. Stacey had never been here either, so it was a new experience for both of us. I was just amazed at the amount of history there is in that little plot of land. The fact that Stace and I were walking around on the same rocks that Kings and Queens walked on for centuries just amazed the two of us. We were lucky enough to follow around one of the tour guides (I know that they have some sort of title in the Royal Army, but to be honest, I don't remember what it is). The stories that he told were just so interesting, things that we would never have found out about if we just went on our own.
Probably the most spectacular thing that we saw at the Tower were the crown jewels. Each piece was just more spectacular than the last. And even the gold pieces were incredible. There was a punch bowl that Stacey and I could have easily fit inside. Stace said that she needs one for her house - and I replied by telling her that it would take up her entire living room.

Next on our list of places to go was the Tate Modern. This museum was incredible. If you like art and you happen to be in London - head here for sure. Besides, it's free - and everyone likes something free. The collection holds works of some of the greats, but there are also some lesser known artists whose stuff can blow your mind away. The way the collection was arranged was quite different than anything that I have ever seen before. I won't be able to describe it nearly as well - so this is the description off of the website...

"Tate Modern Collection consists of four wings on Levels 3 and 5 of the gallery. At the heart of each wing is a large central display, or ‘hub’, which focuses on one of the pivotal moments of twentieth-century art history. The four hubs feature Surrealism, Minimalism, post-war abstraction in Europe and the US, and the three linked movements: Cubism, Futurism and Vorticism. Around the focal points, a range of displays move backwards and forwards in time, showing the predecessors and sometimes the opponents of each movement, as well as how they shaped and informed subsequent developments and contemporary art. The introductory room in each wing bring together work by artists from different generations, to reflect this ongoing dialogue between past and present."

I am happy that I was able to see as much as I did in the Tate, because Stacey and I almost got ourselves kicked out. (Not really, but it sounds much better that way, right?) I was yelled at for taking a picture of a Picasso I studied in school, and Stacey got yelled at for stepping too close to a painting and for talking on her cell phone. Oops. Oh well, we made it out of there without being shown out, so I guess things turned out a-ok.

And what is a trip to London without a trip to Harrods? It is always a place that I have fantasized about - a shoppers paradise. I had no intent to buy a single thing there, but I wanted to see what I had heard about. The food displays were gorgeous, the Egyptian escalator was something to be marveled at, and on and on and on. The place was SO large, I can't even begin to tell you how many times Stacey and I got lost. Pictures will come soon - and you will need to check out the ones from Harrods because there are a few funny ones. There is a particularly great one in the hat department (where there were signs telling us not to take pictures - oops, we were bad). So, be on the lookout!

We had a quick bite at a cute little Italian place not far from Harrods, and then we jumped on the Tube to head to Piccadilly Circus. Stacey told be even though it is one of the most touristy areas of town, I still had to see it. Upon arriving after a very hot and sticky tube ride, I felt as if I was in the middle of a scene right out of a movie. That is one of those places that always appear in movies that are filmed (or are supposed to look as if they were filmed) in London. The area reminded me a lot of Times Square in NY - which I guess in many ways it is the equivalent across the ocean.

By this point it was approaching 9PM, so we had to head back to Victoria station to catch the train back to Ramsgate. By no means was London my most favorite city that I have ever visited, but I am looking forward to hopefully returning sometime during my semester over here. There is still TONS to see and do, and people to see that are studying here. I will be back, that is for sure. But even if I don't return soon, I will have a wonderful day with Stacey to keep in my memory (and some pretty great pictures for my scrapbook!)