Monday, July 15, 2013

London by the Numbers


Number of tube rides= 24
Number of times my face was uncomfortably close to a smelly armpit= 3
Number of times " Due to the extremely hot weather, it is advisable that riders carry a bottle of water with them" was announced on the tube=5
Number of days temp was in the 80's=11
Number of days it rained=1 (for an hour)
Number of times a Londoner said to me " You brought the lovely weather with you, we never have weather like this" = 6
Number of times I thought "Liar, it was this hot the last time I was here"=6
Number of nights the Oxford cat jumped through my window and slept on the spare bed=5
Number of afternoon teas I had= 1
Number of pasties I ate= 1
Number of fish and chips dinners=2
Number of castles I visited=2
Number of museums visited=??? More than 5
Number of libraries visited=??? several
Number of evensong masses=1
Number of times I took a nap in a park=3
Number of times I had a delicious single vanilla cone no flake ice cream for lunch=5
Number of people I met from Massachusetts=7
Number of times I asked for directions= daily
Number of times I got lost=2 (both times in Victoria Station)
Number of times I gave directions (accurately)=3
Number of plays attended=4
Number of hats knitted=6
Number of times I was nearly run over by a biker=5
Number of times I saw someone get hit by a bike=4
Number of fantabulous memories from this trip= thousands, millions, there really is no number

Day 16: Highclere Castle


Highclere Castle, the very reason my trip has been so long, soooo worth the wait and the visit. In February, when I booked this trip, I could not find a coach tour to take me to the castle, nothing was running any of the days that I was going to be here. So I decided to go on my own, no bus. A group of us estimated that it was only about $20 bucks cheaper to go on our own, but we had as much time as we wanted there. So I decided to spend the day there.
Newbury is about an hour train ride from Paddington Station, and then a 10 minute cab ride from Newbury station to the castle. Riding up to the castle takes your breath away. It is HUGE! I had a 1pm entry time, and it was only a little after 11, so I wandered around the Gardens, the woods, the gift shop, and sat under a tree and had a snack. I'm glad I brought an apple and banana because the cafe was unimpressive. I did have a cuppa and stole a spoon.  I met far more Americans here than any other nationality.
Once I entered the house it is a one-way unguided tour. I had bought the longer book about the castle at the gift shop, so I knew what to look out for. No photos were allowed inside, but I befriended a mother and daughter from Alabama, and the daughter took pictures inside, she promised to send them to me. I got to see the dining room, the library, Lady Sybil's room, Lady Edith's room, and Lady Grantham's room. I walked down the big staircase, and looked at the main receiving room. It was pretty awesome. Filming of season 4 just ended Thursday, and a production team was there filming a movie to be aired in the states. I was filmed but not interviewed, they just interviewed staff of Highclere.
The grounds are exquisite, there is a wildflower meadow, and a secret garden. It was easy to spend time wandering the grounds. I shared a cab back with the mother and daughter from Alabama, and took the train back to London.
The visit was the perfect ending to this amazing trip
Highclere Castle, it really is that big
Highclere Castle, it really is that big
Highclere through the wildflower meadow
Highclere through the wildflower meadow
Had to take a selfie
Had to take a selfie
Ok I took a couple of pics inside.  This is Sybil's room
Ok I took a couple of pics inside. This is Sybil's room
Edith's room
Edith's room

Recognize the pillars?  this area is from season 2

Recognize the pillars? this area is from season 2

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day 15: The Wonderful World of Harry Potter, part 2


I got up bright and early this am, put on my new Platform 9 3/4 tee shirt, and headed off to Victoria station to meet my bus to go to The Making of Harry Potter. I have issues with Victoria Station, I aways get lost, after circling twice, including the outside, and finding a family that was looking for the same bus, we eventually got to the right place, and just in time. I got to sit on top, window seat. The ride was uneventful, but we were the first bus to arrive for the day, and I was glad because things quickly became crowded.
The studios are amazing. Sets right from the movie, the Gryffindor common room, Horcruxes from the movies, the invisibility cloak, Hagrid's Hut, wands, broomsticks, and best of all the huge model of Hogwarts that they used for filming until the last movies. This model filled a room and it took my breath away.
Outside was Privet Drive, the Knight Bus, the bridge, consession stands selling butterbeer (but not frozen, this is England, they have views on ice)and the giant chess pieces.
The gift shop had everything Harry Potter, and i walked away with a few things. I am so glad I was able to come, and the tour bus made everything so much easier. Tomorrow Downton, and home on Tuesday. I can't believe it. I can't believe the laundry I have to do.
The very colorful tour bus
The very colorful tour bus
#4 Privet Drive
#4 Privet Drive
Butterbeer, kinda gross, but I like the cup
Butterbeer, kinda gross, but I like the cup
Wands, all the major ones are here
Wands, all the major ones are here
The Great Hall
The Great Hall
Harry's cupboard under the stairs
Harry's cupboard under the stairs
Gryffindor Common Room
Gryffindor Common Room
The Knight Bus
The Knight Bus
In front of the Hogwarts model, size does matter
In front of the Hogwarts model, size does matter

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Day 14: The Wonderful World of Harry Potter pt 1


I have loved the work of Vermeer for a long time. This morning I got a chance to see an amazing collection of Vermeer's work with instruments in his paintings at the National Gallery. Other Dutch artists were there, but I was in love with the paintings, and the instruments they had on display. I also got to enjoy a concert performed on antique instruments by music scholars. It was lovely.
On Trafalgar Square there was a concert for reading and children. It was a huge event with a lot of celebrities, but I only got to see a person dressed up as a pig. It was really hot outside in the sun and concrete, so I went back in the museum to see a cool display of saints as interactive structures. They were loud and cool. But you can read about the Lit Festival here:
Trafalgar Square Lit Festival
I then made my way to Westminster via the Victoria embankment to meet with a Harry Potter walking tour. We were supposed to see sights that were in the movies, but I was not as happy with this walk as I was with the Jack the Ripper walk. There is another Harry Potter walk, and I wonder if that is any better, but I won't get a chance to do it.
Platform 9 3/4 was my next stop, so off to Kings Cross I went. Whoever came up with that shop is a genius. My credit card is now as tired as my feet. A hotel picnic dinner and early to bed, because tomorrow is early to rise and I am off to the Harry Potter Experience tour.
And no baby yet...
Trafalgar Square silliness
Trafalgar Square silliness
The Knight Bus, just not purple
The Knight Bus, just not purple

Day 13: Covent Garden and Oompa Loompas


Covent Garden is a bigger tourist trap than Faneuil Hall. I am making a broad statement, I realize but there it is. I started my day off ordering tickets to the National Gallery's special exhibit on Vermeer and Music. I am going tomorrow.
I then walked to the Sir John Soane museum, and it was weird. I felt the museum was more like a good museum's attic of abandoned art. Each room had a different theme, sketches, statues, a crypt, but the collection overall was kinda weird.
Next I found the theatre where I was going to go that evening, I wanted to make sure I could find it and the closest tube stop. Covent Gardens is the closest stop. I went to Marks and Spencer to change some more money, I am hoping this will be it for the next few days. Then I walked ALL over Covent Garden. And I mean all over, I thought my feet were going to fall off. So I rested and watched some street performers, they are all over the place. For dinner I went to my favorite fish and chips place, Rock, Sole, Plaice.
After some food and people watching it was time for some chocolate! Charlie and the Cocolate factory is a new musical, and it was fantastic. The young boy playing Charlie is phenomenal. When you think Hollywood movie kids can be a hit with one movie, theater kids have to rehearse and then they perform for ages. The work seems so much harder somehow. The sets were out of this world, and there were flashes, loud noises, very entertaining. My seats were also on the main floor, and were amazing, plus I though I paid a lot for my ticket, but others who tried to get half price paid more and also paid more in fees. So I feel a little better. It was a busy day that ended on a high note.

A very tall Yoda
A very tall Yoda
A floating gold man
A floating gold man
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Friday, July 12, 2013

Day 12: Medicine, Murder, Modern, and Midsummer


My day started off at the Old Operating Theatre Museum. It's a quirky attic museum and to get to it one has to climb a very narrow spiraling staircase. This museum is the location of where they used to do surgeries over a hundred years ago and it was one of the funkiest museums ever. The attic room was jam-packed with old instruments, herbs and their uses, medicines, and preserved organs. The next room was the observation room, where surgeries were performed and med students watched. It was facinating, well I thought it was.
Next I went to the London Dungeon, which moved from the Tower Bridge area to Waterloo, next to the London Eye. So back on the tube I went and found it and even though I had a ticket already, it was a 45 minute wait. If you did not have a ticket, it was a 2 hour wait. It was creepy, gory, Disney gone bad fright fest. There were rides and we met famous killers and murders from London. Sweeny Todd, Jack the Riper, saw signs of the Plague, it was disgusting and cool.
I walked down the Jubilee walkway and headed over to the Tate Museum. I was never much of a fan of modern art before, but some of the pieces were amazing, and the museum is free. I wanted to explore St. Paul's, but they were charging £14, for entry. So I took some ictures of it from the outside.
Shakespeare was next. I saw a fantastic performance of Midsummer Night's Dream. It was supurb, and the audience was howling with laughter. A great day overall.
Stairs to operating Theater
Stairs to operating Theater
Old Operating Theatre attic
Old Operating Theatre attic
Operating Theater room
Operating Theater room
Dungeon Fool dancing with little girl
Dungeon Fool dancing with little girl
Oh, Wall!  Oh, Wall
Oh, Wall! Oh, Wall
Oh what fools these mortals be
Oh what fools these mortals be

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Day 11: Buckingham Palace and Jack the Ripper

I really wanted to have tea with the queen, but apparently she is rather busy directing staff for her coronation celebration on Saturday. It's ok, I understand. And her palace was shut down for the celebration and renovations, so once again I could not tour her place, but I did get to see the Royal Mews, her carriages, horses and limo. And I got to see her art gallery, I liked the Mews better.

I took a walk to the gates, left my business card there, because some palace insiders tell me that Duchess Kate is due any day, quite possibly on Fri or Sat, and I think they might require a hat. What royal wouldn't want a Boston Beanie?

Next was a walk to St. James Park, I had some time before Evensong at Westminster, so I saw a crazy squirrel and took a nap, I like this park better than Kew Gardens. However when I got to Westminster, there is no sung Evensong on Wed, groan! 

So I went down the street to a pub, didn't have a great meal, and then I was off to Tower Hill to begin my walking tour of Jack the Ripper. The tour was great, filled with gory details of the murders, and still probing the question of who did it? And it actually got chilly last night, so I have to make sure to wear warmer clothing tomorrow, because I will be out all day doing a marathon of museums, and then Midsummer Night's Dream at night.

A horse, of course
A horse of course


The Coronation Carriage
The Coronation Carriage
My business card outside the gates
My business card outside the gates
Fountain in St. James park
Fountain in St. James park

The crazy squirrel
The crazy squirrel
The Tower of London
The Tower of London


Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Day 10: Whistle Stop Sacred Heart School



Today I went to visit our sister school at Hammersmith, the girls this week are having a collapsed curriculum week. Their regular classes are cancelled and they get to take all kinds of trips and do a variety of activities. Some of the older girls get to go to Paris, Belgium, and the Kew gardens. Workshops given by STOMP, and a puppeteer, a kite maker, and a dramatic storyteller. I got to visit a lot of the activities, and the girls did an amazing job. Best of all I got to meet the girls who my students were skyping with.
After my day with the girls I went to Hamley's Toy Shop. 5 floors of toys. It was massive, and overwhelming, but I managed to find a few things. Piccadilly Circus is a great shopping centre, it rivals New York. But I want to save my pounds for Platform 9 3/4.

Making puppets
Making puppets
Theatre in the garden
Theatre in the garden
A greenhouse in the back, I want one for my school!
A greenhouse in the back, I want one for my school!
Hamley's Bear
Hamley's Bear
Lego Royalty
Lego Royalty
Signs of royalty
Signs of royalty

Monday, July 08, 2013

Day 9: Hampton Court


Today I went to Hampton Court via boat. It was a nice airy ride, once I moved to the shade. And I got to take a lot of the typical pictures of buildings I may forget in time. But Hampton Court is simply gorgeous. And they had fully dressed actors, and a maze for me to get lost in. Funny I did much better with this maze than I have ever done at Honeypot Farms with the 5th and 6th grade. But I'll take it. I was quite tired, so I picnicked in my room again. There is a Whole Foods-esque shop down the street, perfect for a dinner in. I'm thinking pub tomorrow night after I visit the Sacred Heart High school. It should be another packed day!

Eye got the whole world, in my hand
Eye got the whole world, in my hand
Ahhh, London
Ahhh, London
Hampton Court, pretty spiffy
Hampton Court, pretty spiffy
My new home, nice huh?  I could not possibly live anywhere with less than 100 rooms.
My new home, nice huh? I could not possibly live anywhere with less than 100 rooms.
I made a new friend, and he has a pitcher of Pims!
I made a new friend, and he has a pitcher of Pims!
I made some friends, I felt a bit underdressed
I made some friends, I felt a bit underdressed
Lost in the maze
Lost in the maze
Lost and Found
Lost and Found

Day 8: Hot, Hot, Hot! a retreat to Kew Gardens



It is really hot here, high 80's, but that is officially a heat wave by London standards, and for the most part they love it because they believe London will become chilled and soggy again. I don't see it. 

But I got in from Oxford, found my hotel and couldn't check in yet, so I went off to Kew gardens, just a few tube stops away. I am staying in Earl's Court, not the most fashionable district, but great tube access, a few pubs that look promising, two supermarkets, and of course, Pret.
Kew gardens was a nice retreat from the city, once I got in the shade. I even took a nap under a tree. I was really glad to come back and have a picnic dinner in my room.

Me, hot and sweaty in front of a pagoda in the gardens.
Me, hot and sweaty in front of a pagoda in the gardens.
Charlotte's house, it's where she and her family had picnics
Charlotte's house, it's where she and her family had picnics
My napping tree
My napping tree

Sunday, July 07, 2013

Day 7: Alice Day


My day started off with a trip to the Kilns, C.S. Lewis's house. The house was sold in the 70's so all the furniture was lost and it was redecorated with lovely shag orange and avocado...that was sarcasm. But the trust bought it back and many Americans helped restore it with era pieces. We also went to the lake where Lewis swam, which makes the Charles look clean, and then we found his grave. I got to walk through a charming English neighborhood, and the houses were beautiful.
Next was punting. I lost my friends in the Covered Market, but met up with Preston and he and I went punting by the bridge. Rather he punted, I paddled, which I used more like a guide to keep us away from the edge and it was helpful when racing an old guy to get out of eachother's way.
The story museum was open today, it will officially, completely open in 2015, but today there was printing and story telling. There were children dressed up everywhere, and characters in the streets. Awesome.
A farewell dinner, a trip to our pub, and drinking in the garden ended a most perfect time in Oxford.
Onward to London!
The Kilns
The Kilns

Punting!  I helped.
Punting! I helped.
alice character in the streets
alice character in the streets
alice storyteller
alice storyteller
Children dressed up in the city
Children dressed up in the city
So long, Mansfield
So long, Mansfield

Friday, July 05, 2013

Day 6: Defending Hogwarts


What I also love about Oxford, almost no mosquitoes and Pims, a nectar from the gods.
Today's lively debate centered around the criticism of Harry Potter. Those who know me know I love Harry, but I also admire Byatt, one of the writers of the criticisms we read. But there are plenty of Potterheads in my group, so conversation was quite lively.
Next was a trip to the Bodleian Library. Very beautiful, and the nerd in me was facinated about the way they used to chain the books up and shelve them. They also still make students sign a promise to not bring in an open flame into the library. Got that? No library bonfires.
I tried to visit the Story Museum, but is isn't open to the public, so an excuse to comeback anyone??!! So I went back to my dorm, changed because it is crazy-warm here and wrote a bit in the park that is outside my window and then fell asleep.
Afternoon session was with the writer David Benedictus, who wrote The return to Hundred Acre wood. We had our session outside in the side garden, it was enchanting.
Dinner was next with the Rhode Scholar Oxfordians, and I was sad to learn that I am too old to apply for the Rhodes, so can't live here on that. Any other options? I am willing to accept all crazy ideas.
We then went to a pub the Bear, but an annoying drunk forced us to relocate to our favorite, The Tavern, and I must say, I enjoy a pitcher of pims. Delicious!
Tomorrow I am off to the Kilns with another student here, lunch on the roof deck, and then punting. That's the plan anyway. It will be Alice day here, so really, anything goes! If we can fit in a character tea, that would be awesome, but I really want to go punting. I have a hat and everything!

Bodleian Library, hospital in Harry Potter
Bodleian Library, hospital in Harry Potter
Tour guide at Bodleian, she looks eerily like my aunt Mig
Tour guide at Bodleian, she looks eerily like my aunt Mig
Rooftop view from Corpus Christi.  Our secret lunch hangout.
Rooftop view from Corpus Christi. Our secret lunch hangout.
David Benedictus, reading to us in the garden
David Benedictus, reading to us in the garden