The World South of the Thames

Today was fantastic.

We had our literature class this morning and Professor Talbot started with a discussion on the production of King Lear we saw last week. I still don't like it, but I was reminded of the things in the production that I actually did like. It wasn't all bad. I just didn't like a lot of the choices the director made.

After class we decided to go on another walk for our London Walks class. I really do enjoy the walks. I like learning about this city I'm calling a home for another few weeks. There is so much history here that it's impossible to learn it all in the time we have here. It's fun learning the little tidbits we're offered, though.

We went inside another cathedral (Southwark Cathedral). I think they're beautiful, but, much like LDS meetinghouses, cathedrals begin to look very similar after a while. Sure, each has its own defining characteristics, but there is a definite look they all seem to possess. Is that terrible for me to say?

The walk took us past the Clink (from which all other prisons got their name) which has been converted into a purportedly not-so-great museum. I can't offer first-hand knowledge on this as we passed by it without much of a second thought.

There was a second-hand book market under one of the bridges and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. My roommates are turning up to be a too-easily-thwarted backup plan. Either that, or a determined Cambry is difficult to deter. You'll have to ask them which it is. I did manage to restrict myself to only one book. So I think that makes eight total. But only two of the books I've purchased so far have been "normal-sized." Most of the books I've purchased would fit in someone's back pocket (but only if they were wearing men's jeans).

After escaping the ever-alluring rustle of pages in the wind we ran across a famous skate park here in London. Alas, the name of said park escapes me, but all of us got quite excited when we saw it because James, the only boy in the group, gave a presentation on this park before we ever came to London. We all took pictures to show him and continued on our way, content to say we saw it. On the other end of the skate park we saw James himself. It was his first time visiting the skate park and he looked as if he'd been there for a while.

James, a skateboarder himself, kindly explained his fascination with the sport, and told us which skaters were doing which tricks. I developed a new-found appreciation for skateboarders as I sat there listening to James explain and watching the successes and fails of those in the park. It was fascinating and I think I'd go back again if I was with someone who knew what he/she was talking about.

We eventually decided that we needed to return home because Lizzie and I procrastinated perfectly and had to type up a couple of homework assignments (mine are done, though, so we're all good. I was actually done three hours before the deadline so that's pretty good, I think).

Also we went back to Snowflake in between the two assignments. They gave us punch cards so if we manage to go another seven times in the next few weeks we get a free gelato. We'll see how many more times we make it.

Pictures!

Usually we're on the other side of the river so it's fun to see it from a distance.

England vs. Australia. You choose.

Another view of the City.

To me, this looks like someone took and peeled a hard-boiled egg, sliced it up, and then slid the slices. What do you think? Oh this is the City Hall building, by the way.

A WWII ship

A fountain in the middle of Hay's Galleria

Brits can be funny sometimes.

Southwark Cathedral

A replica of the Golden Hine, in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe over 400 years ago.

There are so many bridges on the Thames, some of them pretty, some of them not so much. I happen to like this one. I don't know its name, though.

The Globe! I'm going there. Soon.

This was painted on the side of a building:

Books upon books upon books. . .

Lizzie's soulmate.

Charles Dickens novels. I felt so poorly read when I didn't recognize any of these titles. I guess I have some reading to do!

The skate park:

James and his relatively captive audience. We got more interested the longer we stayed. This was taken at the beginning of our stay there. I think we ended up lingering there for forty minutes or so.

This kid was so good! And he was consistently good.

Oh this was cute. The little kid must've asked the guy in the green shorts for help, or maybe he didn't, but the guy in the green shorts spent a good amount of time teaching the kid how to do a trick on his board. He was so kind and it warmed my heart to see that.

I liked this bridge, AND I can give you the name: Hungerford Bridge.

So that was today. I learned so much that I wasn't expecting to learn. I guess it just goes to show you that there's a lot to be learned if you just look for it and be open to learning. And maybe you'll learn something crazy like you possess a deep appreciation for skateboarders. Who knows?