London Take Two

Taking a break from the academic atmosphere of Oxford for the weekend, Nellie and I traveled to London this past weekend for a two-day tour of the city. Having been there a couple of weeks ago, we had a good idea of what we wanted to visit. Sitting down and strategically planning our trip, we bought bus tickets and booked our hostel rooms in advance. Thinking ahead saves a lot of money!

During our visit we were able to explore Shakespeare's rebuilt Globe Theater, walk across the Tower Bridge, walk through the Museum of British History, the Natural History Museum, and Hyde Park. Scattered in between these places were numerous side trips, explorations, adventures, and interesting landmarks.

The Globe Theater was by far our favorite activity. This was undoubtedly because of our tour guide-- a man in his late 50's who must have been an actor. "Good morning to you all and welcome to the brilliant Globe Theater! It's very very cold, so please, gather close around. We are about to walk through one of London's most unique and spectacular landmarks. Don't waste a moments time, we have much to see..." His warmth and enthusiasm are difficult to capture in words, but made the tour.

The original Globe burnt to the ground as a result of a "cannon malfunction" which set the thatch roof on fire. Amazingly, none of the actors or members of the audience was seriously injured. The restored Globe stands as close as possible to the original site and was constructed using 17th century construction methods and materials. The workers didn't use a single power tool or nail to re-construct the building which was completed in 1997.

The Globe holds Shakespeare performances throughout the spring and summer months. The season has not yet begun, but Nellie and I hope that we will be able to attend a performance before we leave.

After leaving the Globe, we walked along the Thames river which divides London. The north side tends to be very busy and crowded while the south side (where we were) is less so. We attempted to eat near Leicester Square, but soon became discouraged as the streets looked like Manhattan at rush hour and the restaurant were absolutely packed. Londoners don't seem to mind the crowds, however, being perfectly content to sit on stairs or crammed next to complete strangers in a restaurant . Nell and I were looking for something a little different...

Our primary mode of transportation was our feet, however, we also bought a tube pass which made getting around quicker and less confusing. There is no such thing as a straight road in London. Going in a certain direction is nearly impossible! The London Underground is very easy to use as long as you know your colors. "Lets take the yellow circle line to the grey jubilee line and get off at Southwark." It's really not a complicated system, just remember to "Mind the Gap!"Later on Saturday evening, Nellie and I climbed to the top floor of the Tate art gallery and the Oxo Tower for night views of the city. Even in the dark, London is alive with light and activity. By the end of the day we were both exhausted. We trekked back to our hostel for some rest before tomorrows next big adventure! [See Nellie's Blog for more!]