Yesterday was a cool day. In the morning, all of us piled on a bus and took a tour around the entire city. We got an overall visual of what the city looks like, as well as where everything is. After that we were given time for lunch, and then we headed out on a walking tour of the area we are staying in, Kensington. This borough is very posh and rich, with lots of big, beautiful houses and upscale shops. We walked past the Royal Albert Hall, The Albert Monument, The Royal College of Music, through Kensington Park and back down and around. Any and all of Kensington is positively gorgeous, so we are very lucky to be living in this area. Later that night we got to see our first play: Money.
Money has been running intermittently for about 4 years in the London and is not the average piece of theater. It is staged in a massive warehouse, and when you walk in there is a bar to the left, and in front of you a giant machine from which a low rumbling is emitting. There were a smattering of tables and chairs around the front of the machine. There were 2 flights of metal stairs and opera music playing in the background. At 9:45 a man wearing police riot gear emerged from the shadows to hand out 5 colored balloons to people. He then got a drink from the bar as the audience continued to chat. About 10 minutes later, he collected the balloons and ushered everyone into the machine. The room was pitch black and about 80 people were crammed in like sardines. The noises of trains steaming, hammers clamoring, and loud ticking pummeled the ears when suddenly the noise stopped and the lights flicked on. To the sides of us were rows of seats that we took to, and in front and behind us were doors with no knobs. The performers came in and out of the doors holding their own knobs. The play is based on an Emile Zola novel entitled L'Argent about a French banking fiasco in the 19th century, although it was not at all very obvious. The play was witty and intense, with heavy symbolism that I only understood after I got home and wikipedia'd what the novel was about. However, it was visually stunning, with the play running on three planes (a bottom floor, middle floor and top floor that could all be seen through because the floors were made of plexiglass). It is phenomenally difficult for me to describe the full effects of this piece, but ask me about it when I get home and I'd be glad to fill in any details.
So, not done yet!
Today I woke up around noon (waaaay too late) and Ashleigh, Tia and I decided to take a walk through Kensington Palace. They have a very unique display in the Palace right now; the palace itself is actually under renovation, so instead of fully closing it, they've asked famous artists to create exhibits that represent the various princesses that have lived there over the years. The exhibit is artistic and engaging and a little freaky at times, but it was always beautiful.
After the palace, we headed over to our professor's, Josh's, house to meet his wife and two daughters. We trekked down to the local pub where I had a Pimm's and then moved on to a street that had only Middle Eastern restaurants and stores from start to end. A lot of baklava was consumed.
Well I start school tomorrow. It's going to be interesting, adjusting to a school schedule while still in a place that beckons me to explore it every second of the day. Wish me luck!
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