"always look on the bright side of life..."
Trip Start
Sep 02, 2008
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7
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Trip End
Dec 16, 2008
Hampton Court,
United Kingdom
Monday, October 8, 2007
Monday started off quite lovely with a trip to see "Macbeth". The current production going on in the West End right now stars Patrick Stewart as Macbeth and has been updated to take place in WWII-era Europe. It was absolutely fantastic. The acting was unbelievably good and I was shocked at how scary they were able to make a stage play! I'm not going to lie, I had some trouble following it at times because I've never read that particular play so I didn't know the story but regardless, it was great. It was interesting to have seen a very traditional Shakespeare production the week before and then this modern one. I enjoyed both for that reason!
Tuesday night we went back to Sports Cafe which has become quite the weekly ritual. It's fun and gives me a little taste of home every week since they play all American music and it's mostly Americans there as well! We went on Thursday night as well because they have 20 wings for 3 pounds! Best deal I've found in London
Damien Rice - Unplayed Piano
. Someitmes you just need some greasy food and cheap beer... even if it is London!Friday night we decided we wanted to do something besides go out to the pub *go figure* so we lucked out and found cheap tickets to go see Spamalot!!! That was on my top 5 list of things I wanted to do while I was here so I was beyond excited to go!! Spamalot is the musical based off the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". I love Monty Python and that type of humor so I knew I would love the musical... and thankfully I was not dissapointed! It was absolutely hilarious. I don't think I've ever even laughed so hard in a movie. The songs were so over the top and the entire thing was basically making fun of musicals. Most of the dialogue was word-for-word from the movie but it was still hysterical. Two of my roomates and our friend Mike went and we were all cracking up the entire time.
Saturday morning we managed to get up early and hop on the train to Hampton Court. Hampton Court was Henry VIII's main palace. That is where he spent most of his time with all 6 of his wives. The palace was later inhabited by many of the Tudors and until the past century was a frequent residence of most of the monarchy. I was so excited to visit this particular palace because this summer I read "The Other Boelyn Girl". It's historical fiction based on Henry VIII and his relationship with both Anne Boelyn and her sister Mary. I got really into the book and the Tudors in general so this was also on the top of my list for places to visit
Train Ride
. The palace was beautiful. It was much differnet than Windsor. It was not nearly as ornate and over the top. Half of the palace was done in the Tudor style and remains exactly like it was when Henry VIII was there. The other half was re-done by William and Mary and done in the more popular Baroque style of their day. We took a couple of guided tours which were quite fun because the guides were dressed in period costumes and acted like they were members of the court. After we toured the palace we headed out to the palace grounds. All I can say is... WOW! There were endless gardens and trees and flowers and ponds and fountains and just a lot!! Just when we thought we'd seen the last garden there would be another one! It was unbelievable. It was exactly what I pictured a palace to look like. We ate lunch at a little cafe that was on the site of where they used to do jousting! I had afternoon tea *which for me was actually hot chocolate* and then we went into the maze! I don't know how we did it but we made it to the middle of the maze in like 5 minutes! Apparently we are maze masters. It was another great day out of the City.Once we got back from Hampton Court we had to race home, quickly change, and then head off to Wembley Arena to see Damien Rice! Damien Rice is an Irish folk/acoustic singer who I've been really into for about 4 or 5 years now. Problem is since he's Irish he doesn't tour the states that much! I've been dying to see him for the longest time but apparently I just had to come accross the pond since he wasn't going to come to me! We lucked out and got really good seats the day before the show
Queens
. It was great. He is so talented and his songs are beautiful.During his encore he came out and gave a little speech about the horrible atrocities that are going on in Burma right now. A group of Burmese refugees came out and explained what's going on in their country. Damien then sang a beautiful song he wrote for the rightfully elected Prime Minister of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. The song is called "Unplayed Piano" and I recommend you download it if you havn't heard it yet. The song "Walk On" by U2 was also written for her and Bono has been a huge advocate of hers over the years. If you don't know her situation take a minute to read about it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi). She is an amazing woman who should serve as a role model for all of us. I think it's quite sad that these violations of human rights are being generally overlooked by our country and most of the western world. We will spend billions of dollars and thousands of soldiers lives to "liberate" the people of Iraq because they were ruled by an evil dictator, yet the same thing is going on in countless other places and we seem to do nothing about it. I don't mean to get too political, but I think it's quite interesting to be viewing all of these things in a foreign country. I saw an anti-war rally outside of my college today after class. It once again showed how un-fond of our government the people here are. I'll keep my thoughts to myself on that one since most of you already know what they are!!
The past couple of days have been pretty lazy. I had to work on a paper and such for class yesterday. Today I took a trip down to the Natural History Museum where I actually got to see some dinosaur bones! Living a childhood dream there. The museum itself was beautiful. Very interesting architecture. I'll post some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about.
This weekend is going to be undoubtedly wonderful because I'm going to Dublin!!!! I can not WAIT! I only wish I had some more time to spend there but I'm sure it will be a great trip. I will def. post next week with pictures of the green isle :-)
Comments
Centre, Theatre, Colour, Favourite
Do you find yourself spelling like them yet?? I particulalry love Theatre and Centre.
VERY cool that you went to Hampton Court! That is one place I have never been, but its on the ToDo List! Particularly since I was obsessed with The Tudors on Showtime last season. So good. Maybe you need to give me a Tudor Reading List. I also loved that door with the gold vines. Pretty!!
I heart Damien Rice! My favorite: The Blowers Daughter. You probably already own it, but let me know if you dont. Love that song.
So, you know your job in Dublin right? After your father/daughter meeting with Bono, you must let Larry know I'm still waiting for him! And wish Larry a Happy Birthday for me...its Oct 31. *smooches*
Glad that you are still happy snappy! Keep up the good work! *hugs* ~Shannon