Autumn Explorations
Continuing to Explore London
A conversation needs to happen about European chocolate. It will be short. The Chocolate here is simply and absolutely amazing, necessary and addictive, and I even eat it on my toast.
Now that that's out of the way.
Yesterday was "Guy Fawkes day," also known as 
"Bonfire night" or simply the "5th of November," where the British basically celebrate that Parliament was not destroyed by the "gunpowder plot" in 1605. This was the 400th year anniversary, so as you can imagine it was quite the event. 
I watched fireworks set off simultaneously from two barges on either side of the Millennium bridge. Let me tell you, the British can do fireworks. With Big Ben in the background and the colored explosions of light reflecting off the River Thames it was an incredible experience. (Almost as good as the 4th of July)
Earlier that day I visited the Royal Academy of Arts and viewed the Edward Munch exhibition. He was the Norwegian artist who is most renowned for the art piece entitled "the scream." His artwork was incredibly detailed and depicted so many of his struggles through death and depression with great talent. Afterwards I felt a little like going home and crying, but I made it through and ate my brown sugar sandwich I packed with me.
I also visited the National Portrait Gallery for a current feature, "Self Portrait, Renaissance to Contemporary." It had 56 self portraits with the earliest dating back to the 15th century and then working its way up to 2005. Some of the artists featured were Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol. It was eerie almost to be staring and scrutinizing at some of these people's self- portraits, because they were so revealing. I actually did not spend as much time in there as I probably should have, but I did enjoy it and recognized the incredible talent and innovativity the artists possess/possessed to create such honest works.
Jamye and I pose outside of the Theatre
I am showing my support of the description of Stomp as "intoxicating."
After the portrait gallery I watched Stomp. Stomp is unlike the typical music as it does not contain any words. I had great seats and found the performance completely compelling and left the theatre wanting to create my own mini stomp with my flat mates. We could use the colanders and kitchen spoons. It's too bad I'm severely lacking in the rhythm compartment because I definitely have ideas.
Annie preforms laugh broadcast at the BBC tour center. 
On Friday I toured the BBC with Annie and a large family from Ireland. I guess we figured that being journalism students it would be unacceptable to leave London without experiencing the legendary BBC. So we coughed up the 5 pound 50 and arrived via tube to White City. The building is quite ingeniously designed in the shape of a question mark. This allows access to all of the studios from one central area, and the original building was erected in 1962, although the BBC first began radio broadcasting in the 20's. Today the BBC is funded by money collected from the public having to mandatorily purchase a "television license" if they 
own a T.V. This money adds up to about 3 billion pounds a year or over 5 and 1/2 billion dollars.
Walking around amongst the business suit clad men and women with BBC badges inspired me to want to work in that large of a capacity of a newsroom. We did get a badge for our tour, and although I asked if I could keep it (I had hopes of wearing it while I practiced the weather in front of my mirror) but Simon (the tour guide) said for security purposes I did not have the option of keeping it. And that was that, bye-bye badge, bye-bye BBC.
On Thursday I experienced the amazing talent possessed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra within the confines of the Royal Albert Hall. The program was entitled "The Best of Broadway" and featured four singers along with the RPO who sang songs from "Les Miserables," "Phantom of the Opera," "High 
Society," "Cabaret," and "Mamma Mia," to name a few. We had terrible seats but moved down into two empty seats in the front at intermission and enjoyed the show immensely more. The crowd was so enjoying the show that at the end when the singers invited us to dance along, the pearl clad and suit cuffed patrons even shimmied along to "Dancing Queen."
Chrystal and I pose in the Royal Albert Hall with a massive organ in the back.
By the time I got home I was exhausted and had just changed into my P.J.'s and thought I would grab a drink from the kitchen. When I walked into the kitchen my floor rep. (Tim) and my friend Daisy were chatting by the sink. Tim had sliced himself quite badly with a meat knife so I went to the phone to call Chrystal and ask if she had any band aids.
When I was on the phone I hear Daisy shout in panic for me and I ran to the kitchen just in time to see Tim pass out in front of me.
Daisy suggested we put him in the "recovery position" as he was currently slumped by the sink. So I pulled him by his feet and we got him stretched out and he came to. I called security and they sent a woman who bandaged the cut and told Tim he needed stitches. So Daisy, Tim and I took a taxi to the Kingston hospital. My first experience with socialized health care. They took note of Tim's name and address and waited several moments while the computer froze before walking him to a consultation room (well, more like rectangular hole in the wall with a curtain) with Daisy and I trailing behind. Eventually he was moved to a proper room, and Daisy and I watched as he was stitched up by an attractive South African doctor. Bandages were given, and that was it.
Jamye and I on Halloween go see the "thrilling" musical, Blood Brothers.
On October 31st, there really weren't a lot of things going on to celebrate Halloween, unless I wanted to go to the school bop and get drunk. I didn't. really. So Jamye and I booked tickets for the musical "Blood Brothers," which is a very English musical about to Liverpudlian twin brothers separated at birth. The play was excellent and although I didn't come home from central London with pillow cases full of candy I was very satisfied by the wonderful production the actors put on. I highly recommend it, if you are in the area.
The Royal Guard band
Prior to Halloween I finally watched the Changing of the guards at the Buckingham palace. It was pretty interesting and one of those London musts. The best part was catching the royal guard band practicing before hand with the tunes of Indiana Jones and Star Wars.
The crowds dissipated and I walked along the banks of the nearby pond and as usual admired the vast number of water fowl. However, I was most facisnated by the large pelicans that were so very friendly.
If anyone can sucessfully ID that orange headed bird I would be thrilled.
Canadien Geese lovers
I promise I did not feed the pelicans, I was more worried about them feeding on me.
I also visited Canterbury Cathedral last Saturday and found it very interesting, but would not like to go there again.
In Canterbury near Norman Ruins
I cannot believe it's already November and my time here is drawing close to an end. I feel like there is still so much to discover. London continues to disappoint me with the weather as I read today that this is supposed to be the coldest winter ever. However, I was promptly informed that they say that every year when in fact it keeps getting warmer.
By the way: That street sign is a cruel joke, the beach is not close, at all.
I'm hoping for a little sunshine as this whole chocolate instead of sun is getting a little out of control.
Hearts,
Sierra
posted by Sierra K. Briscoe @ 7:21 AM
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If it was possible to converge multiple places into one perfect spot, the equation would be: the city of London + L.A.'s weather + Northern California's landscape. I believe that would almost be euphoria.
