It feels like ages since I've arrived here... and I guess it as been almost 2 1/2 weeks since being in England... but I've already seen so much of London with my class group! Let's see...on Saturday we went to Camden Market! Very touristy but still so cool.
That is probably the worst picture of all time to be taken of Camden Market. Sorry.
So many stands of vendors wanting to sell you stuff!!
"You can touch! Here, try it on!"
"For you special price, only for you!"
"Ah, beautiful girls, it looks beautiful on you. My little model!"
"I'll put it in the dressing room for you to try on."
Haha, yep. Hence why I didn't really touch much so as to prevent the descent of salesmen. But I did buy some stuff! Shhhh! Secret gift stuff! :] And we got absolutely POURED on. So cool! It was raining hard enough that it was causing a problem at the tube station because people didn't want to leave the protection of the building and were blocking the exits. I swear the transit worker almost got out a whip to move the herd out of the station.
After that we rushed over to the National Theater to see Sam Mendes' production of King Lear. Guys, it was INCREDIBLE. Last fall semester I took a whole class on King Lear, so I know the play intimately, and I loved every interpretive decision he made. The costuming was modern militaristic, from somewhere around the 50's or 60's, and the set was incredible. It had a rotating stage that was used geniusly, and a section in the middle that rose up to make a ramp and a platform.
The actors were incredible, the way they explained the Fool's disappearance was incredible (during the mock trial, King Lear got caught up in the pretend and madness and beat the Fool, who was playing Goneril, to death. It was so shocking and heart breaking), and the whole thing was just incredible.
After King Lear, lots of people came over to watch Brasil v. Chile in our front room. I've never followed soccer (football), but man! That game was intense!
Then that night we went on a walk around Hyde Park. Don't worry, the sun doesn't set until almost 10pm here. We went up and around the Royal Albert Hall and through some of Hyde Park, then down past Harrods again and got on the tube there to come back.
Random street. Still gorgeous.
Royal Albert Hall!
Prince Albert Memorial. It's HUGE.
Harrods all lit up!
At the park, we ran into an old man and his terrier and started talking. (For you stranger danger people out there, there were 6 of us, boys and girls, in a public place, and he was very nice.) Like all old men, he told us many stories and was very clever and witty. We played with his dog and had a very nice chat. Overall, everything about this walk was extremely enjoyable and I can't wait to go on another one.
Well that was Saturday! Tower of London today! Woo!
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