Wednesday was a classless day for me -- that's not to say that it wasn't classy, however -- so I took advantage of my freedom and set off into the depths of London around 10:00 in the morning. With no real goal or final destination in mind, I picked a cardinal direction (east, in this case) and started walking. The weather was pleasant, with the midmorning sun casting its warmth through a cloudless sky. My walk led me through a few residential sections of London, past hidden cafés and snack shops; shady parks and plazas barely populated by anything more than pigeons at this earlier hour.
The first thing that struck me as I walked was the sheer age of this place. The first colony in America (Virginia) was founded in 1607, and with the naturally unstable qualities of the earliest settlements' construction, one is unlikely to come across any standing structure older than a couple hundred years. However, as I navigated the streets of London I found myself constantly in, on, and generally surrounded by buildings and infrastructure dating from 1000 AD to the present day. The experience was fascinating, and in some ways even humbling.
The second thing I noticed about London as I wove through narrow alleys and brick streets were the number of parks. Our guide on Tuesday's bus tour mentioned that London is the greenest city in the world, in terms of amount of physical greenspace. I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. No matter where I found myself in the city, an ample-sized park was never more than a couple blocks away. The parks here also seem to be well-tended and beautifully landscaped.
After wandering for some time, I headed to the south until I came upon the River Thames. There I found a public green called the Victoria Tower Gardens. Its location on the bank of the Thames made for some truly lovely scenery. Unfortunately my pictures don't do it justice, but this was my view from a park bench.
I spent some time relaxing here, and then headed towards Trafalgar Square, the largest public plaza in the city. On my way I stopped at the Sherlock Holmes Pub for a beef sandwich and a pint of the house ale. I normally don't advocate drinking before noon, but I cut myself a break for the day. Once in Trafalgar, I headed straight to the focal point of the plaza: The National Gallery. An art museum of truly epic proportions, I spent an hour and a half exploring within its many halls and galleries, and still only saw about half of the exhibits. Below are some shots of my lunch at the pub, and Trafalgar Square.
After I was finished in the National Gallery, I headed to Covent Gardens to do some extreme window shopping. It took everything in my power to not spend all my money on clothes and trinkets from the labyrinth of stalls and shops. Instead, I managed to leave having purchased only a fine Cuban cigar, something not legally attainable within the States. Later that evening I returned to Covent Gardens with a couple of friends, saw some impressive street performances, and ate some very tasty gorgonzola gnocchi at an Italian restaurant. I ended the evening enjoying cigars and Strongbow cider with friends in front of our flats.
Thursday was a much less eventful day, though by no means less enjoyable. It consisted primarily of classes, followed by a jaunt up to Camden Markets, an even larger shopping center than Convent Gardens, and aimed more towards the youth. I sampled some English candy with a few friends, and talked briefly with some kind locals. In the early evening, a handful of us brought a few bottles of wine to the nearby Russel Park, and sat on the lawn drinking, eating various cheeses, and playing cards. The weather in London has continued to surpass our expectations, and even into dusk we were able to enjoy the outdoors at a comfortable temperature.
Today should be an interesting one for the group. At 15:30 we're seeing an art exhibit about the Last Supper, and at 19:00 we'll be watching a stage performance of a Clockwork Orange. Later tonight I'll try to post the (finally) edited bus tour photos, as well as any I can take today.
Take it easy, everyone.
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