"London, baby!!!" had been Kerry's jubilant refrain of anticipation for an entire month leading up to this trip. Unfortunately, as it turned out she couldn't make it down on the weekend that I was there. :-(
I met up with my friend Rachel, who had hooked us up with an empty apartment to stay in for free (Rachel is one of the most well-connected people I know). We spent Friday evening watching the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies at a house party of another of her friend's. It was fun watching it all in a room with an American (me!), a couple of Italians, an Indian-Irish guy, an Israeli, a Thai-Swiss (Rachel!), an Albanian, and a handful of Londoners. I might be forgetting a few others, but you get the idea. :-) That seems to be the flavor of London, and it is certainly the flavor of the games.
I got up early on Saturday and left Rachel sleeping to take the Tube to London Tower, where I had decided to start my custom-made "walking tour" of the city. After crossing Tower Bridge, I visited Southwark Cathedral (where I had a pleasant chat with a Korean chaplain) and then met Viki (yes, the same Viki you met in the Norwich post) for breakfast at Borough Market. Viki and I explored the Thames' South Bank region the rest of the day, stopping at Shakespeare's Globe Theater, the Tate Modern museum of art, Gabriel's Wharf for lunch, and the bookstalls near the National Theater (enjoying the carnival-like atmosphere), before crossing back over the river and walking past Big Ben and the House of Parliament, up to Covent Garden. We slowed down and had a drink there before meeting up with Rachel and her friend for dinner at a Spanish tapas cafe and then to go see the musical production of The Lion King! The Lion King was never one of my favorite Disney movies, but the costumes and setting were so good that it was impossible not to love the musical.
Sunday included a visit to Kensington Gardens and the Victoria & Albert museum in the morning, worship at HTB, lunch at a French creperie, the afternoon service at Christchurch London with a friend I'd met in Beijing last spring, and an evening hanging out with folks from Christchurch at a nearby pub.
I met up with my friend Rachel, who had hooked us up with an empty apartment to stay in for free (Rachel is one of the most well-connected people I know). We spent Friday evening watching the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies at a house party of another of her friend's. It was fun watching it all in a room with an American (me!), a couple of Italians, an Indian-Irish guy, an Israeli, a Thai-Swiss (Rachel!), an Albanian, and a handful of Londoners. I might be forgetting a few others, but you get the idea. :-) That seems to be the flavor of London, and it is certainly the flavor of the games.
I got up early on Saturday and left Rachel sleeping to take the Tube to London Tower, where I had decided to start my custom-made "walking tour" of the city. After crossing Tower Bridge, I visited Southwark Cathedral (where I had a pleasant chat with a Korean chaplain) and then met Viki (yes, the same Viki you met in the Norwich post) for breakfast at Borough Market. Viki and I explored the Thames' South Bank region the rest of the day, stopping at Shakespeare's Globe Theater, the Tate Modern museum of art, Gabriel's Wharf for lunch, and the bookstalls near the National Theater (enjoying the carnival-like atmosphere), before crossing back over the river and walking past Big Ben and the House of Parliament, up to Covent Garden. We slowed down and had a drink there before meeting up with Rachel and her friend for dinner at a Spanish tapas cafe and then to go see the musical production of The Lion King! The Lion King was never one of my favorite Disney movies, but the costumes and setting were so good that it was impossible not to love the musical.
Sunday included a visit to Kensington Gardens and the Victoria & Albert museum in the morning, worship at HTB, lunch at a French creperie, the afternoon service at Christchurch London with a friend I'd met in Beijing last spring, and an evening hanging out with folks from Christchurch at a nearby pub.
Amazing as usual April. I'm happy for you and a bit envious at the same time.
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