Cheerio puppets! London is an absolutely brilliant place for holiday. I am especially taken aback by how lovely the people are here (and their accents never get old!)
So, I must admit, when I woke up on Friday morning after a crazy travel day the day before, I started to panic. What am I doing here?! I'm a country completely alone thousands upon thousands of miles away from home. And I won't be coming home for another... 5 weeks... oh gosh, whenever I say this, I start to get slightly depressed. So I did my best to get myself out of bed and start the day. Just push myself out the door. Just do it. There is a world of amazement out there that I am missing if I don't.
Then it occurs to me - I don't have the key. The other guest staying at the pad, Giulia, has it and has left for work. So this means that the moment I leave and shut the door, I cannot come back in until everyone has come home from work around 6 pm.
It was 9 am.
What was I going to do in London ALL day by myself?! I didn't even have a plan! (Which, for anyone who knows me, knows that this is very unusual). So finally, I braved myself to get dressed and grab my travel books to at least get a start. But as I was approaching the door, I was unable to get out. I text my host lady and she said you must have a key to unlock yourself from the inside. So... I was stuck inside.
I started t laugh and then I started to cry. I don't really know why - I think I was just very tired and VERY nervous about being there. All of the excitement I had had the day before was not recreating itself that morning. So when I sat down on the bed, I decided to put in Eat, Pray, Love - a fantastic book and well done movie with Julia Roberts - and I instantly felt better. I even laughed at the fact that the date was Friday the 13th. Go figure.
Giulia ended up coming home around 1 on her lunch break so when she left again, I went with her on the tube and departed for the Houses of Parliament. It was raining and freezing outside, but I didn't care. I was determined now to enjoy myself.
I got off the tube and it took me a second to realize... I was right underneath Big Ben! And the minute I looked up and saw it, it was as if all the worry I felt earlier that morning never even existed. I was finally here! My favorite city in the world! So I took about 3 hours just to walk around and soak it in (no pun intended!).
I passed Westminster Abbey, which unfortunately was closed inside, and then crossed the Thames to find a cute little café overlooking Parliament.
So I sat with my English tea and ham/cheese croissant and stared outside at the most beautiful sight I have seen yet on this trip. I really don't know what it is about London that hits me so hard. But I can honestly say that walking along the water and popping in some Stephen Layton Polyphony music made me tear up several times. After all this planning and dreaming, I was actually in the place I love most to be in. And though I was alone, I loved every second of it.
The next morning, I felt rejuvenated and inspired to go out again. This time, I went with absolutely no plan. I hopped on a tube and got off at Hyde Park. And I did get lost. But what's lost when you have no plan? It was actually kind of fun! I ended up at Princess Diana's Memorial Walk and then hit Piccadilly Lane. I remembered Piccadilly so differently from the last time I was here, but then again, it hadn't been raining and horribly overcast 2 years ago. This week has been utterly depressing as far as weather goes. But I don't care! Rain actually looks beautiful in a city like this. Again, don't ask me why.
I ended up at Handel's house! He lived here for the last 36 years of his life and wrote most all of his famous works, including the Messiah, at this location!
Later that evening, I attended a small choir concert at a cute little church and walked around the Tower of London. The east side of the river is definitely not my favorite part of town, but at least I got to experience it.
Yesterday morning, I woke up early and attended a mass at St. Paul's Cathedral. I grabbed a latte and got there about a half an hour early to look around. Good Lord... this place is beautiful.
The service was about an hour and a half, and honestly, I could have stayed all day. I have never experienced anything like it. Not only were hundreds and hundreds of people there to worship, but the music... ah, the music.. it was so angelic! The choir is made up of young soprano boys and adult men along with the London Sinfonia. A true testament to the British sound that I love - they sounded absolutely incredible. And what do they sing, of all things? Mozart's Coronation Mass. AH! So incredible!!
Again, I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, and there were ushers every which way keeping an eye out, so those pictures will forever be engrained in my memory. :)
From there, I went to Camden to do some shopping. Um... wow. So overwhelming. Why did I shop in any other place when I could have bargained ANYTHING there?! I spent way too much time there... and found myself in a Hindu shop buying god knows what. Sweaters, incense, earrings, books (The Great Gatsby for 1 pound... SERIOUSLY!?), you name it and I probably bought it. Yikes... I'm a shopaholic... :)
I came back to the pad and started really practicing for my program. I keep forgetting a small detail - I am supposed to have everything memorized by next week. Um... yes. About that...
Today I am going to go to the British Museum, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Academy of Music, and try to get back to Westminster to see if I can get inside. Tonight there is a Proms concert that I am DYING to go to! Got to get there early and see if I can snag a 5 pound standing ticket to see John Adams conduct.
Will continue my posts! Sorry for the long one! Clearly, I am in love with this city. :)
Until then,
<3 Allie
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