"Final" post from "home"

Top o’the mornin’ to ya! I’m writing this, my entry after I’m ‘home’, from a railway car speeding Mollie and I between York and Glasgow! I can say with complete conviction that my multimedia classes have dramatically improved my technological skills. I’d never before even have thought about using a computer while traveling, let alone on vacation. I’m so glad Dr. Everhart convinced us all to bring our own laptops. It’s like anything else: practice, practice, practice. Now it’s become like a close friend, almost like how one feels about one’s phone these days.

I never thought I’d say I missed our itty bitty teensy weensy flats on Great Russell St., but I have to say that packing and unpacking in a new hotel every other day is getting to be a wee bit old. (I ALMOST miss having a laundry.) That said, I ADORED the Hotel Citizen M Bankside, even without a bathtub. It was tiny but ultra modern, with lots of little quirky touches: art books on display everywhere, primary color furnishings, and quotes on the walls. The ‘rooms’ are apparently fabricated in Sweden (I think) and shipped complete. The ‘bathroom’ is a semicircular enclosure IN the room, with ‘mood’ lighting for the shower (kind of a hushed fuchsia), and an option to switch between a regular hand held shower head, or an overhead rain shower. It was AWESOME! We ate at a Greek place right on the Thames at dusk on our first day, and were in heaven. Next day, we literally stumbled upon the site of the original Globe; I was over the moon. That night we saw War Horse, an excellent ending to our stay in London.

We cleverly took a tour trip that stopped at Salisbury and Stonehenge before getting to Bath, where we simply took our luggage off the bus, walked across the street and checked in to our hotel there. Bath is enchanting. My only regret is that we were going to ‘take the waters’ (as they say) but my semi-permanent red hair would have bled into the ancient springs and I didn’t want to despoil them that way. (Thanks a lot, you guys!) However, I WAS able to take a bath in Bath; I had a good soak and pampered my poor feet. AND we had dinner at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant there on our last evening, which was inspired.

Then on to York, where I collapsed! The timing was perfect; I was wiped out from the prior four days, and needed to finish my photo story, so I sat outside by Clifford’s Tower and alternately worked and watched. We had a fabulous French dinner at Rustique – c’etait formidable!

The ride north is lovely; we lucked out and got seats on either side of one of those big tables! Gorgeous scenery: wind power machines, farms, forests, cities and just now even a glimpse of the sea to the east! The porter told us to sit on this side for the best view. 

We arrive Glasgow in about two hours, get situated, then have a quick tour and dinner. The next two weeks include Scotland: a cruise on Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, Nairn, Culloden, and Edinburgh, Edinburgh, including the Tattoo and the Fringe. Then in Ireland we’ll be goin’ ta Belfast, Dublin, Blarney Castle and the Stone of Eloquence, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Galway, and any other trouble we can find.

This cohort has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m glad I’ve enjoyed meself, despite working me wee self ta death. For a strictly online DL grad student, the opportunity to work with fellow students in person, while taking in London, is especially meaningful. This will likely be the last chance I have to interact with other grad students before I earn my degree. I appreciate the diversity of people who accompanied us on our journey, and suspect that many of us will be maintaining our long distance friendships via our blogs and other social media, now that we’ve all become so acclimated to using them. At the very least I can say that I have no qualms today about experimenting with new technologies, because of the work I’ve done in these classes. I will always remember this summer semester with FSU.  

MY PHOTOSTORY

Here's a fairly chronological, fond recollection of my FSU summer...and then some! Hope you enjoy....

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ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, OR AS YOU LIKE IT

As some of us are leaving tomorrow, we paid our respects to HRH, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, where she was in residence, as evidenced by the flag. 

The palace is rather nice, if you like that kind of thing. A bit ostentatious for me . . . I KID! I KID! It was incredible. I got 'stamped' for a free return, and hope to bring my sister back with me. 

Then we stood in traffic for awhile, trying to get photos which convey transportation in motion. As it happens, this synchronized nicely with the changing of the guard, which necessitated a full stop to all traffic as the guard proceeded out and down the mall. Sigh....

Then I tried a couple of tactics. I used my Samsung Galaxy Note II phone camera, with an aperture priority setting, which set a very low ISO of 80, and an aperture of 2.76. Here's the shot:

It kind of looks like there's some momentum going on, doesn't it? Or is that just the optical illusion of the graphic on the cab? 

I was thrilled when a red Ferrari came around the corner. Without changing the settings, I took a series of rapid shots. However, I'm not sure I got the desired effect. Everything looks to be in focus. I guess my phone camera is just too good, maybe?

Even if they're too IN focus, I love the fact that everyone is gaping at the car in all of the photos!

I also tried using my Fuji Finepix JV. I tried setting it to night, to lengthen exposure, and got mixed results. Some came out with everything pretty much in focus,

like this one:
but this one:seems to have worked!

Same settings, but I may have been 'tracking' the biker or something? Not sure how I got lucky, but I want to learn more about how to affect these effects. I'll have some time to practice, now.

Farewell lunch at Hard Rock. I snuck out before there could be any weepy farewells - I hate that kind of thing. I trust many of us will continue to follow each others' goings-on. Look for my continuing adventures with Mollie in London, Bath, York, and then Scotland and Ireland - erin go bragh!

WANDERINGS

So, our weekend this week was Friday & Saturday, because Sunday is our last hurrah. So I finally actually had a chance to do some exploring. I bussed around on Friday, but on Saturday I went to the Y in the morning, and from there I started walking, with the intention of hopping on a bus to go over the river (& through the woods) to Bankside to find the hotel we are staying at Monday. I kept straying from the path, because I glimpsed intriguing alleys or old buildings that just begged me to investigate. 

See what I mean? This is a church at Lincoln's Inn park, where I was also mesmerized by the striations of weather wear on the sculpture below.

I actually found a public 'loo' there, which was spic and span and very convenient. I suspect it was there because there might be a taxi stand type of thing at that spot, as several taxis lined the street.


Then I was in the middle of all sorts of justice-y things, including the Royal Courts of Justice. I think the building below was part of  same, but I snapped it because it reminded me of the Santa Croce "Stendahlisme" story from Florence. That was a striped tower like the one below.

 

When next I checked for a bus stop, I discovered I was around the corner from Fleet Street, so I HAD to go there. I adore this sign....

The huisieme arrondissement?! Londres? Qu'est-ce que c'est? Very peculiar....

Well, by this time I was at Ludgate Circus, and it occurred to me that I was wearing closed shoes (for my class at the Y) for the 1st time since hospital, and I was really regretting it. I took a few photos of cars zipping around, and decided to hop a bus over Blackfriar's Bridge.

Wait for it...this was when I discovered I had 

LOST MY OYSTER CARD.

And yes, I did check everywhere, calmly, assuming (as you are now) that I was just panicked. But noooooo...it was well and truly gone. So engrossed had I been in my sightseeing that I must have accidentally yanked it out along with my bus map or something, and lost it.

Now I had no choice but to walk over the bridge, feet in agony. I stopped for photo ops, below.

THEN, once I was on the other side, I had to go in search of a tube station, of which there are precious few in Bankside. There was one at Southwark, where I was finally able to buy a new card. I knew I was 'around the corner' from my objective, so I trudged on. More interesting discoveries....

 Art on the Tube. That's a tube map on her lap.

THIS is a theatre? Showing Measure for Measure, no less.




I found the hotel, the Citizen M Bankside. It's REALLY nice! I took the closest bus, the RV1, which took me to Covent Garden - yikes! What a mob scene. From there I tried to orient myself, and finally found Charing Cross Road, where I got on the 25 bus. I have more photos, but I am in AGONY, so I'm signing off here. London is amazing. I'm glad I'm not leaving on Monday! Hopefully I'll be able to walk....

YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

My group put together a video with the essentials students here at the Study Centre will need to know. 

Now I want coffee . . . .

LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE

Our next-to-last class endeavor together was last night. We rode the London Eye, which was great fun.

Then we walked along the Thames to the Globe, a fascinating display of London life. It was a brisk (to say the least) half hour walk which taxed my poor feet. 

Barely time to hit the restrooms before curtain at the Globe. Our seats were extreme stage left, and a lot of the action was obstructed by a pillar in the stalls, as well as one onstage. But I craned my neck and squiggled around so I could see and hear as much as I could. 

NOBODY DOES SHAKESPEARE LIKE THE BRITS! We saw A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of my favourites. 

The direction, choreography, music, musicians and cast were all brilliant, and I was enjoying myself thoroughly until intermission, at which point I was told I was too loud! It really ruined my mood, but I decided not to let it. I ignored the comment and loved the show!

The play was so well done; the mechanicals were amazing. The actor who played Francis Flute (who plays Thisbe in the play within the play) reminded me of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory – hysterical! Everyone was excellent. I am always partial to Helena, whose “Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?” speech I delivered on the stage of the Globe on a past visit with theatre students. The duality of the characters was delicious, and expertly executed. My flatmate noted that Puck almost appeared to be Puck in disguise when he played Philsotrate, an intriguing idea. I absolutely adored the show; I will likely try to see it again with my sister after this program is over – just a few more days now. I want to visit the theatre shop as well, which we didn't get time to do. 

Then we made some attempts to do our assignment of night photography, but I was confused by the directions and slightly dispirited. So we went home. Too bad. 

London Theatre

I WON'T GROW UP, SAID PETER POTTER

Why do we love Peter Pan? And other non-conformists? I'll tell you why. 

Because we want to believe that we can choose to do whatever we want. Don't you? 

Pick a wand, any wand....

 Some people, who accidentally take a wrong turn and get stuck in something they think they're "supposed" to do still seek solace in literature and imagination about all of the potential other what-ifs. This is the greatest gift we are given, but usually mostly as children. 

Now, this is the most important thing we CAN give children, absolutely, but why should grown-ups not continue to dwell on possibilities, too? Some people do, and get paid for it – you see? It can be done! But some of us grow to think that this realm of make-believe is just that, and make the unfortunate mistake of abandoning this great sphere of joy -- again, because we think we're supposed to. 

I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

YOU ARE NOT 'SUPPOSED' TO DO ANYTHING

EXCEPT WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES.

It's GOOD to break the rules. And it's even more important to know that it's good, and important to NEVER stop thinking outside of the triangle. It's a basic survival skill, and you ignore it at your own risk. 

I act & feel & think like a six year old most of the time and some people don't understand me. That's ok; I don't care. I know I'm being true to me. Boy, were we in our element today! We went to the Harry Potter Studios outside London. (It's ok; it's not dizney.) 

Wands

 J. K. Rowling and the masses of people who have been involved in the production of her stories into films have given us a great gift: permission--indeed encouragement--to keep on wondering and playing. This is wonderful, but . . . why do need permission? 

Some more wands, all named for actual crew members

We need magic and faeries and wizards and dragons today more than ever. All of these stories are fables which remind us that we can ALWAYS choose our path; we can ALWAYS defeat the wrong-doers; we can ALWAYS fight for right...and WE CAN WIN.

This lesson is never not needed! But we're like the grown-ups in The Little Prince, who have forgotten how to draw a sleeping lamb or an elephant in a boa constrictor. And then we’ll need to rely on the children to remind us. Otherwise, there’s a grave danger that we will forget, and the children will have to do everything, and they’re already too busy now!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

NOT! Our Hyde Park trip this AM got rained out. Kind of ironic, inasmuch as our photo focus for today was water (check out my pic on our Facebook page)! But we all met instead for our afternoon outing to Kensington Palace and high tea at the Orangery, don’t you know? 

Pretty thrilling to think we were in William, Kate and the BABY’s palace, AND that the baby and mommy and daddy arrived home mere hours after we left! The palace history is fascinating . . . Victoria, Georges, et al.  Very tastefully done displays, which included animated projections, synopses of stories, and displays appropriate to various chambers.

etched glass Crystal Palace representation

quote by Victoria about meeting Albert:
"I said I couldn't think of marrying for three or four years, but seeing Albert has changed all this"

I especially liked the royal wallpaper and signage....

 At 3 o’clock it was tea time. I cannot tell you what a delightful experience this was! It was so . . . CIVILIZED! 

row leading to Orangery

A thread I've found running through my posts during this all-too-brief stay has been an increased sense of appreciation for the Brits and their culture. I've talked about how studious they are in maintaining a connection with their history, and how cavalier they are about the arts. Contrasting yet complementary characteristics. As a people, they are endowed with a sense of perspective, I think, which is another theme I've been examining. They seem to be able both to take themselves very, very seriously, AND make ridiculous fun of themselves. They are sometimes stereotyped as very reserved, and there are things about which they are quite solemn, such as their royal family, and understandably so. They recognize that they got to where they are today only because of the peculiar set of circumstances, good and bad, which came before. Yet they have such a lovely sense of humour about it all. We need only think about Monty Python to see how silly they realize others must on occasion perceive them to be. But they welcome the hordes of perennial tourists, because they have a genuine joie de vivre (forgive me my French, your Majesties) which makes them curious, gregarious and a lot of fun to get to know. I’m so glad I’ll be staying on in the UK after my FSU experience!      

Historic day!

KATE’S IN LABOR!

First thing this morning we learned that Kate Middleton has gone into hospital! We have all been on edge, listening for news, but nothing so far. In fact, we were at Westminster Abbey today, when the bells began ringing, and we all jumped out of our skins. Then we noticed it was 10AM . . . sigh…. My roommate posted a live feed to the webcam at the hospital here.

After St. Paul’s I was ill prepared for the magnificence of Westminster.  St. Paul’s was amazing, but Westminster is A-MA-ZING! I was immediately impressed with the architecture, of course, but even more so by the sense of awe with which one is imbued upon entering the space. All heads turn up, which is undoubtedly the desired reaction, as it is, after all, a monument erected to stand in testament to God. We were not, unfortunately, allowed to take photos inside. But I did get some outside….

A beautiful spire

Roof of Chapter House

 

 

 

 
Westminster REEKS of history! EVERY CORONATION (since 1066) has been held in this historic place. And all on the same chair, even! I had a hard time getting my head around the fact that I was looking at THE throne upon which all the kings and queens of England since William the Conqueror had been anointed and crowned. Granted, my knowledge of the British monarchy is largely attributable to Shakespeare (who has his own monument in Winchester in the Poet’s Corner), but that still means I was in the place wherein investiture of Elizabeth I happened . . . and King John, and the Henrys,  even…shudder…R3! It was quite moving to see the tombs of the supposed remains of the two brother princes thought to have been murdered on the orders of the hunchback in the same chapel as QEI and her half sister Mary I. The little tombs are gut-wrenching. 

Serene garden for monks contemplation

Poignant memorial plaque

This is the sort of stuff I love about this experience – the ability to form a tangible connection to history about which I’ve only ever been able to wonder. England revels in her past; school children here know the successions of the dynasties. I admit that I would be hard pressed to name all of our Presidents, even out of order, but in Great Britain the past is viewed as something inextricably bound with the present, and the people understand (unlike some other countries I could name) that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it (loose revision of statement attributed to George Santayana). I find history fascinating and enlightening; this is one of a myriad reasons I so respect British culture. I am so thankful to be here. And the fact that it may be the eve of the birth of a potential new regent-to-be makes it even more delicious.

Zut alors!

Je suis content que je n'ai pas allez a Paris! (Or something like that.)

I couldn't go to Paris on Friday, because I needed this time to let my antibiotics do their thing and to give me feet a rest. If you're reading this, and you have diabetes, you know you MUST take especial care of your footsies. So I declined. I was able to give my return ticket to my roommate who had changed her plans, so I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. I've been to Paris, and of the places I've been in Europe, it was my least favourite. Hearsay has it that others came to the same conclusion and decided to return themselves, rather than stay. Ah, c'est la vie, n'est-ce que pas?

Actually, it was actually kind of nice to be able to do laundry without mobs of people clamoring "Are you done yet?" On Saturday, I also took the opportunity to take the bus to Leicester Square to try to get some "half-price" theatre tickets at TKTS. I got maybe more like a three quarters price ticket for The Hot House. Bizarre theatre - actually comprised of more than one studio, kind of mishmoshed into a theatre complex. Nonetheless, second row centre, where I was utterly and completely floored by the incomparable brilliance of Simon Russell Beale. One couldn't take one's eyes off of him - his physicalization, vocalization, and embodiment of Pinter's crazed character were almost impossible to appreciate, because one forgot one was watching an actor. I will be grateful my entire life that I had this chance to see this accomplished and renowned actor live on stage. 

Meanwhile, in Leicester Square, in front of the movie theatre (FYI, Theatre is life, film is art, television is furniture) premiering The Lone Ranger, there sat two characters in front of a sign: "French Fans of Helena" (I think). You should have seen them sit up and primp when I asked if I might take their photo. It speaks for itself. 

I especially love the 'normal' person on the right trying to act as if "I don't know these people"! Aren't they fabulous?! Evidently sign ought also to have said "and of Johnny"! London is amazing!

  

THE DAY BEFORE . . .

Before my class takes off for Paris for the weekend! I'm having a hard time concentrating on today, and I'm not even going. I had to make the call, because of my feet. I'm taking course of antibiotics, and I don't have any appropriate footwear. I looked kind of half-heartedly this afternoon, after an excruciating bus ride. I caught a bus fairly close to the Tower of London, our first stop of the day,

after which I decided I needed to get back to flat to put my feet up. I asked the driver so as to make sure the bus went to Covent Garden, and he told me it did, but made me wait outside for several minutes until he was 'ready,' apparently. Fine. Then the bus took an hour to get from the Tower Bridge to Waterloo, because we were following some kind of demonstration, with the London police trailing behind to insure that they weren't bothered. I could have walked faster, but it was fine, because I was busy taking photos

and trying to get my bearings. Fine, that is, until the driver announced at Waterloo that the route was ending there! So I had to get off and get the next bus.

I have to admit that I have felt completely inadequate about finding my way around. However, in light of my recent discovery that no one street has the same name for more than a couple of blocks, compounded with the fact that bus routes can apparently change spontaneously, I’m feeling validated. I got to Covent Garden, eventually, and determined to walk a bit and see if I could find any shoes. I found a bookstore and asked for a GOOD map, which I used to get my bearings, then hopped on another bus to TCR (my abbreviation for Tottenham Court Road). By this time I was really hurting, but still needed to go to the grocery store so I’d have food for Friday, when my flatmates will be gone. I knew then that there was no way I could do an eighteen hour jaunt to Paris and back. I’m not a big fan of France, anyhow, so I am going to be a good patient and stay in the flat to redress my bandages and keep my foot up. Boring, but I know it’s for the best. 

Check this dude out.... 

DAHL DAY

I totally missed out on today’s trip to the Roald Dahl Museum! So mad with my feet, but nothing for it. After hospital (I would move to the U.K. for their health care system alone; it is FABULOUS), managed to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Absolutely incredible. Actually ended up going with my flatmate, who was kind enough to offer to take the bus with me. After two buses and staggering around for awhile, one of those bicycle/people-powered little two-seater rides pulled up alongside of us and we ended up climbing in. And a great time was had by all. So the day was redeemed. That Sam Mendes is a force to be reckoned with, and the theatre itself is such a treasure.

I tried to look for a few “small things” on my way back from hospital. Really a good assignment to think about on a regular basis. I just don’t think to peer over balconies, or at seemingly innocuous things, but there is a great deal of truth in the precept of ‘beauty in the details.’ Take time – stop and look – breathe, listen, enjoy . . . .