Day 17: June 22, 2014

Ok well, It was just finally starting to hit me that I had less than a week left in London, and I wanted to make it count. Sydney and I decided to spend the day together doing all kinds of things. First we went back to Speaker's' Corner where there was a hue protest going on outside of the Tube station. The people from Nido were very specific about not joining protests because the police often end up corralling the people and boxing them in, and you could be there for hours. We quickly walked through and once we were across the street we got pictures of it.

 

Because of the huge protest going on, most of the speakers discussed religion. We didn't really find any particular speakers are hecklers that we liked, but we did find some very interesting people. There were also signs in the park telling the history of Speakers' Corner. Here are some pictures:

 

There were also signs that people made discussing their feelings and thoughts about Speakers' Corner. These were some of my favorite descriptions, and if I lived in London I would make this apart of my every Sunday ritual.

 

After Speakers' Corner, we went to Abbey Road. It was my second time, but it was Sydney's 1st. Of course I took new pictures. Here are those:

 

 

Sydney got the idea to write our own graffiti on the walls of Abbey Road. All we had was a pen so we had to go over it a few times for it to be visible.  

 

I wasn't exactly sure what to write in the moment, so I decided to write a thank you and follow it with some of my favorite song lyrics, It seemed to fit after all of the yelling, debating, and heckling of Speakers' Corner.

 

After leaving Abbey Road, we got some cash for a walking tour that we were king to do later and so lunch at a deli. After eating, we set out for the Haunted London Walking Tour. We heard a lot of gruesome stories about some of the people that died in London.

 

This monument was built under King Charles I. He had it built to commemorate the Great Fire of London in hopes that he would not be blamed for it. It is said that his fire marshal saw the small bakery that started the fire, burning. He didn't deem it as a big enough for the city to put out. The marshal is remembered to have said, "That fire is so small that a bloody woman could piss it out." King Charles is on the third person on the right side. He's the closest to the middle. His marshal is standing directly to his right. The demon underneath, that looks like he's looking up King Charles' skirt represents the fire itself. The woman to the left that is fainting and exposed represents the people of London. The dragon underneath her is London's protector. The angels above with the falling basket of fruit represent the future fruits and prosperity of London. This is only the base of the monument. The entire thing is 15 flights of stairs to the top. During visiting hours you can pay to climb to the top. Four people have climbed to the top and jumped off. The first was a depressed woman about a year after the monument was built. The other 3 did it on the anniversary of her death. There is now protective wiring to keep that from happening.

 

These are some of the sights over the River Thames. He didn't have a story here. Just thought that we would like to take some nice pictures with the sunset. He was right!

This is the Tower Bridge. I love the way that it looks.

This was a ship in the River.

This s the Tower of London. It's where the Crown Jews are. It's still considered a royal castle, even though Royalty hasn't lived there in over a century, and it's more commonly known for of the executions that took place on the Tower Green.

 

This skull and cross bones with the crown can be found over several old churches, ministries, and even some business building and houses in London. It was put up during the Black plague. It signifies that there are people buried there that died from it. If a building had one of these up in the time period, you would want to avoid it, unless you had dead to bury.

This is one of the several dragons of London. They are everywhere, including in the street when you enter the city. They are there to protect the city.

We saw this in a market place. I thought it was a cool idea. These are books hanging on a string from rafters.

This is where Lady Jane Grey was tried and found guilty of treason at the age of 15 by Queen Mary. When King Henry VIII's son was on his death bed the entire court was in a panic about who would be next to the throne. By right it was suppose to be King Henry's eldest daughter, Mary, but she was a devout Catholic and the council was unsure of who she would marry and the future of the country. The council convinced the child king to make Lady Jane Grey his successor. The poor girl was only 15, but she was a protestant and would be married off to a man who was also a protestant. The girl ruled for only 9 days and had not even had her coronation to be made Queen before Marry had gotten a mob of people together to storm the castle, and Lady Jane Grey was put on trial and executed on Tower Green. There is supposedly a figure of a woman in a black gown, similar to the on e that Lady Jane Grey wore to her trial that walks to the doors and disappears. It is also said that  Princess Diana was suppose to have had a reception in the crypt the week after her accident, but it was cancelled because of her death. The day that the reception was suppose to have taken place a blond woman with short hair was seen walking about the crypt.

At the top of this steeple is a golden grill. It was placed there in remembrance of a man who was filleted to death by Queen Marry. It is rumored that he told the guards, "You can flip me; I think this side is done."

 

After our two hour walking tour, we went back to Nido. I was so sore from walking that I almost fell asleep immediately. That concludes the day.

 

 

 

 

Day 16: June 21, 2014

The day started out with me waking up at Rachelle's hostel and with us spending a little time together before she left for Stratford. Here is a picture of our last morning before she had to go:

The lighting is weird from the room, but it was also 6 am and we had only slept for a few hours. After saying good bye, I left to go back to Nido for breakfast, a hot shower, and a long nap. I was so sleepy that I cut my elbow getting out of the shower and just passed out immediately putting a Band Aid on it. After waking up, I read a few chapters in my book and Skyped with my friend Will for a few hours. It was a pretty lazy/recuperating day. Later I went out with Sydney, Simone, Lou, and Lou's friend Will that I met. We had a great night in Camden Town at the Stable Market. We kind of all got split up, but it worked out in the end. That pretty much concludes the day.

Day 15: June 20, 2014

The day started out with me waking up and going to Abbey Road, where I walked across the iconic walk way. I didn't go with anyone, so nobody could take my picture, but I did take pictures of the Abbey Road studios, Abbey House, and all of the graffiti on the walls. Most were Beatles lyrics, or thanking the Beatles for their music. I took pictures of some of what I saw:

 

 

 

After leaving Abbey Road, I met up with Rachelle, to hang out on her last night in London. We spent the day talking and hanging out and went back to Abbey Road for more pictures, and because she hadn't been. Here are those pictures.

 

I had to hurry crossing the street. Cars were coming and it was kind of scary.

 

After Abbey Road we went back to her hostel and watched some of the World Cup games with some of the people in her group. We had a lot of fun and made a night of it. That pretty much concludes the day. It was one of my best in London.

 

 

 

Day 14: June 19, 2014

The day started out with me taking a walk around London and through some parks people watching until I got back to the British Museum. I read a chapter of my book on the steps, before going inside to work on some homework. We're suppose to look at this urn that John Keats supposedly based one of his poems off of. It's called the Townley Urn. We were suppose to study the urn and read the poem and write about it. I could not find the urn, but  we were told that it was ok. We could choose another urn to serve our purpose. I found this urn in the British Museum:

 

 

 

The poem that we read was:

 

ODE ON A GRECIAN URN

By John Keats

Thou still unravished bride of quietness,
      Thou foster child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
      A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
      Of deities or mortals, or of both,
            In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loath?
      What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
            What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
      Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared,
      Pipe to the spirit dities of no tone.
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
      Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
            Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal---yet, do not grieve;
      She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss
            Forever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
      Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unweari-ed,
      Forever piping songs forever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
      Forever warm and still to be enjoyed,
            Forever panting, and forever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
      That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloyed,
            A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.
Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
      To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
      And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed?
What little town by river or sea shore,
      Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
            Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
      Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
            Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.
O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
      Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
      Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity. Cold Pastoral!
      When old age shall this generation waste,
            Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
      "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"---that is all
            Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.


The poem is John Keats' interpretation of the story that is depicted on the urn. Keats's poem is also comment on the art of the urn and how the picture can be whatever to viewer sees it to be. It can be a million stories depending on the viewer. This is what makes it so great, because it's pleasing to the individual in different ways and for different reasons. The picture never changes, the scene is frozen in time, but the story is up for interpretation. This is one way that art can find truth, beauty, and true humanity.

After leaving the museum, I went to class where we discussed a short story and a few poems. My favorite poem that we read was:

	My Last Duchess - a poem by Robert Browning
		My Last Duchess  Robert Browning That's my last duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will't please you sit and look at her? I said "Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not Her husband's presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps "Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint "Must never hope to reproduce the faint "Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heart how shall I say? too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace all and each Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. She thanked men good! but thanked Somehow I know not how as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame This sort of trifling? Even had you skill In speech which I have not to make your will Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this "Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, "Or there exceed the mark" and if she let Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and make excuse, E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet The company below, then. I repeat, The Count your master's known munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed At starting, is my object. Nay we'll go Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

This poem is really more of a warning than anything. The speaker has significant insecurity issues and it is made unclear weather his wife was unfaithful, or if she was a friendly person. The speaker obviously was very jealous, and had issues with not being able to control her. That is why he has her portrait in his private home and behind a curtain that only he controls. He now gets to pick who she smiles upon.

 

After class I continued to walk around London through several parks and down the streets just watching and experiencing the rush of London. It was great to just get lost somewhere and find small shops or hidden places. Everything is only a five minute walk away. It is really something there. Especially all of the markets. After my walk I went back to Nido for a nap. That concludes my day.

Day 13: June 18, 2014

The day began with me getting up and going back to the British Museum to see some other exhibits before the beginning of class. I didn't really have time to see a lot, but I was able to see the Enlightenment exhibit. That was very interesting. There were several statues of Greek gods around the exhibit that were really interesting.

Zeus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cupid

 

 

 

The Enlightenment period is known for more than just it's exquisite art, but also for the breakthroughs in math and science, along with literature. There is not a place in all of western society that has not been changed, modified, or radicalized by the things that took place during this period. There is a reason why everyone studies the art of this period, knows about Sir Isaac Newton, and reads poetry written during this time. It is because this time period was the building block to current, thriving western civilization that includes London, England.

 

There were several other statues and artifacts in the room of Enlightenment, but these were my favorites. I left the British Museum to go to class. There, we read and analyzed several poems about the British culture by a few different poets and discussed them. Two of my favorite poems were:

 

Lord Byron (1788–1824).  Poetry of Byron.  1881.

IV. Satiric

England

(Beppo, Stanzas 47–49.) “ENGLAND! with all thy faults I love thee still,”   I said at Calais, and have not forgot it; I like to speak and lucubrate my fill;   I like the government (but that is not it); I like the freedom of the press and quill;         5   I like the Habeas Corpus (when we’ve got it); I like a parliamentary debate, Particularly when ’tis not too late;   I like the taxes, when they’re not too many;   I like a seacoal fire, when not too dear;         10 I like a beef-steak, too, as well as any;   Have no objection to a pot of beer; I like the weather, when it is not rainy,   That is, I like two months of every year. And so God save the Regent, Church and King!         15 Which means that I like all and every thing.   Our standing army, and disbanded seamen,   Poor’s rate, Reform, my own, the nation’s debt, Our little riots just to show we are free men,   Our trifling bankruptcies in the Gazette,         20 Our cloudy climate, and our chilly women,   All these I can forgive, and those forget, And greatly venerate our recent glories, And wish they were not owing to the Tories.

This poem is about accepting the bad, but rejoicing in the good. Despite all of London's flaws, it is still home and holds a special place in his heart. The tone of the poem is very sarcastic, and points out many of the city's flaws during the time. Some of these complaints may still resonate with current Londoners.                                
The Good, Great Man
By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

'How seldom, friend! a good great man inherits
Honour or wealth with all his worth and pains!
It sounds like stories from the land of spirits
If any man obtain that which he merits
Or any merit that which he obtains.'

Reply to the Above

For shame, dear friend, renounce this canting strain!
What would'st thou have a good great man obtain?
Place? titles? salary? a gilded chain?
Or throne of corses which his sword had slain?
Greatness and goodness are not means, but ends!
Hath he not always treasures, always friends,
The good great man? three treasures, LOVE, and LIGHT,
And CALM THOUGHTS, regular as infant's breath:
And three firm friends, more sure than day and night,
HIMSELF, his MAKER, and the ANGEL DEATH!
                            
The first part of the poem informs that despite the thought of man getting what he deserves, that often never happens. Man can either be great or good, but never both, because with greatness, there is corruption and with goodness, their is piety. Basically, the first stanza states that Karma is a lie.

The reply disagrees with the above statement. The good, great man exists and he does get rewarded for his actions. The things like love, light, and calm thoughts can't be given, but must be worked at, learned, and deserved. The last 3 friends are the only things that are certain and can be dependent upon no matter who you are, or the kind of life that you lead. There are some things that everyone is just certain to receive.

After class, I went back to take a nap. That concludes the day.