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. 

 

 

Day 12: June 17, 2014

Well the day begins in beautiful Stratford where the Hostel provided us with a traditional English breakfast buffet that included toast, yogurt, cheese, baked beans, potato wedges, scrambled eggs, ham, sausages, and cereal. Not wanting to spend money on lunch for the day, I got a helping of everything except for the beans, ham, and cereal. There was an obvious difference in the way hat the food tasted. It was prepared less like breakfast food and more like  dinner food, specially the sausage and beans.

The day was a free day to roam around Stratford  with opportunities to visit the remaining 5 Stratford houses if we had not already seen them. I stayed mostly with Simone and Sarah, first we decided to go back to the church that Shakespeare attended for some pictures. Here are some of those:

 

It was a gorgeous church and the cemetery had a wonderful view over looking the river.

 

Afterwards, we ran into Austin who directed us to some of the Stratford houses that we had not been to. Here is the picture of where Shakespeare's house use to stand:

 

It's now a garden. After Shakespeare died, the house stayed in the family for a while, but was sold back to the original family that Shakespeare bought if from. They sold it to a pastor, who was anti-social and remembered as being rather odd. The pastor was rather annoyed that his house was a known tourist attraction along with a mulberry tree that was planted by William Shakespeare, so one day in a mad rage, he chopped down the mulberry tree. People still kept coming by, he finally burned down the house. It was the biggest house in Stratford and you can tell how big it was from how deep the property goes back.

 

Next door to where Shakespeare's house use to be, is his daughter's house that he left her and her husband. Her husband was a doctor and so there is an herb garden in the back yard to show the kind of herbs that he would have used to cure ailments at the time. Here are some pictures from the house and garden:

 

 

 

 

They had a dress up corner. It was suppose to be for kids, but it was still fun to try on some of the clothes.

 

Next we visited Shakespeare's granddaughter's house. This one is my favorite. I didn't take many pictures of the inside, because it mostly consisted of he same times of rooms, but the garden was breathtaking. There was even a statue garden with various statues that consisted of his most famous characters, works, and quotes.

 

 

 

 

They also had a dress up station. It was really fun.

 

These were on display as Shakespeare's10 most famous characters.

 

Here are pictures of some of the original houses of the Elizabethan era that are still standing and that people still work and go through everyday:

 

 

 

 After our tour we all left to go back to London. Most everybody slept on the drive back, but I read my favorite novel, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. When we go back to London, we all went to unpack and I went to hangout with Rachelle. That concludes the day.