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Published: August 31st 2007
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Acorn Walk 2
The entrance to Acorn So much to tell, so much I have seen today! Whoever thinks they can see London in one day must be really energetic...I know there are some places that I would even like to go back and look at again!
Let me first say that the flight was great--very smooth. My bags were underweight (much to the surprise of the airline attendant). I had the window seat. My seatmate was a fascinating Australian woman who has been living and working in Saudi Aabia. She told me that they have schedules when the women can leave the compound to shop, visit a friend, etc. I ordered the Asian vegetarian entree, which was Indian food (vmuch better than the meat in saucce, I am guessing from the looks of it!)
(I found out later that "Asian" actually means "Indian" and Chinese/Japanese are referred to as "Oriental" in the UK)
I did not get a whole lot of sleep, though. I watched a movie called "Je t'aime". 5 or 6 international directors film 5 minute film shorts on the subject of love(totalling 2 hours). Some of it is in French, some of it English. Natalie Portman, Elijah Woods (this time he
Acorn Walk
I am staying in the one with the bright red door on the 3rd floor is a vampire), star, amongst other famous actors. I mention it here,because it was really really good.
Anyway, Heathrow was not as intimidating as I thought it would be, I just brought too much damn stuff. But I am going to be here for 6 months....I found the Tube and was soon on my way to the Canada Water where Mike, my host for the week, was waiting to pick me up. 10 million flights of stairs later, my things were packed into his Peugot, and off we headed to the Docklands, where many of the working class live. Gentrification is very evident here, though, and there is construction of new homes and flats like you wouldn't believe. The flat, called Acorn Walk, is about a 7-10 minute walk to the Thames. Another 5 and I am in Greenwich. Mike made me feel right at home, showing me how to get around, etc. I stayed up until 9:30pm and then finally crashed--my first good night's sleep in over a week. I woke at my regular time of 6 am, but quickly fell back asleep for another 3 hours.
Today I decided to head to the London Bridge area.
My room
I will be here until September 11. St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the Borough Market that Mike had suggested I check out. The particular area I was headed has become largely a financial district, so I saw lots of business people. Many of the young men sported modified mohawks or spikey hair to go with their 3 piece navy suits! The women mainly wore heels or nice flats, and I comment on this because they were walking awfully fast in them. It did not look comfortable.
I saw the Winston Churchill War Museum, but I did not go in. Today was purely an exploration of this part of town. It had interesting marquess. Plus I want to make sure I have enough pounds until I start working next week. (Churchill wanted £18 to get in). Then I went to the Borough Market, because it came up first, and I was hungry. I wandered around taking in all of the smells and sights. It is alot like Pike's Mart without the waterfront. I saw apples imported from Washington, and Mike tells me that blueberries sold in the market are a new thing for England. Prices were comparable to Seattle, though.
Next
I walked towards the Southwark Bridge in hopes of getting to St Paul's Cathedral. (It's actually pretty dificult to get lost here--there are tons of signs, and they even state how long it takes to walk to them). St Pauls was huge. Mike explained (before I took off this morning) that St Pauls is more iconic than anything, as it survived bombings. It was hard to take a good picture of it. St Pauls also wanted about £18 to tour the inside. I peaked inside--and from what I could see it was pretty amazing. Pictures inside are forbidden, though. St Pauls steps is a popular place for people to eat their lunches.
I definitely wanted to see the Tower of London and the London Bridge, but the Millenium Bridge and Tate Modern came up first. The Millenium Bridge has t its entrance a triangular glass sculpture with the centuries listed on it with corresponding important happenings. Art museums in London are all free--this month Tate Modern is featuring the works of Dali, as well post-war art work--Surrealism, Minimalism, and Cubism, to name a few. I enjoyed looking at all of the different art, and realized that I do not
really understand or enjoy Minimalism; Surrealim is more my style, I guess! Again, I am trying to save the pounds until I know more about the job sit., so I did not tour the Dali exhibit.
It was still early yet (4pm by this time) so I decided to head towards the other 2 bridges. Along the way I encountered several guitar sculptures signed by famous musicians, including Robert Plant, Sir Paul McCartney, and Ozzy Osbourne. They were very cool, and of course, I had to take lots of pics!
Other diversions on my path to the bridges were the Globe Theatre (£22), The Rose Theatre, built in 1587, and the Unicorn Theatre. Finally came the massive Tower Bridge and Tower of London. The Tower Bridge exhibit was closed, but it was only £12, so I will definitely be back for that another day, and the Tower of London (£22).
I stopped by the grocery on the way back to pick up some fruit, hummus, and pitta bread. I jumped on the Tube like a pro, swiping my Oyster card just like a local. But then I got lost walking home. I found someone willing to give
me directions, and a half hour later I slipped my Birkenstocks off my tired feet, pulled up a chair to the computer, and a non-Washington apple beside me to munch on!
I love it here. I have been thinking about each and every one of you all day--what you would enjoy, what you would say; it was good company! I will be at Acorn Walk until September 11.
Till tomorrow (I am thinking of going to Greenwich and Whitehall). Phew!
Cheers!
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Tiffany
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Wow
You have been so busy! How exciting! I can't wait to see more:)