Fish&Chips, Giggles, and Museumoverload!

Today was day one of our actual London excursion program.  They divided us into I think maybe five groups.  I was in Dulcia’s, the head of the Kasteel Well program, group for the walking tour that consisted of Buckingham Palace, the outside of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, and headed up towards Trafalgar Square.  Even though I’d seen it all before, it was nice to get a little more history about the architecture and whatnot.  She also bought everyone (20 kids) in our group drinks from Caffe Nero!  I was so excited to get an Americano again.

Had a break for lunch during which I made myself a pb&j sandwich back at the room.  I brought bread, rice cakes, peanuts, peanut butter, and jelly from Well in order to save money.

Then off to the British Museum.  Again, the background information was nice, though I hate tours even more within museums when you aren’t free to wander.  Marion was nice, though, and I was happy to be back inside one of the best museums in the world.

Once finished with that museum, Amanda, Bridget, Jessye, me, and David decided to head on down to Tate Modern, since none of us will get to be in the group that tours that.  We went mainly to ride the slides that take you from one floor to the next, that Amanda’s sort-of boyfriend had written to her about.  unfortunately, that was just an exhibit and was no longer there.  Disappointing.  And, of course, overall I’m not a fan of most modern art.  I think most modern art is crap.  People attaching insignificant meanings to work preschoolers could do with their eyes closed.  Howeer, I did find a couple exhibits I liked –one about political African paintings mainly concered with Darfur, Rwanda, and Uganda; also a video art about Brazilian ants having a parade with confetti.  It’s hard to explain.  I don’t remember when I’ve seen David laugh so hard.

By that point, we were museumed out and starving, so after another maybe two hours of walking around, we stumbled into a pub for some fish and chips and “GIANT chocolate cake” (that’s how the sign advertised it).  What a lovely combination! 

Funny story: we were stumbling back across the river to northside, all giggles and whatnot in the night.  I’m sure there were all sorts of wrong assumptions made due to our excessive giggles and goofiness.  Then suddenly Jessye yelled “surprise trust fall!” and fell backwards, expecting Amanda and Bridget to catch her.  They did, but all of us were seriously doubled over with laughter.  Yeah, I know, it’s one of those things where you had to be there.  But then I looked up and realized there were about three different kinds of British police slinking along; we had stumbled into the middle of a police search!  They had HUGE guns and were checking out every dark corner.  Scary!  I suggested we scoot along or get caught in the middle of a shoot-out.

We were out walking along late, but I still settled down for some tea and reading.  It’s a lovely routine that I wish I could always mantain.  A little after midnight, once Ashley got back, we talked and then slept.

Haha, Kate caught me looking SO interested in Dulcia’s lecture.  But it was the changing of the household regiment!

David, Bridget, Jessye, and me with a giant spider statue at the Tate Modern.