To England: London Town, Part Three. More Museums, Greenwich, and the Globe.

I think we are up to Saturday on my London Trip. It was a long, hot, crowded day, though it started out well.

I took less pictures in London, for which I apologize. When there are a lot of other tourists around, I tend to put my camera away more for whatever reason.

I began Saturday by going to the Victoria and Albert Museum right when it opened. That part was great. It was GIANT so I just wandered around with not too much of a plan and tried not to worry too much about what I was missing. One favorite was some early 20th century biscuit tins in interesting shapes. My favorites were a castle and a traveling trunk. I also enjoyed the few remnants of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

After that I wandered into the Natural History Museum for a tiny bit but didn't stay long as it was unairconditioned and very crowded.

I left again and wandered around Hyde Park, again hot and crowded and I was hungry and had desperate need of a free toilet. I thought about taking a wander around on a public bus, but they also looked hot and crowded. I tried to go to St. Paul's but there was some service going on and you couldn't go in.

Finally, I made my way to the British Museum. Also crowded, but not in all corners. I followed Rick Steves' walking tour again and went through at a quick clip, but I didn't have the energy or time for a leisurely visit, so that was okay. I figured I could go back if I found the time later (ha!).

The museum was absolutely packed with things stolen from other continents. "British" indeed. Ha! The Rosetta Stone was right in the entry and surrounded by people. It was a lot HUGER than I was expecting. Lots of cool mummies. Assyrian temple walls and stuff. The Elgin Marbles, which I had recently read a thing about.

I had a tough time getting home. I thought about the Tube, but you had to make a change and still had a hike to get home. I figured out how to get back on a bus, but the buses were rerouted and I didn't understand how. This is one time I really wish I'd taken a taxi. I walked, and it was way further than I was expecting.

I went out for a nice fancy meal this night, though. While in London, I mostly had been eating sandwiches and takeaway, cheap and easy meals for the solo traveler, so it was a nice change.

Sunday.

View of London's O2 from the Royal Observatory Hill

Sunday contained one of the biggest disappointments of my trip. I trucked out to Greenwich in the morning basically solely in order to see Harrison's longitude-aiding clocks. I had just read a book all about the longitude puzzle and competition and I had avoided videos and pictures of the things because I knew I could go see them myself. AFTER I got there, AFTER I paid, AFTER I went in the Cutty Sark because it was a two-for admission, AFTER I climbed the giant hill...only THEN did they tell me they'd be replaced by some stupid steampunk exhibit and "please come back in July"--IF ONLY.

This pissed me off and cast a pallor over the whole day. And the worst part is, now I still have to go BACK to out-of-the-way Greenwich someday to see the stupid things!!

I was not in the mood for the Royal Observatory after that. I looked at the people standing in line to take their pictures on the Prime Meridian and was like "Whatever, it's a FAKE LINE, and I can cross it with every step on my way back down this GODFORSAKEN HILL if I so choose." Haha.

Weird moment on the way back down the hill. This little girl was scootering near me. Some lady touched my shoulder and was like "her hat fell off." I was in a fog of frustration and tuning out the world around me with my ipod, and I'm thinking, I'm not wearing a hat...? I said, "It's not mine." She insists, "YES, I just SAW it FLY OFF her HEAD!" Me, completely baffled and super done with this day: "It's not my kid!" So weird. Hahahaha.

Anyway, before all of that I saw the Cutty Sark which was fairly interesting and took me back to my childhood lagging behind my parents at Mystic Seaport. I especially enjoyed the cabins.

In the evening, I went to the Globe for Antony and Cleopatra. I stood as one of the groundlings and enjoyed it so much! I didn't understand all of it, but I was surprised how much I did understand and it was super funny and irreverent the way Shakespeare should be. My feet hurt a bit but for only five pounds, what an amazing experience.

I thought I took a picture of The Globe walking over the Millennium Bridge but I guess not. Here's a view from a few days later on top of St. Paul's.

To England: London Town, Part Two. Harry Potter and the Tower of London

On my second day in London, I headed to The Tower of London straightaway. Using information gleaned from my trusty Rick Steves guidebook, I made it there soon after 9 (after a packed rush hour on the Tube) and went straight to the Jewels so I could see them with basically no line at all. Yippee! It was very cool, though I did feel there was not enough signage. I guess they were trying to move you through. I am so ready for the next coronation so I can geek out over having seen the things. ;)

Building containing the Crown Jewels taken from inside the White Tower.

After that I circled back for a Yeoman aka Beefeater tour. Fun and funny and packed with lots of good info which helped me get situated in the proper centuries.

I went into the White Tower which had an exhibit on armor and weaponry (my favorite--NOT). Also roughly nine hundred people. I did enjoy the Norman garderobe tucked up some steps and around a corner, which 898 of the other people in there missed out on.

I have read SO MANY books about the Tudor days. This featured prominently what with all the imprisonments and beheadings. I majorly geeked out over it.

Wandered in some of the other buildings: mint, prisoner carvings, period pieces from Edward I (?), rampart walk, giant ravens (normal sized ravens but even normal ravens are HUGE). All very interesting. I gave up and went home at some point because all the things remaining to be seen had giant lines out the doors.

Another "Holy I'm in London" moment.

Around 4pm I headed out for my Friday evening entertainment of the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Unexpectedly amazing. The sets felt really real, vibrant, and detailed. Highlights: the cupboard under the stairs, Gryffindor dormitory and common room, and the Burrow. The Great Hall made an impressive entrance. Portrait of McGonagal as a young lady. The Knight Bus, which I understand so much more having sat on the upper storey of double decker buses careening through the city/narrow country lanes.

I shelled out for the audio guide and I'm so glad I did--it made me pace myself, it explained good details, and it contained Tom Felton's soothing voice. It also meant I could take a look at the sets and then sit away from them to listen to the details.

I also bought the book which was worth toting around the rest of my trip.

I was quite sad to leave. It was a pain, too. The nearest train station runs a shuttle, and it was easy enough to hop on but then it took forever for enough buses to come at the end of the day to take us all back.

Once I got back to London, though, I hopped a bus outside of Euston and rode it a couple blocks to nearer my hostel instead of walking. I finally felt like a successful London commuter with headphones in and head down!!

INTERLUDE: My 26th year

When I turned 26 last year, I was very apprehensive. 25 had been magical. I had gotten a grown up job and my confidence and security in my self and my life had blossomed. I really knew where I was going with my life for the first time. I wrote at the time that I finally felt like 25 was an age that fit me. I was nervous to let 25 go, because how could life continute to be better? Wouldn't it stagnate at some point?

However, 26 ended up being even more amazing than I could've foreseen. I finished my first year teaching and started the second on a constantly-strengthening curve of confidence and assuredness. I'm starting to find my identity as a teacher and feel better about who I am when I teach and what my kids are learning.

I got kicked off my old hockey team and I sobbed over it like my heart was breaking, but then I found a new team which I love even more, which feels more like a team in a few months than the old one did after years. I found friends my own age and a role as a better, quicker player, with the chance to grow even further when I had felt stagnant before. I found a close-knit and supportive community without the hierarchies I've experienced on other teams. I found acceptance.

Before they kicked me off, I scored the GWG in the state tournament final in the spring.

Besides hockey, I flourished in other physical ways, too. I continued my second summer running, and did more running into the fall and cold weather. I started doing a workout program with coworkers after school. I'm more fit than I ever have been before.

Post ill-advised running in the rain

I spent five weeks this summer in the UK, largely by myself. I saw amazing things I've dreamed about for years and I built memories. Mostly, I realized strengths and abilities I didn't know I had: independence, navigation, problem solving, and sure-footedness in new situations.

On top of a mountain in the Lake District

I went to New York and finally met a dear internet friend after eight years of friendship. I was pleased and amazed by just how well our internet friendship transferred off the screen, and I am looking forward to seeing her again next summer.

We rock.

I had a good, peaceful Christmas for the first time in years and felt improved closeness to my cousins.

I feel motivated to improve things in my apartment, add touches to make it more homey. I also have been training myself to be neater. I always put my clothes away the day I wear them now, and I've done the dishes nearly every day. I continue to see my neighborhood as my community and I went to a community meeting on transportation.

I realized a health issue and took steps to correct it which have improved every instance of my ability to deal with my daily life. I finally felt like I am in a place to date again. I bought a new car.

Tommo in his element: snow.

I turned 27 last week. And instead of feeling apprehensive like I did last year, I am leaping forward into the future with both feet, eager to see what 27 will bring.