Sunday, May 8

Last night we went to Clybourne Park, an intelligent, sidesplitting play about racial tensions half a century ago and today.  I laughed soooooo hard.  The acting was wonderful.  They had great technique and were wonderfully responsive with each other.  

Today, my first full day in London was full indeed!  I see that I am overusing my exclamation points on here, but I don't think I can really help it!  !   !   

We woke up and went on a walking tour of the Westminster area, including Big Ben and the outside of Westminster and houses of parliament (we will go in in smaller groups later on).

We walked through St. James park and Green park, which were beautiful and lush.  Everyone near to keeled over from allergy attacks.  We could see the pollen in the air everywhere, and I have never had the experience of so many particles getting caught in my eyes constantly before.  

We went grocery shopping and I got coffee, oatmeal and sandwich stuff that ended up being incredibly good.  

We tried to go to a play at the National theatre but it was closed for Sunday.  Instead, we wandered around the Southbank area of the Thames until dark and walked back to the tube, passing the London eye and Big Ben, which were amazingly lit-up at night.  

Wow, what a wonderful day.  

Here are a bunch of pictures from the day.

-Matt

These are from a chocolate shop, apparently the most expensive in London, whose name I cannot remember at the moment.

A lovely London bookstore: Waterstone -- Hooray!  With a wonderful coffee shop (probably corporate) in the basement) seen below

We bought groceries.

These are mine

With mature (sharp) cheddar.

And incredible yogurt.  I made an incredible sandwich with a cheddar roll, hard pepper salami and the mature cheddar.  Wow!  Best sandwhich I have had.  And the lemon-curd yogurt was soooooooo crazy delicious.  It was similar to a really good key-lime pie. 

The underground -- Gloucester station (Closest to our dorm)

What is this bridge called?  Hmm... 

Don't know yet.

A large seagull that has no purpose.

Crazy skate park under an overhanging building

Large hay fox for a harvest festival. 

Clive Owen at the skate park 

Sushi conveyor belt

Giraffe restaurant where we ate at night

Strange fish lamp post.

London eye at night.

I'm in a booth 

We're in a booth.

WWI memorial

Big Ben at night

Olivia proposes to me at Big Ben.

My favorite car (mini cooper) in my favorite city.

Orchids in the shop.

Inside the theatre we ate.

Well that's actually a drinking fountain

  Door with an eye in it.  (So much random stuff)

Westminster

Parliament

Protesters of the Afghan war (They've been camping out for a long time now.) 

Me at Westminster

Bridge in St. James park.

They hold their trees up with beautiful wood, (cannibalizing other trees, yes) not ugly metal and too much plastic.

The streets on the mall ("a" pronounced like "a" in tassle) are pink for the royalty.

Roommate Nathan

Hilarious roommate Andy Ricci.

My first cup of coffee in London (from Giraffe cafe)

My London underground pass.  Only 5000 of these royal wedding editions were printed.

A skylight dome in our computer lab.

The first play we saw was hilarious and incredible.