The Last Bit of Orientation

Greetings All!

This past weekend we wrapped up all of the orientation for the students. 
Friday began with a final orientation meeting and then a planned guided walk through our neighborhood. Our tour guide, Doug, was amazing and we all troopered through--although it was very cold (40's) and rained the whole time. Not the little spitty rain...Rain. The students were NOT amused! Matter of fact, some were quite angry... especially the ones who walked by about a million chances to buy an umbrella (or brolly)...but didn't buy one. I don't understand youth sometimes.

There is much history in our little neighborhood...its origins can be traced back as far as 1068. It contains several "squares"--one of the most noted is Russell Square.  It hosts the University of London, the British Museum, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (where Alan Rickman and Ralf Fiennes are often seen visiting--I will have to stalk), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (where names like Lister and Pasteur are etched into the top of the building.)

Also included is this marvelous sculpture of Ghandi--who received his degree from the University of London. 

Interesting Propaganda

This cathedral, which is magnificent--has no services. 

We were introduced to this cathedral that has an interesting story. It was taken over by George Irving, a deposed Presbyterian minister, who started his own sect of Irvingites. A group of people who worship as a part of the Catholic church (Apostolic) who believe in and are waiting for the 2nd coming of Christ. They are a bit of a mix between Catholic and Protestant but the interesting aspect is that during Irving's lifetime six apostles were "separated" for the work of the ministry. After his death six others were added. These twelve apostles were to ordain twelve prophets, twelve evangelists and twelve pastors. The last of the "apostles" died in 1901, and none has since been appointed. Because of this small problem, no services can be held in the church...but they have casual meetings and maybe once a year open the church for the public to see.

Our guide, Doug, and the rained on students.

Bloomsbury group lived here...Virginia Woolf anyone?

No great pictures --because it was raining so much!
Lovely brollies though!

Also the Birkbeck Library, the Senate House, the Foundling House and Museum and the home of many including Charles Dickens, Bertrand Russell (who I read in my doc program) and Charles Darwin. Included in this list is also T.S Eliot who is said to have been inspired by the many crazy cats in Russell Square and hence he created the Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, which of course later allowed us all to make hateful comments about the Broadway Show, Cats. 

We laughed, we cried, it was better than Cats!
 
Saturday began by taking them to the Tower of London. The weather was FABULOUS!
Simon Cowell's brother was our tour guide--no, he just looked like him and was much more pleasant! 

See, doesn't Gary look like Simon Cowell?

Tower Bridge background. Nice!

We saw the royal jewels--lots of bling in there and all the armor and other weapons. Overall, lots to take in, but all carried on.

The history of the Ravens at the Tower is very interesting. Known as the Guardians of the Tower, Charles II was convinced that if 6 ravens ever left the tower, the Kingdom of England and the Tower would fall. Today 7 ravens live there--an extra just in case (some are known to escape even though they have one wing clipped) and others are raised in places around London. 

I love this shot... a raven and a Beefeater.

I have to say, that many years later, my visit to the Tower--I am seriously troubled by the look of the traditional Bear-skinned Beefeater guards and their gigantic automatic weapons with clips. A very different scene...a little jolting but a sign of the times I guess.

Many kings at the Tower collected a menagerie of live and exotic animals...that shouldn't be put together. The newest addition to the Tower since last I visited are these amazing sculptures of the types of animals in his collection...given as gifts from leaders of other countries. They are made of layers and layers of chicken wire! Amazing!

The work on these animals is very lifelike from a distance.
Unfortunately, they didn't know how to feed the African elephant.

 Sadly there was a polar bear too.

The portcullis still works! Imagine that heavy spiked gate coming down!

We took time for a lunch break and ate at Pizza Express. It sound terrible but it is a really nice pizza chain here where handmade pizzas have all kinds of flavors and the salads are bigger than your head! 

Sam insisted on eating one pizza by herself. Hungry girl!

Pizza before

Pizza after..guess she was hungry.

We then headed to Westminster Abbey. While there, we ran into the gigantic group of Germans here celebrating their two teams making into the football (soccer for the Americans) game at Wembley. They created much noise and lots of colors as people were dressed in either red or yellow. Some wore both colors.

You aren't allowed to take pictures in the Abbey Nave or around the crypts--but can take pictures in some of the connected buildings.

Walking around, we found this odd sign and the subsequent door. 

Here's the door: Looks...old.

A bit of a view of flying buttresses

All saying--very beautiful and pretty amazing who is buried there.

Thus ended their Saturday of touring.

The next day we met not as early, 10 am at Green Park for a Royal Walk. Here we met our guide Marian and she walked us through Hyde Park, to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was not in residence because it was a bank holiday weekend and a gigantic race was taking place...thousands of people! 

We then walked through Trafalgar Square, past the Royal Horse Guard Parade (where beach volleyball was held for the Olympics) and saw the horse guards. We also walked past #10 Downing Street. You know who lives there, right? 

Prime Minister at home?

Tough Venue!

Green Park

Buckingham Palace. No Royal Standard flag...no Queen. She must be at Windsor

Friday, Saturday and Sunday--lots to do. Our local Sergeant Gareth arrived later that evening to give a safety talk and we wrapped up a long week. They are all exhausted and now a little frightened after the talk ...but hopefully we will have no propped open doors and people paying attention on the Tube and their environs.

That's it for now. Classes have begun!
Cheers!
Toni