Yesterday was interesting, although it feels like we didn't get a whole lot done. The bus arrived in London around 12:30, and we took the Tube to where we are staying (guest housing at Imperial College). We had a quick lunch before setting out for the War Museum.
Taking the Tube has proven to be quite a production. No one is ever quite sure where to go or how to get there, which results in 30 people milling around trying to read the signs in every station, figuring out which direction we're supposed to go, and then moving uncertainly towards the platform once about five people have figured it out independently.
The War Museum was interesting, and I took quite a few photos. When I have some more time, I'll post photos and a more thorough description. They had a number of planes and tanks and guns out in the main display area, including a shell from the largest gun ever built. (The Germans built it. Go figure. It was so massive that the shell was about twelve feet tall, by my estimate.) I went through an exhibit on Britain's clandestine activities during World War I, World War II and the Cold War, as well as an exhibit about the merchant navy.
After that, we took the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, where we were free to get dinner. I and a few others went to a little restaurant called The Stockpot. The food was quite good - I got their soup of the day, which proved to be leek and potato. I've never had leeks before, so I wasn't sure how it would taste, but I liked it. I also had an apple crumble with ice cream, which was even better than the soup.
After dinner, we met outside the Apollo Theatre to see Yes, Prime Minister. I wish we could have gone to see a play with more substance or at least more literary merit. The play was funny, but essentially pointless, and the long string of jokes got to be a little bit tiresome by the end. Our seats also weren't that good - we were up in the balcony, and the angles were such that I either had to lean forward and prop my elbows on my knees to see the stage, or lean back far enough that I could see between the railing and the seat in front of me. Neither was very comfortable for a long period of time.
Today should be a lot more fun, though. The first stop this morning is the British Museum, which has me very excited. I won't get anything like enough time to explore it, but at least we do get to spend some time there. The afternoon is free, and there's a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe at 2, so I'm going to try to get a standby ticket for that. Several people have mentioned that they successfully got standby tickets for other plays before, so hopefully I'll be able to see it.
Taking the Tube has proven to be quite a production. No one is ever quite sure where to go or how to get there, which results in 30 people milling around trying to read the signs in every station, figuring out which direction we're supposed to go, and then moving uncertainly towards the platform once about five people have figured it out independently.
The War Museum was interesting, and I took quite a few photos. When I have some more time, I'll post photos and a more thorough description. They had a number of planes and tanks and guns out in the main display area, including a shell from the largest gun ever built. (The Germans built it. Go figure. It was so massive that the shell was about twelve feet tall, by my estimate.) I went through an exhibit on Britain's clandestine activities during World War I, World War II and the Cold War, as well as an exhibit about the merchant navy.
After that, we took the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, where we were free to get dinner. I and a few others went to a little restaurant called The Stockpot. The food was quite good - I got their soup of the day, which proved to be leek and potato. I've never had leeks before, so I wasn't sure how it would taste, but I liked it. I also had an apple crumble with ice cream, which was even better than the soup.
After dinner, we met outside the Apollo Theatre to see Yes, Prime Minister. I wish we could have gone to see a play with more substance or at least more literary merit. The play was funny, but essentially pointless, and the long string of jokes got to be a little bit tiresome by the end. Our seats also weren't that good - we were up in the balcony, and the angles were such that I either had to lean forward and prop my elbows on my knees to see the stage, or lean back far enough that I could see between the railing and the seat in front of me. Neither was very comfortable for a long period of time.
Today should be a lot more fun, though. The first stop this morning is the British Museum, which has me very excited. I won't get anything like enough time to explore it, but at least we do get to spend some time there. The afternoon is free, and there's a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe at 2, so I'm going to try to get a standby ticket for that. Several people have mentioned that they successfully got standby tickets for other plays before, so hopefully I'll be able to see it.
No comments:
Post a Comment