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Things I’ve done in the UK so far:<\/p>\n
1) Did a bus tour of London, on one of those double-decker buses with no roof on the second level. My expectations were low, but I loved this. The tour filled my brain with more beautiful old architecture than it’s able to comprehend.<\/p>\n
2) Toured the Houses of Parliament (pictured above). This was incredibly neat, and had so much great art. Also cool historical trivia.<\/p>\n
3) Toured Westminster Abbey. Which was beautiful, but I hadn’t realized the extent to which this place is a mausoleum. <\/p>\n
4) Visited the National Portrait Gallery, checking out some of the permanent exhibits, and also “The Encounter” exhibit<\/a>, which was great (but I wish they had displayed more art). (Thanks to whomever suggested that one!) We also spent quite a lot of time looking at The Landing of HRH The Princess Alexandra at Gravesend,<\/a> largely because we were tired and there was a bench right there, but we ended up having a very enjoyable discussion of it. (And we noticed that there’s a little girl in the painting who looks like Boy George.)<\/p>\n 5) Went to a pub and (wishing to “eat something British”) ate mushroom and chicken pie. My mom, similarly motivated, had fish n’ chips.<\/p>\n 6) Separately, had an amazing meal at the oldest restaurant in London<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7) Visited the Tate Museum. My favorite thing there was a room with red-tinted photographs of Black history, with text superimposed; I wish I’d written down the artist’s name. I also got to see a Dali painting in person for the first time; his surface is ridiculously tight, even from inches away. <\/p>\n 8) Saw “An American In Paris” on the west end. Beautiful dancing, and the sets were either the most magical, or the second-most-magical, I’ve ever seen in a show. (The other contender is the Broadway production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.”)<\/p>\n 9) Saw “Dreamgirls” on the West End, starring Amber Riley from “Glee.” She was astounding.<\/p>\n 10) Celebrated Sukkot in a the sukkah of a distant cousin who I’ve only met once before.<\/p>\n 11) The London Eye. (Pretty!)<\/p>\n On tomorrow’s agenda: The Geffrye Museum of the Home<\/a>; The Cartoon Museum<\/a>; and “42nd Street.” <\/p>\n Day after tomorrow: Pack up, then train to Paris!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Things I’ve done in the UK so far: 1) Did a bus tour of London, on one of those double-decker buses with no roof on the second level. My expectations were low, but I loved this. The tour filled my … Continue reading