Orientation Day 2 and 3

I don't know how long the internet will hold, it's been really bad lately but i'll get as much as i can in!

Alright well Day two of orientation was great. We went on a walking tour with our Tutor, Michael Winter, through Kensington (which is where the LDA is). The picture above is from one of the apartment complexes around Kensington Square. They are gorgeous. Another thing I’ve notices (and you may have too) is that the sky looks BRILLIANT in all these pictures. It's amazing. It's so blue. Anyway we learned a lot about all the different architecture of these buildings and about different statues along the way. Like this one of King...Albert I believe? It's gorgeous, and surrounding him are figures of painters, sculptors, artists and writers. I took a close-up pictures of Shakespeare (of course) and Homer.

(this is the Royal Academy of Music)

We walked around for a bit longer and then had a nice lunch break where Sienna, Sinead, Aylia and i found this fantastic little French cafe right near the school. It was delicious, and Sinead and i shared the most wonderful tart. I seriously cannot stop thinking about it--i want another one RIGHT NOW.

And then we had a few different meetings about some of our upcoming academics. And to finish the night off we got to see Troilus and Cressida at the Globe.

(another view from Millennium Bridge)

Later, our professors apologized and said that not everything we would see would be that terrible. Which surprised me because I really loved it. But thinking about it, I probably loved it because a.) we were at the globe, standing beside the stage (actually leaning on the stage). B.) Troilus was quite handsome. C.) I love the show. D.) The magic of being there.

(Aylia! Haha, we were very excited!)

(This is Sienna and Me)

But I honestly do believe that it was a good production. Troilus and Cressida were a little too modern, and if you read my earlier post you’ll know what I think about Cressida. I still really didn’t like (nor did I agree with) her performance. It was so wonderful being right against the stage. It was such a different prospective. I really loved it. We were on the side, so some of our view was obstructed (which was ok with me because I had see it) and it was so great. The actors were right there; I could reach out and steal a sword. It’s hard to control the longing to just jump up and join them. And I must say it gets difficult to stand that long once you reach the fifth act…but it’s so worth it.

(our view right along the stage. We literally leaned there the entire time.)

Orientation Day three. Had some individual meetings with Voice and Alexander teachers. Then we had another tour of the Banquet House and the Houses of Parliament. It was really really interesting and lots of fun!

(That's Michael Winter, our Shakespeare Tutor :D)

(Paintings in the Ceiling of the Banquet House)

(Houses of Parliament)

(Sinead and Big Ben!)

We got out at 5 and had the rest of the evening to ourselves. I decided to finally go see (500) Days of Summer. WHICH I LOVED. Of course. I loved the dance sequence. Come on, you have to admit you’ve had that moment when you’re walking down the street, so happy you could just break into a huge dance number. I think it’s brilliant. Life should so be like this…where everyone just joins in. Seriously.





And today i just spent walking around. I really wanted to find some reliable internet which failed miserably. It's been off and on today. I bought the 500 days of summer soundtrack and a scarf. AND I FINALLY FOUND TROILUS AND CRESSIDA at the 3rd bookstore i tried (in Notting Hill). And now i'm just back home doing lots of work getting ready for the crazy week ahead. We have class like 12 hours day. It's going to be so much work but lots of fun i hope <3

Hopefully (if internet and time allows) i'll get back to you all sometime this week. Let you know i'm alive and all.

Cheers!
-T

"You have bereft me of all words, lady."

Well good afternoon. Sorry it's been a few days, London has been a bit busy. So i guess lets go from the beginning.

Dad and I left Dublin early to catch the ferry. We originally thought it was going to be SUPER expensive to take the ferry and then all the trains into London (about 5 train changes). But for everything it was just 44E Per person. We couldn't believe it. The ferry was SO NICE, and pretty quick. We got to wales in about two hours. Now, considering we were in a new country, dad and i were prepared for customs. The Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK...but...nope, nothing we just waltzed right in and onto the train. And thus began our epic train journey across the Uk.

Wales was gorgeous, i didn't get it in time, but while we were flying across the country side we saw a golf course covered in sheep. Seriously, people were playing and there were sheep scattered across the fairway. It was great.

All the train rides were beautiful. It was a VERY long trip: left dublin Radisson at 7:15AM and arrived in London at 7PM. But it was totally worth it. On our last train we sat with this lovely couple and just had a wonderful chat until we reached london. It was really interesting hearing the British prospective on all different topics from the recession to 911 to American Idol (The x Factor)...Even sports and such. It was so great, and wonderful way to end our travels. But it was a heavenly feeling finally arriving at the hotel. I barely got a glimpse of london traveling through the taxi, but what i did see was glorious. Although i was a bit exhausted and really just wanted a place to rest for a bit.

The hotel room is silly. I couldn't believe it when i walked in. We have a staircase for pete's sake.

It's crazy. But awesome. We had dinner at the hotel and just lounged for the rest of the evening. I must admit was a little overwhelming at first, but really having two days of getting used to everything has been very helpful.

Sunday we spent most of the day walking around, seeing where LDA was and where I'm living. See the neighbourhoods and such. Everything is lovely, and even though i couldn't get into my flat yet...it looks great and the surrounding area is fantastic!

Apprently, this is home.

Moving in tomorrow, which is exciting...i'll finally get to meet everyone :D

The best part of sunday (yesterday) was going to the Globe. We took the tube, which is SUPER EASY. It's amazing. The T here is very clean, and simple to figure out where to go. And an all day pass is only 5.60 pounds. It's great. But anyway, we took the tube and walked across the millennium bridge...which was gorgeous and we had such a great view!

(View from Bridge)

(The actual Bridge)

(1000pts to anyone who recognizes this bridge from a recent film...)

And then we got to the Globe to see Troilus and Cressida. I cannot explain to you how brilliant it was. It was so so good. I loved it. Ulysses and Troilus were SO good. Cressida...got better by the third and fourth acts, where things got very emotional for her, but i didn't really agree with choices she made in the first acts but OH WELL. It was still so beautiful. The show was so creative, and the globe is...amazing. It's hard to describe the feeling seeing a show at the globe, but it really was perfect. And i loved the show. I've never really read it and seeing was so wonderful...i honestly think it might be my new favorite. It was brilliant.

So far this has been my favorite adventure. :D

We got out a little late, and i was starving...so i popped into the nearest burger king and snagged some chicken fingers ;)

Another wonderfulful moment was while we were hopping T's i ran by and saw an old Spring Awakening poster, which of COURSE i had to get a picture of. It made me think maybe for a moment it was still showing...even though i know its not :P

Alright, well i've rambled on for some time now...so i'll just say London so far as been very lovely and i'm already so happy i'm going to be living here. The city is beautiful and starting to feel comfortable, which i think is important. Now i've just got to start figuring out military time and what the weather girl means when she says it's going to be 20 degrees out...and i'll be tip top ;)

Cheers!
--T

PANDARUS: Is this the generation of love?

ps. DJ wins 1000pts. :D And bragging rights!