Week 13 - Unlucky, Then Lucky

Saturday (Day 90 ): A Bird's Eye View of London

There was plenty of shopping, then an early evening spin on the Eye together, topped off with a nightcap with GCP friends at O'Neil's.

Followed by a night out with GCPers.

Friday (Day 89): Alex and Billy Were Brilliant

Alex arrived right on schedule from Manchester, and we found each other without difficulty. We had just a moment to stop by the flat before grabbing a quick bite to eat. Then it was off to Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace. Afterwards, we joined some GCPers for drinks and conversation at a local watering hole. I hope to add a few notes here about the play, but the pace here has picked up a lot, so I can't promise.

Thursday (Day 88): Work Continues

This week, I got a quick overview of the software program that CPT uses to create its on line newsletter. Among my assignments for the remainder of the week is to review the upcoming program, research details about the plays and actors, and then propose an outline for the next issue of the newsletter. With a little luck, it will be ready just before Easter.

Wednesday (Day 87): No Joke!

Earlier in the week, EUSA staff had passed on an alert from the United States Department of State concerning potentially dangerous activity intended to disrupt the G-20 meeting, which takes place in London on April 1. We had been advised to discuss the situation with our internship supervisors, especially if we worked in the financial district, where it was thought that at least disruption of public transportation and demonstrations were most likely to take place.

As far as I know, everyone reported for work today. It was easy to see that police were out in force. In addition, streets around London Square were closed, as were tube stops in the general area. There was lots of talk on the streets and many of us were anxious about what the day might hold.

I DID NOT TAKE THESE PICTURES, MOM AND DAD. The one below appeared in the Daily Mail, a London News Service. Things got pretty hot and heavy at the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of England. (An unnamed GCPer actually took the picture above. A little too close for my comfort. Crazy!)

This is my fourth trip to Europe. Each time there's been a real, live example of social action in the streets. If it's not crazy soccer fans celebrating a victory, it's a union on strike. If it's not a union on strike, it's anarchists trying to bring down capitalism. I think there is a serious message in all of this that deserves reflection, but not here, not at this hour.

In other news, the average Briton on the street seems more than disappointed that upon meeting the Queen of England, the Obama's presented Her Majesty with an ipod, loaded with pictures of her most recent visit to the colonies and several of the President's speeches - perfect maybe for a teenager, but a Head of State? For our most trusted and important ally? Let's hope "high-fives" were not exchanged. (I didn't take this picture either.)

The ONLY downside to being across the pond right now is that we might miss Villanova's second National Basketball Championship. Let's hope that the intersection of Lancaster and Ithan doesn't look like Threadneedle and Prince's (shown above) after the Cats stomp the Tarheels.\V/ GO NOVA! \V/

Tuesday (Day 86): Awakening with the Gang

After another day of work with Matt at CPT, I joined the usual suspects for play number 9, Spring Awakening. The musical is based on a controversial 1891 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind. It's set in late-nineteenth century Germany, and "concerns teenagers who are discovering the physical and psychological realities of adolescent sexuality." The original play was banned in Germany due to its sometimes graphic portrayal of sex and violence. In its day, of course, pregnancy, abortion, rape and suicide were not suitable content for the stage, much less public conversation. It has become a "must see" for even highschoolers in the States, as we are much more open about all of these topics now. Given our situation today, however, it does seem reasonable to speculate about the benefits of our new found "enlightenment."

The show has barely been open for two weeks, and it was a great chance to see the original London cast. Overall the performances were excellent; the London actor playing Melchior, much to my amazement, even resembled his adorable NY counterpart, Jonathan Groff! As with some of the other shows I've seen at the West End, some individual performances were better acted than the New York version I had seen last summer.

Seeing it for a second time reminded me just how beautiful the music is and how poignant the message of the story. It's hard not to be touched by the universal messages of love, friendship, redemption and life itself. It's probably one of the most moving shows I've seen, and I'm glad I got to share the experience with some of my closest friends in the Global Citizens Program.

Monday (Day 85): Back to Reality

The work week has come much too quickly, and I realize how much I miss the big bed, the relaxing bubble baths, the beautiful view and the quiet solitude of my weekend in Scotland. But Alex, from Prestbury, will be arriving this Friday to visit, and it will be a fantastic weekend - maybe even a little loud and boisterous!

Meanwhile, my agenda includes:

a return to class - Britons at Work and finishing the final paper, implementation of SWOT analysis at CPT, seeing show number 9 - Spring Awakening at Novello Theatre, mundane chores - laundry and grocery shopping, waiting for Alex - my favorite Briton, and seeing show number 10 - Billy Elliot at Victoria Palace.

The Castle Tour

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle

This morning I woke up bright and early, despite having to ‘spring forward’ an hour, to check out of the Holiday Inn and visit Edinburgh Castle.

It was somewhat bizarre to be finally approaching the base of the volcanic rock on which the Castle was built. I had seen the Castle on numerous occasions since arriving: from my hotel, riding the bus, walking up and down the Royal Mile, but I had never been this close to the building that dominates the skyline of Edinburgh.

My trip to the castle was shorter than expected, and my early arrival allowed me to take some beautiful pictures of the scenery, and of the castle itself, without a bunch of tourists in the way. St. Giles Cathedral is most impressive.

After taking a quick half hour ‘orientation’ tour of the castle, learning a bit about the history of the castle and what each building actually is, I was able to wander around on my own for the rest of the morning into the afternoon.

I started by visiting the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The exhibit explained the interesting history of the jewels, from how they were made to who wore them, to how the stone of destiny, used at the coronation of Scottish Kings, was taken by the English and not returned until recently. No pictures were allowed. These below are stock photos.

After stopping to browse in the first of many castle gift shops, I went into the Scottish War Memorial. The memorial housed book after book of recorded names of those who died in the service of Scotland in various wars, both past and present. Looking through the books was a heavy experience, something moving that I hadn’t expected to feel during my trip.

From there I moved around the court yard, stopping in to look at the Castle’s Great Hall. The room was impressive with his high, beamed ceiling, walls of swords and suits of armor, chandeliers, and stained glass.

After taking tons of pictures, I walked around the backside of the war memorial up to St. Margaret’s Chapel, in which barely 30 people could fit at a time. Although less grand than other castle chapels I’ve been lucky enough to visit in Europe, its size gave it a certain charm.

Walking back down to the lower levels of Castle Rock, I passed Mons Meg, the castle’s prized cannon that could fire a gunstone up to two miles away! Impressive! Next I walked by the castle’s well on the way to the Dragoon Museum, which displayed all manner of historic Scottish military regalia.

After a quick bite to eat in the Queen Anne Café, featuring home baked shortbread, I went through the prison exhibition, where the dungeons of the castle were renovated to simulate the prison arrangement as it would have been in the past.

I spent the rest of my time in the castle taking pictures and visiting gift shops. You may see me wearing my new Edinburgh Castle Tartan Scarf sometime next season!

After walking a little more of the Royal Mile for a bit more shopping, it was time for me to say goodbye to Edinburgh, catch a cab to the airport and head back to London.

This was one of the most amazing weekends of my life, giving me the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful countryside landscapes in the world, and I’m glad my parents encouraged me to do it. When I realized that no one would be able to travel with me, I was hesitant about traveling completely on my own in a place I’d never been to before. But thinking about it now, I can see all that I would have missed if I hadn’t found the courage to go out and do something I really wanted by myself.

The trip went off without a hitch, and I now know just how much I really can do on my own. OK, so maybe I wouldn’t do it in a country that speaks a foreign language just yet, but hey, maybe soon.