All Good Things Come to an End

 Thursday May 5:  It was really unfortunate that I had to leave to early only for an hour, only to be tired for the rest of the day. So I Just caught up on everything. Although, Michael Wolters and I finally got the records packaged up and sent for home. Before when I weighed them all on their own it was 20.1 kg, although when the box, and the stuffing added it was way over so we had to take out about 20 records to fit the limit. For the 20kg it was €63, which actually is not that bad of a price. The rest Michael and I would split in our suitcases (as he was coming back to Canada). Woohoo!

Friday May 6: I biked to school for the end of class to give one last goodbye with them. They were all very warm and welcoming and wished me all the best back and to keep in touch.  The new guy Albert I had met a little bit before asked if I was heading to the Centrum so I biked with him. He is actually the drummer in a band back home from Spain called Up With The Mess and they are really good! They’ve been in awards shows back home and have played around Europe. They’d love it get to North America and I told them I’d do my best to see if I can help them with contacts. So anyone knows of any, it would be amazing if they could inform me!!

Later that evening, I had tickets for the Roncalli Circus (which was not cheap). I was going to go with Elke although; she was busy with something else so she asked her son Alexander to join me. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to a circus! The only other time I’ve been to one was a tiny one in Parry Sound when I was really little. Why am I so fascinated with the culture of circus; the tents, the costumes, the tricks and acrobatics?! It consisted of horses and human acrobatics, and boy, was it so impressive; I was wide-eyed and gasping the whole time. They  were vaulting on horses (galloping on the horse while standing  and doing tricks), had trained the horses to separate from black and white, and a whole lot of unbelievable strength that these performers had in all the incredible stunts they did, like women doing head stands on the others head.  Wow!



 

Well once it had finished I headed back to the U-bahn (subway) but I saw a message from a classmate that there was already Rhein in Flammen celebration at the Rheinau park going on (all weekend), which is what I was torn between to go to on Saturday.  I could have taken a bus on a subway there but decided just to walk along the Rhein. Things were starting to close up as I arrived there (and the friend who had told me about it had already gone home).  There was a concert going on and I asked someone who was playing, and was shocked to know it was someone from the Genesis. It was Paul Carrack and Ray Wilson, so it was great to hear songs I knew (when I had no idea about it). There were many booths and rides. One thing though, is I did pump into one of the IFS people. I didn’t know him very well, since he was older and in a different class, but that was still nice that I saw him. Although, soon after that, they shut everything down at midnight so I went home.
 

Saturday May 7: I was torn all day of what to do. The day before, new friend Albert had invited me to go vintage shopping in Koln although those plans got cancelled. Then I was still torn between whether to go to Phillip Wolter’s birthday and to around the family friends I know, or to see if I could meet up with some from school although there wasn’t a huge chance to get everyone all together. Well, later it was decided that I would come with Elke, so I drove with her to Aachen to Phillip and Ursula’s apartment (which I had earlier in my trip had helped them move in). Everyone was obviously German, so I small talked, (well everyone knows English). Although, one of the family friends had stopped me every time I’d speak to him in English so I’d practice. At some times, I felt a little out of place, and had slipped away to try playing on their piano. I was glad I went because it was always a goodbye for me (although not the end).

Sunday May 8: Today was packing day. Got up in good time to get the rest of my baggage I had left at the room I had rented. So I had spent most of the afternoon fitting everything and measuring the weight. In all, I got most of it in (so there was just a few books left that Elke said she would bring back in her luggage when she was coming back to visit Canada).  I had asked a few of my classmates from school if they were interested in coming with me for dinner and in all, 3 of the girls could. I told them to meet in the Bonn Centrum and then we would decide on a place. We decided on a place you could sit outside since it was really warm. I had a lovely pasta dish with salmon. After a couple hours of chatting and talking with Prilly, Chae Jin, and Gloria, they had to get going since they had chores and class in the morning. I decided to walk along the Rhein one last time back home. With a little left of packing, my bags were stuffed and ready. I cannot believe my time here has come and gone. Yes, I am happy to come back home, but it is also sad. It did go by fast, and once you get adjusted, it seems to fly by.


The Last Supper with Lovely Friends; Gloria, Chae Jin (CJ), and Prilly



Overall, I can say my trip there was educational. Yes, I can kick myself that I may not have learned or have studied or practiced as much as I could have, but I really did not give myself that much time there and so I had to balance out my exploring and study. I left there, to finally try on my own to learn the language my family and friends speak. It was also a learning experience for me on being along and making my own decisions. Kids rush into secondary so quickly and are unaware of what it is like to live out of the home. Now I have to say I wasn’t completely alone because I had the support of family friends but I still think it has taught me something, and believe that my transition from home to university will be a little bit smoother. I left with what I had left in my account from working in the summer, and have to say, did very well, with watching my money and keeping track in what was being spent (that is another thing kids need to learn). No, it was not a life changing experience but a healthy thing to do. Well, now it leaves another door, to go back and to see the things I didn’t see and to grow and be more familiar for the next times.
Until later, thank you all for your support and maybe you got something out of this. I am sure this is not the end of me, and possibly stay tuned.  Never dismiss the opportunity to learn new things, no matter the situation.
Until then, Sincerly,

Karli Zschogner


Man Biking in the Air!



It's A Marvelous Night for a Circus



Incredible Acrobatic Girls



Horse Vaulting



A Tight Fit!



Roncalli, the Travelling Circus



Caught The last bit of this!

Farewell!



Roncalli



The Last Sunny Days in London


Tuesday May 3: I went on my second Beatles walk tour with the same guide Richard. Now if I could only stay for Friday, because once you go on the two with him you get the one on Friday free of a Rock and Rock tour. This one, The Beatles ‘In My Life’ Tour (the other one titles The Magical Mystery Tour) met at Marylebone underground station (I was an hour early).  Once we had all established a group and were paying, I asked the gentleman behind me where he was from and he was from. Canada (Cambridge)! So right there, we started chatting till past the end of the tour. For the first part of the tour we didn’t have to go anywhere, because as Richard introduced, it was here at this station where The Beatles had shot the opening scene, with the boys in disguise as the mass of girl fans run to catch up with them. The next place we stopped at was the Triton building where both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr got married (on separate occasions). Richard even shared with us that he got married there too. Next, we stopped at 34 Montagu Square; which is rich in Rock and Roll star history. The Chicago Tribune has called it, “The ultimate rock n’ roll pad.” That’s because it’s been a residence with 3 Beatles, Chas Chandler (The Animals) and Jimi Hendrix , and god knows how many other stars have been there for parties. Ringo Starr moved in there  in 1965 with his wife where him and Mick Jagger were neighbours. Ringo moved out of there a short while after but kept ahold of it so friends could crash there or make use of it. Paul McCartney built a small recording studio in the basement and had spent time there working on Elenor Rigby. Then in December 1966 Chas Chandler, the former bass player from the Animals, had just discovered a guitarist in a small club in New York and decided to be his manager and bring him to England; non other that Jimi Hendrix. They shared the flat together with their girlfriends. It was there as he and his girlfriend had had a row, did he write the lyrics for ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ (her middle name). A while later John and Yoko moved in there. It was there were they posed for their nude Two Virgins picture which had started an uproar. It was also there that the two were busted with drugs which was claimed to not be theirs but the apartment’s previous owner, Jimi, which would definitely possible. It also came to the fact that the cop who busted them was later known to plant drugs on stars. This charge did not see the end of the couple, because it resulted in Yoko miscarrying her child due to the fear of deportation and it very much affected the couple went trying to move to New York (it was also because of this problem that he decided not to come back and live in England.) Now there is a Blue Historic Plaque there with John Lennon’s name on it. (Probably erected by Yoko.) Later, we walked to the building where The Beatles had their first major project; The Apple Store which opened in 1967 but shortly closed in ’68. The Beatles let a hippie designer from Holland called The Fool station there; the cloths very popular for the hippies. In fact the Beatles had their at the time wives pose for an advertisement. The building stuck out amazingly at the time with a great psychedelic mural on the side, but unfortunately like the store, it did not last long, was removed because it was not liked by the community. Now it is a boring building and the only way to tell of it is a small blue plaque with John Lennon’s name on it (this is false, because it was a association of THE BEATLES, not just Lennon). We also passed 37 Wimpole Street which was the Asher Family residence (Jane Asher was McCartney’s first wife) where the Beatles had spent time with writing songs (including ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ and ‘Yesterday’), and passed the restaurant which was featured in The Beatles film HELP!, at the time an Indian restaurant called The Dolphin at 4-6 Blandford Street. It was during the filming that George Harrison first was introduced into the sitar, which the instrument would lead him to a lifelong follower of the Indian culture. The restaurant is now called The Giraffe. Lastly, we took the Underground one stop over to St. John’s Wood to end off (again) at Abbey Road. I knew all the information by now, but it was great ending there! Walked across Abbey Road with my Canadian friend.  It was so amazing following the footsteps of the best artists yet. Ended the tour stopping at Richard’s Beatles Coffee Shop at the station and bought his book.


Same shot at Marylebone Station where the Beatles ran in Hard Day's Night




Where Ringo, Paul, Jimi Hendrix, Joh and Yoko Lived

What The Apple Store used to look like in '68



Beatles Store!

 

Where Paul, Ringo, and even Richard got married




Walking Across Abby Road with Robert



Montagu Place; where, Ringo, Paul, Jimi, John and Yoko lived


My Canadian friend guided me to the ‘Its Only Rock ‘N’ Roll’ store and The London Beatles Store  that he had found then asked if I wanted to have lunch with him across the road, so had a nice chat. He actually originally went to school for archaeology. The two stores were crazy amazing. The Beatles store had tons of original Beatles memorabilia from the ‘60s but of course, very expensive. They were playing Yellow Submarine on the TV when I was there.   I also stopped in the Sherlock Holms store (Sherlock Holms and Jack the Ripper are also very big hear’ I wanted to go on tours).  After some time of searching for the Handel House Museum   where both Handel and Jimi Hendrix lived but after a couple hours gave up for the day. Try tomorrow, because I wanted to visit the Camden Market. It was astounding! It was all I ever wanted; vintage, alternative, everything! Unfortunately I did not have much time, so I quickly looked around, and decided I had to go back tomorrow.  I didn’t have time because I had to rush to see a play that I booked and this was no ordinary play; it starred Matthew Fox (Jack in LOST) !!!! it’s his first and its only showing until June so I’m super lucky that I am here at the right time (First time ever playing and it’s in London!) I had just heard about Into A Forest Dark and Deep a day before left for London by fluke It was at the Vaudeville Theatre which was very beautiful! I bought a seat for the Dress Circle, which are one of the best places to sit. I was super excited to see it, although, it was not what I expected. It was just the two characters, Fox and Olivia Williams (who had been in the film An Education which I had seen and loved). It was set in an A-frame cottage and there were no scene changes or intermission; just their intense acting. The two played brother and sister and she had invited him to help pack away the contents (mostly just books). The cottage was not hers and her husband and kids did not know about it. They’re both troubled people; he’s an angry, racist/sexist prick and she’s a compulsive liar. It was actually at parts unbearable to watch because it was just them yelling and screaming at each other; so much I wanted to yell out, “Stop! Stop! Just Stop!” They fight the whole time of what is truth and to just come out with it. What plays out is that she’s a dean at a university, she’s met this 2^nd year student and has fallen in love with him (so an affair) and now he’s dead (hit by a car) so now she’s trying to rid of all the stuff that she and her  young lover had before the parents come. And then at the very end, she finally admits to her brother that she was the one who killed him with her car (she read his journal and found that he thought that their love together was not real). It was defiantly not what I expected and was gut wrenching but that just shows how good actors they are. After it was over, I decided to walk to The Thames River. Everything was beautifully lit up; the great buildings, the bridges and especially the London Eye (the great Ferris wheel) It surprised me to see an Obelisk and two Sphinx statues. I walked over the Waterloo Bridge, up to the London Eye then headed back across to the Westminster underground for home.


Into A Forest Dark and Deep




Looking Out Across the Thames




Looking out Across the Thames



Wednesday May 4: Decided to make more of a relaxed day. I caught some of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace; the routine of the guards which involves them marching back and forth, riding on horseback, carriages and nice black cars. I decided to look again for the Handel House Museum. The night before I had made myself better directions although as  I had thought I was on the right track and had ask a bunch of people on the street although no one seemed to know where it was. I know where around it was; 23 Brook Street, near the Bond underground, but once followed the street I was suppose to I saw no Brooke St. After like two hours of walking around and still no luck I realized I better head back to Camden Market; something I really wanted to spend time at. It was a hot and beautiful day to be outside. Everything at Camden is so awesomely funky and a dream for me. The first bit got frustrating though, because, you know, I’m just casually looking around at the shops and booths, but then all the Middle Easterners come rushing to you trying to get you to buy their stuff, and I have to admit, I have no experience in heckling or bartering. They’d start off, “Oh, I give you good price, very good price!” And then when you say you’ll just look around they start offering you lower prices, get it down to let you try it and even start putting it in the bag. I really was considering buying finally a pair of Dr. Martin’s but they were £80 (that’s like $130) and plus I don’t really have the room for them. At a certain point down the street, I thought that was the end, but i was very much wrong! To my great excitement there were still isles and isles of booths. If I didn’t have to worry about money and baggage room, there is no knowing how much I would have bought. Then I entered this whole new place called The Stables; and if if you can get any better, it sure did! Absolutely incredible.  It was whole new vibe. Away from the hecklers, it was quiet and peaceful, and everything was unique or vintage (away from the cheap,Made in China). It really was situated in a Stable/barn area, some booths in horse box stalls, and you winded through the endless pathways, parts even underground.  I went into  this super cool record shop (since looking through the shelves of records is a complete addiction and cannot pass one without looking through the selection.) I had to tell myself though that I did not have the room at all anymore (since after my inheritance of 80 or so). Although, in the downstairs, was full of these very unique posters, mostly of Rockers. I told the man there, that they were beautiful and he informed me they were actually all his prints; Steampower Co. London. I decided that I would finally buy one of his posters of a ‘20s Flapper. I decided it was a more neutral pick that would be perfect in a room or house no matter the age (even though, I’d love to by one of The Rolling Stones or the Beatles) and plus I love the ‘20s era. I looked at my watch and realized that I would miss the walking tour I wanted to do. That was a big sad, because it was a Harry Potter tour, where you could see Platform 9 3/4, Grimmwald Place, etc.


The Changing of the Guard



Everything was closing at 6, but at the last moment I found this little place to sit and have a tea and sweets so I stopped there. The man there was very nice and I asked him the history of The Stables. He told me, that The Stables area was actually where they had kept the working horses for the area, like for carriages, ambulance, fireman carriages, etc. And it was only about three years ago did they rebuild this area and make it a place for the market. After my tea and a Danish, all the shops were closed. I headed back to the station, debating on if I should do anything. Then I saw this one place right near where I has bought the posters called the Vinyl Bar. I had been avoiding going into any with part of the fact that I was on my own and that is most of the enjoyment to go with someone. Though, when I saw it had the word Vinyl in it, it seemed friendly and comforting.  Walking in, it looked super cool. It wasn’t busy, but realised that was the way I think I would prefer it. There were two tenders there, a smart looking gentleman and a younger woman. They were very friendly and made me feel at home. The man was actually the owner and wouldn’t think of him as the boss because he was very friendly and joked around a lot. He was a born Englishman and said he’d been around the world a few times. The girl Italian was still on her orientation so I felt very understanding of her and it was great just chatting with her as she made drinks for the customers. They were very welcoming and were amazed that I had been traveling alone and really hoped that I’d come there again when I ever came back and that I was very welcome. I was actually sad to leave there since they were very nice (even the DJ went out into his car to put on the music I suggested) although I had to catch a taxi at 4 the next morning to catch my flight back to Bonn.  

 

The Stables; Camden Market



Camden Market



Camden Market




First Days in The Good 'Ol London Town

The Royal Wedding Memrobelia

 
Saturday April 30: Everything looks so empty with everything packed up and pictures away. The rest of the bags I am keeping stowed away in the house until I get back. Dropped off the bike at Elke’s and she took me out for a Döner and then left for the airport. Why after me being careful, my bag for London is so full? Well at the gate I was told only one bag (as I only had carry-on) as I had my very full purse as well, but I managed to go by without problem.  But when I stepped on to the EasyJet plan I had to put on a smile on my face with the British and Irish accent welcoming me. At first I felt hesitant to speak in English. It was also the first time I’ve ever sat in the very very front of a jet, in front of the cockpit, across from the two flight attendants, so I got to talk to talk to them. The flight was an hour with an hour difference (back one) from Germany. I took the train to Richard and Kristin’s which was in the Richmond area, outside main London with the help of their very detailed directions. There was definitely still in the air of The Royal Wedding from the day before, with pictures and souvenirs of the couple and Union Jack flags everywhere.  When I arrived, Pollyanna was there (the niece of who I was staying with) although, she is in the middle of her study period so she wouldn’t be doing anything with me (oh, well, she was still a lot of help) She took an hour break so we went and got my first very traditional English meal: Cod fish and chips! I then (only on the occasion on that I was in London) watched Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It was okay, but it was great to see the typical London streets.


Planning the Day




Sunday May 1: I woke up in good time because I was going on a Beatles walk tour! Even though I wouldn’t have minded to pay a little extra for the tour, I had chosen to the alternative Beatles tour which you didn’t have to reserve (just had to show up outside the station of meeting) and it was cheaper (£6 for students) and it broadcasted a good amount of Beatles places to see. The guide Richard Porter had a strong accent, but I right away decided that this tour definitely had to be the best because he was a die-hard fan and had even had the pleasure of meeting McCartney on occasion while doing his tours. I was the youngest one there of course, but I talked with some people from India, New York, and New Zealand.  We walked together as a group (around 16), starting at Tottenham Court Road Underground first to MPL (McCartneyProductions Ltd, not McCartney Paul and Linda), Paul McCarrtney’s London offices. It is one of the largest independent music publishing companies in the world. Next we stopped in a very small walking street at Trident Sound Studios. Its significance to the Beatles is they came here to record Dear Prudence, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle, Martha My Dear,  I Want You (She’ s So Heavy)and Hey Jude. Paul actually wrote Hey Jude during the time of Lennon’s break up with first wife Cynthia, to Julian Lennon (John’s first son) who Paul had spent much time with and more like a father figure. The song was originally going to be titled Hey Jules. It was here where Richard showed us a picture of the original Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds drawing which Julian had drawn and then inspired John to write the song (Does not signify LSD.)Many other artists have recorded there as David Bowie, Queen, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, Supertramp and Elton John. Next, we stopped at the toilets in Broadwick Street, which I was not familiar about. Here, John Lennon had appeared in a comedy sketch in  ‘Not Only....But Also....’ on November 27^th 1966. In the sketch John is actually seen  wearing his famous small round glasses for the first time, which before were only considered ‘granny glasses’, but as you know he had transformed them into the height of fashion (There you go, Beatles influencing fashion). Then we walked to Carnaby Street, which in the ‘60s was the hottest place to be for celebrity fashion and the Mod scene, (aka: Swinging London)where stars as The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones and jimi Hendrix. The song Dedicated Follower of Fashion by the Kinks was actually about someone who shopped here. There is still a beautiful mural on a wall about  the SoHo area. It very similar art which one can notice which could have been an inspiration to Sgt. Pepper’s album cover including a club band in front of a crowd looking behind!  In this same area we stopped at the Palladium theatre  on Argyll Street(opened in 1910). It was here that The Beatles performed on a TV show called Val Parnel’s  Sunday Night at the London Palladium and everyone was astonished to see the enormous crowd waiting outside to see their favourite screaming. It is right after that, that the term Beatlemania began (so it is traced to have begun here).Right now The Wizard of Oz musical is playing there.  We also passed what used to be Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein’s Offices. Next, we were off to 3 Savile Row, the former ‘Apple’ offices and where The Beatles had done their very last concert; On The Rooftop. We passed Hamleys’ which it the most popular toy store. A huge crowd of people were waiting for the doors to open. This area is also the tailor area which makes cloths for the Royal Family so every shop has code of arms. Well, the Beatles had started Apple Corp. For tax reasons-they were paying 95% tax at the time-hence George Harrison wrote in Taxman, “There is one for you and 19 for me.” 3 Savile Row was also where they had performed their last performance on the rooftop which shocked everyone, after the world had not seem them live for years (as they had given up touring because their fans were too much). As The Beatles had become unpopular with the surrounding posh area as they had attracted many a ‘ rowdy’ crowd as the Hell’s Angels and the Hippies from San Francisco, they had called the police on that day (January 30 1969) to stop the Beatles from playing and to rid of the crowd. Although, the police who had went there knew they could/would not break up their favourite band for the world to see, they just got front row seats to go up and actually see them (as no one else could), and in fact that same policeman has actually been a guard for the Royal Family and was just assisting in the wedding. We walked next to 13 Mason’s yard, St. James, London to what is now the Directors Lodge Club, was at the time called The Scotch which was a ‘Swinging London’ nightclub which was regularly visited (they even had their own specific table with a brass nameplate.) The Scotch also saw the first ever live performance of Jimi Hendrix in London. Right beside it is a gallery which was called at the time The Indica Art Gallery (which was part owned by Paul’s at the time wife Jane Asher’s brother) was where John and Yoko first met. Yoko had an art exhibit there and John was invited to check out the exhibit a day before it was opening. John thought the art was a joke and even when he saw an apple on a post which was priced at £200 he took a bite of the apple. Obviously Yoko was furious. For the last part of the tour we took the underground to St. John’s Wood to see Abby Road Studios  and to walk across the zebra crosswalk. Fact: the white wall of Abbey Road studios is painted over about 6 times a year due to the amount of signatures leave.  There is also actually a live feed video cam that is sent to their website and then you can view yourself cross (and is even now an App for iphones). The Beatles Abbey Road Album was actually going to be named Everest (after the cigarette brand) and then shoot the cover at Mount Everest but Lennon disagreed to that. For the Abbey Road cover, there had also arisen the question that Paul Is Dead due to certain clues in the picture ( for example:  Paul walking barefoot signified he was dead, and George was the gravedigger, Ringo the undertaker and John the preacher, and that Paul was holding his cigarette in the wrong hand and that Beetle license plate signified that Paul would have been 28.) Also during their recording of Across the Universe, they had decided they wanted some female singers in it so they went outside to see if there were some fans still outside. There were and Paul had asked if they could sing, so two fans were there at the right time and got to record with the Beatles. Over the years many famous musicians have recorded there and they still do today! Even movie soundtracks are scored there, such as Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Richard, our tour guide also has a Beatles Coffee Shop at the Underground.


A striking resemblance between the Soho mural & Sgt. Pepper's cover!




Infront of the Palladium theatre where The Beatles where and where Beatlemania began




3 Savile Row; Apple Studios and Rooftop performane




3 Savile Row



Abbey Road




After, I decided I would go on another walking, this time of Old Westminster. It is the cornerstone, where kings and queens were crowned, where they lived and even buried.  The tour  met at 2:30 outside the Westminster Underground. The guide was this old but still lively man and throughout the whole tour he was always teasing and making fun of me which was funny (again the definite youngest). We toured around the streets around Westminster Abbey and the Parliament building by the Thames River. We got to hear Big Ben toll 3pm! He discussed figures as Oliver Cromwell, who was an English military and political leader who had at one time overthrown the monarchy and put them into a republican Commonwealth. Westminster Abbey was jammed pack and huge line-ups outside (Royal Wedding)  so there was no way I was going to attempt looking inside. But we did look inside the St. Margaret Church right beside. What was most intriguing was on the windows were portraits of King Henry VIII , Catherine of Aragon (1^st wife) and of Queen Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn). We also passed the Jewel Tower which was built in 1366-66 and it is definitely the oldest building in the area. Both Westminster and the parliament buildings are just so enormous and grand! We also passed where T.E. Lawrence (aka: Lawrence of Arabia) had lived.


Westminster




Westminster tour; It's been around the world


 

St. Margaret Church



Parliament




Once the tour finished, I decided to walk along a bit of Green Park and passed Buckingham Palace and up the Mall (where the Royal couple drove through). I was trying to figure out where to go next and after a bit of walking, stopped at a Pret (a well known chain) to have some lunch. I walked up Piccadily Circus and to Leicester Square which remind me a bit like New York City Broadway due to the fact that it is part of the Theatre district. I stopped into the Cool Britannia store which was a mass two level of London souvenirs. I decided to try out the SoHo Unzipped walking tour starting at 7. We passed the Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain in memorial for the Earl of Shaftesbury who had done a huge amount of work in the welfare of children and was a big fan of Florence Nightingale. The Eros (Greek God of Love) Statue which people have mistaken it as Cupid along with the area’s risqué, while it   is actually Anteros the Angel of Christian Charity. SoHo, which the name actually originates around King Henry VIII where the area was used as hunting grounds (Soho was the hunting call) has gone through lots of transformations, commonly known as the entertainment district, red-light district and film district. It was once the richest area, had been one of the worst hit with a plague, became the dirtier and place where only immigrants lived in. It was a place in the 17^th and 18^th century where the French Huguenots fled to from persecution from the Catholic Church. From the 1930s to the early 1960s, Soho folklore has said that the pubs of Soho were packed every night with drunken writers, poets and artists, many of whom never stayed sober long enough to become successful. It is a place from inspiration of Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). Well anyway, it was a younger crowd (although I was still the youngest)and even though the guide was older, he very much kept our attention since he was very animated and had lots of stories and quizzes. The tour,as the others, are tastes of the areas, which just pass by the sounding area and talk about its history. We passed the Prince Charles Cinema (which I need to go to next time). It’s very unique as it plays a whole range of films; new, international, but also you can go there to watch all the Classics. Also it is the first place to host a sing-along-musical; which is none other than The Sound of Music! (I’ve done that in Toronto). Right now they have that, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Grease. We passed Chinatown, which even still had Royal Wedding decorations up. It was great being able to chat with these older students, some from the States and one from the UK. The tour stopped for a short while at a local pub, The Spice of Life. McMullen is the local beer it serves and I was so excited to hear that it was actually one of Bob Dylan’s favourite places to perform! In the basement they play all sorts of music. Back on our walk, we passed the house where the first television was demonstrated by John Logie Baird in 1926. We also passed by Ronnie Scott’s, a jazz bar, which Elle Fitzgerald loved to play there and it was the last place Jimi Hendrix played at! For Charles Dickens buffs, we passed Goldbeaters House. We passed Milroys Whiskey Specialists where some bottles go for £300 and apparently online go for a lot more expensive. We passed the house of William Hazlette who was an English writer remembered  for his humanistic essay and literary criticism and was hated by most of England because he was a supporter of French Napoleon. Next we took a short stop at the historic Dog & Duck pub with the George Orwell Room upstairs (he used to drink here). In addition, the guide informed us that Madonna had said that this was her favourite pub with her favourite ale. We passed the Admiral Dunkan which serves to the gay community which actually a tragedy. On April 30 1999 (woah, that was last year) it has damaged from a nail bomb planted by neo-Nazis David Copeland, leaving around 70 injured and 3 dead (including a woman 4 months pregnant). Absolutely terrible. Although on a positive note we passed the site of the 2i’s Coffee Bar which is the Birthplace of British Rock and Roll, opening in 1956-70 (59 Old Compton Street), and soon Soho was the centre of the fledgling rock scene in London. Early rockers played and became introduced there such as Cliff Richard and Tony Sheridan. After that the tour had come to the end. It was great to get a taste of the area which the help of a great guide. I headed back to Jone’s because they were back and they picked me up at the station. WOW 13 hours straight walking.


Ronnie Scotts; where Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi hendrix played




The Site of Rock n Roll



'Eros' Statue




Monday May 2: Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Today I spent all day with the Jones’ and their 4 kids. They’re so adorable. I haven’t seen them in a long while so it was crazy how much they are growing up. We all agreed that we would go to Hampton Court  which had been built for Cardinal Wolsey until he unflavored by King Henry VIII which went back into his possession. It was in the next century taken over William III and Mary oh Orange and expanded it wanting it be like Versailles. Although, construction was suddenly halted leaving two distinct architectural styles, domestic Tudor and Baroque. Well for this day, the 7 of us toured around the Royal kitchens. It was very interesting because they re-acted of what it was like, cooks cutting up meat and veggies, someone making pies and someone roasting the meat. Then the announcement came on the king was coming back from May’s eve. They made us (the crowed) feel like we were part of the King’s court and the guests (our hosts)  at Hampton Court were the Seymore’s and were trying to attraction the King’s to Jane Seymore (Henry’s third wife). We after went through the beautiful Privy Gardens and went through the Maze. We all split into groups. Once out, we chilled on the grass and had an ice cream. William, one of the kids (12) is a walking Encyclopedia; he knows everything! As him a question and he has a full explanation! We were there till late afternoon until we decided that was enough. I had to say by the end the activities we really only focused for the young kids but overall, the castle had tons of interactive activities while walking through the rooms of royalty. In addition, I loved it because I have to say I know quite a bit about Henry VIII. We drove through the Richmond Park which is amazing; I’ve never been in an area like this. It’s really just one big field with some forest but there’s an actual road with traffic through it and on our way there. There were whole herds of deer just casually crossing the road. It was like driving through the African Lion Safari. On the way back they drove passed Pete Townstead’s (The Who) so that I could see :D  We had been joking about the scene of the Black Knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail so after a lovely home cooked meal of Indian chicken curry, we watched The Grail altogether. Ahh British humour doesn’t get any better than that.


Richmond Park


 

Make Way For The King



Hampton Court




The Tudors




Room decorated with collage of all Weapons! Swords, Knives, Guns, Spears




The Royal Chambers