NDBT

So – about 24 hours later, and I’ve seen the globe, the tate modern, the london eye, the houses of parliament, big ben, Westminster abbey, St. James’ park, Buckingham palace, had dinner with Megan, the national gallery, national portrait gallery, the british museum, covent square market place and I’m on my way to the mousetrap. *phew!*
I love london – did I mention that already? What a great city. The globe was neat – it looks very much like the stage in Shakespeare in love – I kept expecting Joseph Fiennes to come striding out. The tate modren was really good – I went on the slides (yay! what fun). The eye was overpriced, but fun. And now I can say I’ve been on the world’s tallest ferris wheel (it took 25 min to go around once). Parliament and Big ben were lovely. Westminster abbey was closed for evensong, so I didn’t get to see any graves. Maybe another time. St. James’ park was gorgeous – lots of wildfowl (including some giant pelicans). Buckingham palace was… a palace. Dinner with Megan and Emily at the White horse (no smoking ban here either) – really really good fish and chips. Passed out (after all that walking around) and got up late today. Went to the NZ embassy (to turn in the last of my visa application). Went by the cabinet war rooms – but they were charging 9£!! Churchill isn’t that cool. Went to the national gallery, which had lots of great art – especially the manet to picasso exhibition. The portrait gallery was great too – I especially liked the fact that they had the blur portraits from the best of album. The british museum was awesome, but I hardly got to see anything. I saw a really good exhibit on living and dying, and some Egyptian stuff (I skipped the rest because I figure I saw a bunch of it at the Legion of Honor). I need to go back to see some of the big stuff (like the easter island head). Left early to go to the theater museum and it was closed!! Went to the covent garden mall thing, had super yummy falafels (voted best in London, apparently) caught some street performers, including an opera singer doing the famous arias (Tosca, Carmen, La Traviata…) Now I’m killing time till the theater. Here and a coffee shop doing some reading. Mousetrap!! Agatha Christie!!

I’m thinking I won’t go on a ripper tour, as they are expensive, and sticking to my bare bones budget in London is tres hard. I don’t know yet whether I’m leaving for Salisbury tomorrow night or the night after. I’ll have to go over things at home tonight.

I never really finished my oscar update (hey! Now I’ve seen parts of the show!) granted – I didn’t see the monologue, but I though Jon Stewart was better. Obviously the actor/director awards were no surprise, and though I would’ve liked LMS to win, I’m just as happy that the Departed won, as I loved it as well. (although I’m out 5E). I actually enjoyed the Jack black/will ferrell number. Although I think LMS inclusion is a step in the right direction for comedy (as is the Borat screenplay nomination – the Cohen not being nominated for acting – not so much). I think I did well overall on my predictions, although I’m still miffed that children of men was shut out after it didn’t score a best pic nom.

LOVE this: Oscar winner Anna Paquin is making her first foray into series television as the lead in the vampire drama pilot True Blood, from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball for HBO, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

And the gofugyourself girls are in fine form over the oscars.

I managed to make it over! The ferry was quite nice – you sat in a lounge area (I got a mostly full brekkie) for the 1.5 hr trip. It was lots of pretty water and getting into Wales was quite dramatic – all of a sudden cliffs rose up on the right hand side of the boat. Wales was very lovely (till it got dark). Very much like Ireland – oddly greener. Lots of fat sheep (I prefer the Irish black faced kind). Switched trains in Crewe and got a virgin first class train to London – oh so pampered. I didn’t realize the food was free, so I only got (delicious) soup – but trains are going to be a good source of free food it looks like. (when they have first class carriages). Got into Euston, started wandering towards a hostel, found an internet cafe, that had Megan’s email, so I ran out to hail a cab (found out from the cabbie that the neighborhood was not-so-nice; and so not thinking about the price of the cab. Plus I got to see lots of the city on the ride – and it is so gorgeous! I just love it!) Megan is by the W. Kensington station – very handy. She seems to be doing really well – and her flat is so nice – very cozy. Watched the oscar highlights. This morning I went to the tower of london, which was expensive, but worth it. they had a torture exhibit, lots of ravens, took a yeomans tour (lots of beheading stories), saw the chapel with over 1,000 remains in it (incl. anne bolyn and lady jane grey), the crown jewels, the mideavil palace and the white tower armories and stuff. Walked across tower bridge (gorgeous). On my way to the globe, tate, and if I have more time, back over the north side.