Hello, London!
Hey, hope you are having a good week. I’m back Thursday night.
Saturday After I arrived at my hostel and checked in, I took a bus out to go dancing at “Salsacrity”. I only showed up about an hour and a half before it was over. Good dancers, live band, it was fun.
I asked the organizer how to get a cab home. She was super friendly and got a band member (Toby) to take me home. She also introduced me to the owner of the website where I found them (LondonSalsa.co.uk) so I talked to him and his girlfriend/wife for a bit. They were so pleased someone from Chicago used the site. After the dancing was over, i helped clean up a bit then went up to the Kizbomba room. Asked what kind of music they were playing. “Kizbomba.”
Oh.
Toby and his girlfriend drove me home. When we got there he wrote down all the things he thought I should do. #1 Thames River Festival (ThamesFestival.org). #2 – British Museum.
The Thames Festival takes place on the river that divides London in two. It was packed, so much that it was hard to get anywhere. I actually crossed a bridge over the Thames to go around the crowd. They had a lot of exhibits and such, food vendors and people selling kitsch.
The best was performances at the National Theater: Miss Behave, a comedienne/acrobat; and Not Another Boy Band, a trio of, well, comedians / acrobats / jugglers. Think of Will Ferrell if he could juggle, flip and such. It was raining off and on throughout the acts. I saw a guy with a sheets of newspaper over his head, so I asked if I could have the rest, just as it started raining harder. Lucky me, he gave me them.
After that I went to the film museum around the corner. It had a room where you can view thousands of film clips, some from the 1800s. I didn’t stay long but I’ll go back.
Then I went to the parade. I missed some of it, wish I didn’t. They were fantastic. Every group was lit up with spotlights, flashing LEDs, lights within the sculptures, or my favorite – ultraviolet light and fluorescent paint. They also had their own music. I happened to be near where they were reviewing the paraders. Every group stopped right in front of me.
After that was the fireworks. They set them off in synch from 4 boats on the Thames. It started a half hour late but was worth it. Great show.
I didn’t try to go home right away. The Tube / Underground / London Subway is always crowded. Wasn’t interested in being packed like a sardine. So I walked around to another bridge and enjoyed the view. Got home late, of course.
Monday I went to the British Museum. It had amazing displays of Egyptian stone carvings. Before it became politically incorrect to strip tombs/dig sites of artifacts, the French and British went to town.
The Rosetta stone was there, and I really liked their Egyptian/Assyrian collection. Also the buddhas in the Oriental collection. I actually didn’t see many exhibits because I spent so much time in these two exhibits.
I’ll go back – I asked someone who works there what her favorite part was. She said the second floor of the Egyptian exhibit. I didn’t know there was a second floor!
Rented a bike after and rode around.
I’ll admit it. The fact the Brits drive on the wrong side of the road disturbs me greatly. I follow other bikers just to be safe. Their bike rental setup is very, very cool though. Easy to use – you pay once, and you can use bikes from any station, anytime you want for 24 hours.
Tuesday (today) I’m going to Kew Gardens if the weather holds out. Then Cuban dance lessons and dancing tonight.