Episode 8: Only In London Can You Eat In A Crypt

I love that I get to go on field trips for my classes. It lets me be touristy without having to plan excursions into the city. Which I will totally be doing anyway, but I like having as much tourist time as possible. Plus it has given me a more stress-free environment in which to learn some of the public transit system.

For example, I was completely able to get myself all the way from Surbiton to Waterloo station without any extra help! Yes, I knew which bus to take to Surbiton Station (even though the bus was late and I had to take a slightly later train than I'd planned.) and which train from Surbiton would take me into Waterloo. I got to the station on time (one of only 3 people to do that today) and all on my own. Go me!

After everyone finally arrived, we followed Anna (our teacher) to the Poetry Library. The best part about this trip was the elevator ride up to the fifth floor of the building the library was in. Instead of a nice voice that tells up when you reach each floor, the elevator hums getting higher the further up you go and then announces the floor in a singsong tone. It's awesome!

Then in the library we were supposed to look at different poetry journals since we're going to have to submit something at some point. My favorite and one I can't really submit to was a journal called Cadence. First of all, this an excellent name for any journal that has writing in it. But that wasn't even the best part.

Since all the poetry is centered around the island of Cyprus, some of it was in Greek! Yes, I have no clue how to read it and my pronunciation is a classroom form of ancient Attic Greek. But I still thought that was so cool! I spent a lot time time just flipping through it before realizing I really should be working on finding a journal I can submit to. Even if I really don't aspire to be a poet.

We finished looking at the journals and came back together before setting off for lunch. The original plan was to have a picnic lunch, but most people didn't bring food with them since we hadn't discussed this. I being the lovable dysfunctional waif that I am, had a sandwich and a brownie with me as well as some strawberries. Oh yeah, I am always prepared. Kinda.

Trooping across the Millennium Bridge we made our way towards the cafe we planned to eat at. I love how I can now say I've been on the Millennium Bridge. And the Harry Potter nut in me enjoys how I can squeal during the first part of the sixth movie and say "I've been on that bridge!"

One of the coolest things about the bridge though wasn't just that it featured in a Harry Potter movie (yes, I know you are all aghast that I would make this statement, but please, just go with me). The coolest thing was the musicians who just set up and played on the bridge. There was one guy who had a steel drum and played Jamaican-y music. Then on the way back I saw a group of four who had violins and a piano, but the music wasn't classical at all. And at the end was another group with an accordion, a trumpet, a trombone, and a plastic container turned drum. I'd bet Scurvy Wench either moved to London or was reincarnated here.

Now, back to lunch. I know you are just leaning off the edge of your seats in anticipation. Well the place we when to was called The Crypt Cafe. It was literally the crypt of an old church that had been turned into a cafe. And it was so incredible! The ceiling was a series of arched domes all connected to make a large square room. And there were tombstones set into the concrete floor. If you ever get a chance, you must go there. It's under St. Martin Church near the National Portrait Gallery.

I know the church because after lunch we went up and took a look at it. And once again I am astounded by the beauty of the buildings in London. There was lovely gold leaf and intricate molding and sweeping arches. We're talking some seriously gorgeous architecture (yes, the word follows me like a plague).

And I know it's located near the National Portrait Gallery because that's where we went after lunch. We were sent off for about an hour to go find a place and write. Write about whatever we want, just write. I of course headed for the Tudor Galleries upstairs. Because who doesn't love art of the most infamous family in English history?

And I found an entire room devoted to Lady Jane Grey, the nine day queen. If you are not familiar with this story here's a condensed version of the facts as I know them. After Henry died his son Edward took the throne. But Edward was a very sick child and people of ambition sought to take advantage of this. Jane was a cousin to Edward and her father, Duke of Suffolk, stuck an alliance with Lord Dudley and hatched a plan to put their children on the throne. Jane married Dudley's son Guliford (the lesser known son. His brother Robin Dudley was a good friend of Elizabeth I and it was rumored they were in love). Then Suffolk and Dudley got Edward to change the line of succession so that Jane and Guliford became the next monarchs. They ruled for nine days before supporters of Mary I reclaimed her throne and threw the pair in prison. They were later executed.

Her story has always intrigued me and made me feel sad. The art in this room was not grand and there were no colored pieces of her. Indeed the art was rather plain and Jane herself was no beauty. But her story captured me once more and I spent my time writing in there, sitting on a bench, surrounded by maybe twenty sketches spread over three walls.

At one point I got stuck trying to think of a word I wanted. I figured if I acted out the action I could get a better sense of the word I was looking for. I was alone in the gallery so I did a flourished bow. The old man walking by claps for me and says "That was rather well done. She would have been proud." I blushed but he was a nice guy, talking with me about her story and how he used to wander down to the Tower of London, before it became a tourist trap, and think about the history of the place. Before he left he complimented me once more on my bow. It was rather sweet.

At 3:30 I met back up with some of the other students and Anna and we walked back to Waterloo. Took the train back and then took the bus with some of my fellow students back as close as we could get to Seething Wells. I feel even more accomplished in my public transportation prowess since the girls I was with didn't know the street we needed to get off at or even what bus we needed to take. Yes, laziness is an asset people.

Then this evening I walked down to the Thames with Carlie and watched the sunset. We talked for a while and it was a really nice way to spend some time. We actually have quite a bit in common and she's offered to take me to King's Cross at some point since she knows the way. She too is a Harry Potter nut.

Now I have a four day weekend looming ahead of me. Touristy stuff must be done, shall be done. But for the rest of the evening, I foresee relaxation. Today's lesson: even if you make a fool out of yourself, it won't be as bad as you think. Ciao.