MY. FEET. HURT.

Wednesday
7/11/07

They are swollen and I which they were numb. Today no morning class - THANK YOU LORD! But I do have my afternoon class at the British Museum, yeah! (small yeah because the thought of being on my feet for 2 hours is as bad as going to the dentist but I’ve been wanting to go to the BM museum FOR-EVER! Double edged sword there.)

I spent the morning in bed with my feet up against the wall, praying they would be OK by the time I needed to leave. On today’s agenda, before the museum, I have to get campus to get my ID card made. Then from there it’s off to the British Museum.

I left at noon and took the bus to school. I just couldn’t face the tube, I’d have to go down several stairs and yeah, not going to happen. But is much easier. And much more scenic. I didn’t forgot my camera but taking pictures from the bus just seemed lazy. Another interesting aside, on the way to school right before getting to the beginning of Regency park there is a bust of John F. Kennedy, I still don’t know why it’s there. Of course if I knew what the building was behind it i may have some answers, I’ll have to find out and take a picture of it.

At school, got my picture done, I should have it by Friday (yeah! I’ll get student discounts with it!) and now it’s time to walk to the British Museum, where’s a bus when I need it. Took me 40 minutes to get there. On the way there I took Wigmore, it was a straight shot. Once again beautiful buildings to look at during my walk, aching feet to take me through the middle of the city. I had planned to make my way down to Oxford, catch a bus to Bloomsbury, where the BM is located at and where there is a Virgin Megastore ( love Virgin), maybe get some DVD’s (watching the same 4 episodes of Will and Grace is getting a little boring) but that whole feet thing.

The British Museum



It is massive. On the way there I stopped to get a sandwich and since I actually go there 10 minutes early I took a seat on the steps to enjoy my lunch, it felt so good to sit and get off my feet. I loved sitting there and having a moment to people watch. Lots of kids and tour groups, the double decker buses chugging up and down the street outside the gate of the BM. Across the street the stately neo-classical style buildings. That’s when it kind of hits me. Even after the tortures of the previous day, my aching blistered feet, and being sweaty all the time (did I mention is was freaking hot!!!) I am in FREAKING LONDON! I’m going to the British Museum, I’ve been to the city of London, in St. Barts church( a church older than the USA) I’ll be going to St. Paul's and the Tower of London and the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert. And this weekend I’ll be going to Notting Hill and seeing Mr. Darcy in a play and did I mention Orlando Bloom is in town doing a play too!!!! And then there is the trips to Oxford and Statford on Avon, and Paris and Scotland and HARRY POTTER!!! How awesome is that!!!

I just need to get past the aches and pains and the slight homesickness ... then I can appreciate where I am at. I mean I am appreciating it, but I just feel like not enough. But next week will be better... it will. My aching feet will better, I’ll get use to walking in sweltering heat and I’ll remember to take lots of pictures.

Now back to the museum. They have a little bit of everything, the great room itself was not only massive but breathtaking. white and circular. We headed to the right to learn about the two of the main people we have to thank for the British Museum. I should know there names.. I have them in my notes but I’m too lazy to check right now. lol

Then we went on to my favorite part of the whole day, the Pantheon. They had original reliefs from the Pantheon,



aren’t they beautiful

And reliefs that I remember studying in Art History class, like these:



(goddess Pic on top)

I remember thinking to myself in class that I would so love to go to British Museum and see these reliefs for myself. And here I am!
They also have the Rosetta Stone (another piece I’ve always wanted to see first hand) on display but it had a crowd of people around it. Something to look forward to next time I visit the BM.

And that was the end of our class. Next on the agenda, my teacher reminds us, is the V&A, otherwise know as the Victoria and Albert Museum way across town near below Hyde Park.

After saying my goodbyes and see you tomorrow I decided to be adventurous and try to get down to New Oxford street to look for the Virgin Megastore.. I really need some new DVD’s. But on the way there, I get all turned around and get stuck in the same four streets near the BM. Bloomsbury Way, Bloomsbury Street, Southampton Row and Theobalds. What I didn’t realized is that Theobalds turns into Bloomsbury Way which then turns into New Oxford which finally turns into Oxford Street. Cheese and pie, is that complicated enough for you? And did I mention most of London streets are like this? No wonder there are over 77,000 streets in London (according to my teacher. So how did I finally figure this out? Well I asked someone and also purchase and A-Z (pronounced A to Zed) London book, a must for Londoners and crucial for all the rest of us who are lost and confused. I finally arrive at Virgin Megastore and spend a half hour in their sticky hot store and end up getting “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Ghostbusters” (first one), “Shakespeare in Love” (which I already have but I couldn’t resist it was only 2.99), and a double dvd with “Sideways” and “I (heart) Huckabees”, two movies I’ve never seen wanted to see but just never gotten. Plus Huckabees has Jude Law and he’s hot :) all movies where 3.99 or less, so I got a pretty good deal even with the exchange rate. Can’t wait to see them on my computer!

So the area I am in, just a little on that. I’m essentially in major shopping district area, just opposite side from where I was on Monday. Soho, Piccadilly Circle, Haymart, St. James Park, Vauxhall, Victoria and Covent Gardens are just to the south of where I am. All places I’ve read about in Regency’s and places I can’t wait to get to. Which will be next week. :)

For now I catch a buss on Tottenham Court back to Euston Station and home. I am beat! Tomorrow promises to be yet another fun filled day of London history. With more pictures too.