An American in London

2 - 6 June

Well, it was amazing for Mick to come and visit me in London for a week. She's a great mate from uni in Japan and took great care of me when I was in the States, driving down from Chicago to Texas to pick me up and then I got to stay with her family in Michigan and at her place in Chicago for a week. When I left I wasnt sure when Id next see her again so stoked that she could come over on a whim between jobs and I could repay some of her kindness and show her around the city! Seeing as we only had enough time to drop off bags at home before leaving for Birmingham on Friday (and its light till about 10pm these days) we took the scenic walk through town past Buckingham Palace on they way home on Saturday night



















Sunday was absolutely gorgeous weather (it had been horrible for the whole previous week!). We started the day off with mass at St Paul's Cathedral - the choir boys were amazing!! and checked out the Gherkin (the Swiss Re Tower) in London's financial district, before crossing over the Thames to South Bank. We got wrangled into helping some Korean students with a psycology study of Eastern vs Western thinking (I dont think we fitted in with their stereotypical Western view...) And took a break to chill outside the Tate Modern to write postcards and shared a traditional roast for Sunday lunch followed by a stroll along the weird and wonderful South Bank. Did a few more of the major sights, attacked Big Ben and Westminster Abbey and wandered back along Enbankment and then back into town via The Strand and finishing up the afternoon with Covent Garden and an alcoholic mint and chocolate smoothie at TGI Fridays - we deserved it!










On Monday night after work we met up Juliette and went to watch "The Merchant of Venice" at no other than Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on South Bank. After a quick ice-cream by the river for dinner (once Mick figured out the crazy English monies) we headed into the theatre. For £5 you can get standing only tickets and be a groundling, and if you handle standing for 2.5 hours its definitely worth it!! The actors wandered through us to get to the stage and we were soo close to the action! The costumes were amazing and they did a brilliant job of this play, the second half was a bit easier to understand than the first (maybe just because we knew the characters more...) and the whole thing ended on a high with a big dance, it was amazing! Might be the best £5 Ive spent in London thus far - and thats a big call, Ive spent a lot of money here : P Check out http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/theatre/annualtheatreseason/themerchantofvenice/










Mick had never met Juliette before as they were both studying at Meigaku for a year but I was there for Mick's second semester and Juliette's first so it was great to all get together to appreciate Shakespeare. It meant I loved Shylock's quote even more. It outlines that the end of the day we are all human "I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means,warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" Its simple people : ) Shakespeare understood this back then and I cant believe the world is still struggling with this concept today!

The night view along the river after the play was beautiful and we couldnt resist taking another couple of pictures on the walk back to the tube - what a great way to spend a Monday eve!










On Wednesday I planned to take Mick to a Ceroc class but instead surprised her at the last minute with tickets to Lion King - also a treat for me! This is THE show that Ive wanted to see for ages (seeing as it never came to NZ and I was thinking about flying all the way to Aussie to see it so figure I had no excuse when its showing in London!) The show was amazing! You HAVE to see it! Our seats were right in the middle of the back row of the Lyceum Theatre which is huge but from that angle we looked down on the actors masks rather than straight at their faces so it was perfect. I had goose-bumps most of the way through, the play (compared to the movie) had a much more magical African feel to it with the colours and movements - simply amazing! There were some songs I didnt know (although I haven't seen the 2nd movie) but it was a great way to end Mick's stay in the UK - hope you had a great time babe, I loved having you here!

Anyone else who wants to visit feel free, Im around until September and would love to see you - its a lot of fun!