Side Effects

Autumn Explorations

2005-11-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Continuing to Explore London

A conversation needs to happen about European chocolate. It will be short. The Chocolate here is simply and absolutely amazing, necessary and addictive, and I even eat it on my toast.
Now that that's out of the way.

Yesterday was "Guy Fawkes day," also known as "Bonfire night" or simply the "5th of November," where the British basically celebrate that Parliament was not destroyed by the "gunpowder plot" in 1605. This was the 400th year anniversary, so as you can imagine it was quite the event. I watched fireworks set off simultaneously from two barges on either side of the Millennium bridge. Let me tell you, the British can do fireworks. With Big Ben in the background and the colored explosions of light reflecting off the River Thames it was an incredible experience. (Almost as good as the 4th of July)

Earlier that day I visited the Royal Academy of Arts and viewed the Edward Munch exhibition. He was the Norwegian artist who is most renowned for the art piece entitled "the scream." His artwork was incredibly detailed and depicted so many of his struggles through death and depression with great talent. Afterwards I felt a little like going home and crying, but I made it through and ate my brown sugar sandwich I packed with me.

I also visited the National Portrait Gallery for a current feature, "Self Portrait, Renaissance to Contemporary." It had 56 self portraits with the earliest dating back to the 15th century and then working its way up to 2005. Some of the artists featured were Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol. It was eerie almost to be staring and scrutinizing at some of these people's self- portraits, because they were so revealing. I actually did not spend as much time in there as I probably should have, but I did enjoy it and recognized the incredible talent and innovativity the artists possess/possessed to create such honest works.

Jamye and I pose outside of the Theatre

I am showing my support of the description of Stomp as "intoxicating."

After the portrait gallery I watched Stomp. Stomp is unlike the typical music as it does not contain any words. I had great seats and found the performance completely compelling and left the theatre wanting to create my own mini stomp with my flat mates. We could use the colanders and kitchen spoons. It's too bad I'm severely lacking in the rhythm compartment because I definitely have ideas.

Annie preforms laugh broadcast at the BBC tour center.

On Friday I toured the BBC with Annie and a large family from Ireland. I guess we figured that being journalism students it would be unacceptable to leave London without experiencing the legendary BBC. So we coughed up the 5 pound 50 and arrived via tube to White City. The building is quite ingeniously designed in the shape of a question mark. This allows access to all of the studios from one central area, and the original building was erected in 1962, although the BBC first began radio broadcasting in the 20's. Today the BBC is funded by money collected from the public having to mandatorily purchase a "television license" if they own a T.V. This money adds up to about 3 billion pounds a year or over 5 and 1/2 billion dollars.

Walking around amongst the business suit clad men and women with BBC badges inspired me to want to work in that large of a capacity of a newsroom. We did get a badge for our tour, and although I asked if I could keep it (I had hopes of wearing it while I practiced the weather in front of my mirror) but Simon (the tour guide) said for security purposes I did not have the option of keeping it. And that was that, bye-bye badge, bye-bye BBC.

On Thursday I experienced the amazing talent possessed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra within the confines of the Royal Albert Hall. The program was entitled "The Best of Broadway" and featured four singers along with the RPO who sang songs from "Les Miserables," "Phantom of the Opera," "High Society," "Cabaret," and "Mamma Mia," to name a few. We had terrible seats but moved down into two empty seats in the front at intermission and enjoyed the show immensely more. The crowd was so enjoying the show that at the end when the singers invited us to dance along, the pearl clad and suit cuffed patrons even shimmied along to "Dancing Queen."

Chrystal and I pose in the Royal Albert Hall with a massive organ in the back.

By the time I got home I was exhausted and had just changed into my P.J.'s and thought I would grab a drink from the kitchen. When I walked into the kitchen my floor rep. (Tim) and my friend Daisy were chatting by the sink. Tim had sliced himself quite badly with a meat knife so I went to the phone to call Chrystal and ask if she had any band aids.

When I was on the phone I hear Daisy shout in panic for me and I ran to the kitchen just in time to see Tim pass out in front of me.

Daisy suggested we put him in the "recovery position" as he was currently slumped by the sink. So I pulled him by his feet and we got him stretched out and he came to. I called security and they sent a woman who bandaged the cut and told Tim he needed stitches. So Daisy, Tim and I took a taxi to the Kingston hospital. My first experience with socialized health care. They took note of Tim's name and address and waited several moments while the computer froze before walking him to a consultation room (well, more like rectangular hole in the wall with a curtain) with Daisy and I trailing behind. Eventually he was moved to a proper room, and Daisy and I watched as he was stitched up by an attractive South African doctor. Bandages were given, and that was it.

Jamye and I on Halloween go see the "thrilling" musical, Blood Brothers.

On October 31st, there really weren't a lot of things going on to celebrate Halloween, unless I wanted to go to the school bop and get drunk. I didn't. really. So Jamye and I booked tickets for the musical "Blood Brothers," which is a very English musical about to Liverpudlian twin brothers separated at birth. The play was excellent and although I didn't come home from central London with pillow cases full of candy I was very satisfied by the wonderful production the actors put on. I highly recommend it, if you are in the area.

The Royal Guard band

Prior to Halloween I finally watched the Changing of the guards at the Buckingham palace. It was pretty interesting and one of those London musts. The best part was catching the royal guard band practicing before hand with the tunes of Indiana Jones and Star Wars.

The crowds dissipated and I walked along the banks of the nearby pond and as usual admired the vast number of water fowl. However, I was most facisnated by the large pelicans that were so very friendly.

If anyone can sucessfully ID that orange headed bird I would be thrilled.

Canadien Geese lovers

I promise I did not feed the pelicans, I was more worried about them feeding on me.

I also visited Canterbury Cathedral last Saturday and found it very interesting, but would not like to go there again.

In Canterbury near Norman Ruins

I cannot believe it's already November and my time here is drawing close to an end. I feel like there is still so much to discover. London continues to disappoint me with the weather as I read today that this is supposed to be the coldest winter ever. However, I was promptly informed that they say that every year when in fact it keeps getting warmer.

By the way: That street sign is a cruel joke, the beach is not close, at all.

I'm hoping for a little sunshine as this whole chocolate instead of sun is getting a little out of control.

Hearts,
Sierra

city benches

2005-10-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

If it was possible to converge multiple places into one perfect spot, the equation would be: the city of London + L.A.'s weather + Northern California's landscape. I believe that would almost be euphoria.

For now I will settle with London and its horrible rain that is pelting in through my window at the present moment almost in rhythm with ''strawberry fields.''

above is the view of a sunset from my window, and although the colors are great, I don't think any sunset here could match the colors of the sunsets when its been a particularly smoggy day in L.A.

Again, due to the weather, it takes extra energy to get moving here in the mornings so I have upped my coffee dosage and that's working for me.

So after two cups of coffee this morning I made it onto the 72 bus to Hammersmith Station where I got on the tube and navigated this map. I took the district line to Victoria, I got on the Victoria line there to the Oxford Circus underground where I switched to the Bakerloo line and arrived at my destination, Regent's park.

Not bad. (It's only be a little more than a month, you know.)

It was misting heavily when I came to the ground, but the wind was worse, so my umbrella was useless, as it were. However, I pulled on a hat and walked to the Frieze Art Festival in the park. Today was the last

day, and there wasn't that many people there, possibly due to the horrific weather. I enjoyed myself, despite. The work below reads ''your sucess is your amnesia.'' Take it or leave it. I'm not sure I would want it in my office, or flat for that matter. However, The sculptures were great and the park itself was quite amazing, very manicured and with lots of fountains and arches.

Recently I have also enjoyed the Saatchi gallery which I visited on the 15th along with the Tate Britain. Both amazing galleries which I hadn't previously been to. Although I have been to the Tate Britain since (guilty: a couple times.) These flowers were in front of the Tate Britain, and their colors were amazing, and I couldn't help but try to capture it on film.

Tate

Saatchi

Tate

I also saw ''Measure for Measure'' at the Globe Theatre, and one of the actors was Liam Brennan, a more renowned player, and so he obliged Annie and I with a photo. The play was incredible which made having to stand for the duration of the play (a little over 2 hours) definitely worth it.

On the 17th I saw ''Saturday Nite Fever'' the musical, and Jamye and I got front row seats for only 15 pounds. The show was very high energy and I definitley had some good tunes stuck in my head afterwards.

The scuplture below is from the Science Museum (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/) and contains a vast array of materials, including recycled coffee cups. hmm

Front. Back. respectively.

Still London has so much left to experience, I trotted around Wimbledon Thursday and explored Fulham and the Chelsea area on Friday. This is an amazing building I discovered. In my favorite color combination of course. I think I have fallen in love with London and its tepid urbaness inked on a rural landscape.

Keeping you posted

Hearts,
Sierra

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/

http://www.tate.org.uk/

http://www.friezeartfair.com/

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/

wow.

2005-10-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

I love London and traveling was amazing. There is so much that has happened, that basically that's all I can say to catch you up. I will try to make posts more regularly now that I've settled in a bit more. I don't have the internet in my room however, and that makes things a bit tricky. For now, here are a few photos.

<---Those are some of my flatmates. Amazing individuals. (From the end: myself, Daisy, Kaz, Sean and Kim.)

These are the lovely ladies I traveled through 5 countries with. From the left: Annie Burris, myself, Jamye Brown and Chrystal Browning.

We poked through these cities: London, England. Montpelier, France. Geneva, Switzerland. Bern, Switzerland. Zurich, Switzerland. Innsbruck, Austria. Venice, Italy. Florence, Italy. Pisa, Italy. Rome, Italy.

Pictures from the Travels can be seen here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=91oads6.68sp5a7m&x=0&y=9h94ri

Everyday I have been trying to explore a new section of London. Most recent was a trip to Camden town, specifically the Camden Lock Market. On the right is the Camden Lock on the River Thames and on the left is me in one of the many sketchy shoe shops. Note the Russian sales associate.

Hyde Park has become one of my favorite reading spots. It is a massive park that encompasses a huge lake which in turn encompasses a huge

population of marine life (read: Canadian geese.)

The geese are quite loud but they are becoming an ever needed white noise to accompany my reading.

Last weekend I toured Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath. Each place was stunning in its own concept and history.

Next weekend I am headed to Liverpool for the Beatles tour,

and I promise I will try to update more. =o)

Love you guys,

Sierra

you say goodbye

2005-09-03T02:48:00.000-07:00

So I'm leaving today, and feel like I have been packing for the past two weeks.

I've decided that packing is a gift and some people have it, and some, well, don't. I would be in the "don't" category. I have used all of my marvelous vacuum bags. I rolled jeans, and stuffed shirts and underwear into my shoes. I folded properly.
I still had to sit on my suitcases and precariously zip them while holding the far corner down with my foot. I don't think I could even try to fit one more thing in them, no matter how small.

All I can hope is that I got in what I really need and didn't leave anything important out. Like my retainers.

So here I go; baggage in tow.