Day 6 -- Day in London (3) (evening)

21 AUGUST | London: V&A Museum, Out-and-About


Well... today has been an interesting day. I'm on Nicole's laptop, downstairs, while she finishes things upstairs and the couple whose house this is are asleep. Here's a more detailed account of my day. :)

Left the house we're staying at around 2.00pm (didn't wake up until 11.00am--wonderful!); got coffee at Caffe Vergnano (again), and I think the barista was a little annoyed that I wanted take-away, but hey!, it's the whole day, I'm not going to not take my yummy coffee with me. :) Need to buy a can of beans for Stephen. Will go again on... *thinks*, Friday, when Nicole and I get back to London (for the day only, then off to Oxford on Saturday, then back to London for Sunday and the half of Monday that we're here). So yes. I know there was something coherent I wanted to say about the day.

*ponders*


Well, after that was a quick stop at the Internet Cafe (where I've made friends with the guy who works there, only because I smile and am nice and he's nice (but not my type), and sort of remembered me, maybe, from two days ago? either way, I was interested in buying stamps (even though they didn't have any at the time, so I think we bonded :D), near Gloucester Road stop (sw London) and I'd just gotten coffee at Leicester Square stop (central to ne London--and when I say "London", I mean "downtown/touristy/central London"), so it was a trek across town, but worth it because (1) I knew the internet cafe was clean/safe/friendly/good and (2) I knew where it was. :) Always helps! Then over a stop to South Kensington (where the V&A is near), to pop in to the V&A museum. And WHOA. So much stuff, I forgot how much stuff they have. I completely forgot it's separated by continent firstly and time period secondly. The current exhibit (or maybe it's the current "costume" exhibit, because it seems like that room always just has clothes) was New York Fashion, which was inside the main costume collection (okay, that's what it was, I remember now). And dude, did I take pictures! (I took pictures. *nods*) The only drawback is that most of them aren't with flash (flash ruins in my opinion), so Mum might not like it so much. But they're so much more artistic this way! :D Lovely, lovely collection. Popped out to the central garden (named after someone) with bamboo-pole-tent sculptures out on the green--got many pics of those too. Realized that they have a whole 'nuther museum for modern art just after I'd asked an attendant where the modern art was (the Tate Modern museum is superb for modern art), but he smiled and pointed me towards where the 'modern' era section was (third floor, right off the lift), so that was very interesting. Lots of furniture. ;) Wandered through the gift shop but it was closing right to when I would've figured out what I wanted to get people so I'll have to go back on Friday or Sunday. Sunday I'm doing a HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR!!! (Do I sound excited!) So yeah, I'll have to fit all this stuff in. Want to go to the Transportation Museum of London (north somewhere?), and buy pretty print posters -- sort of like the Train Museum in York, when I came to the UK last time, three yrs ago.

Well, it's been good so far. Mostly just walking and looking. I feel too touristy taking pictures with people about, but I might have to for-go the angst and do it on Sunday as that'll be the last real day to do it right. Monday will be too travel-y to be able to worry about ... taking pictures of 'touristy' things. Pretty architecture, funny signs, people walking, that sort of thing.

OOOO! Guess what I saw today while about to cross the street to the internet cafe?? Guess! I'll give you a hint, it was a special car... and it was a Volvo... and it's not in the states... it was a C30!! Didn't even know they had them here for real, I thought they were concept cars all over. It was awesome! I totally thought it was an S60 and then WHOA! it had no end! :D Just a hatch-back thing, with super-sleek modern lines. SOOOOO PRETTY! :D I wish I'd taken a picture. Goodness, of all the Volvos to see whilst I'm here (excepting a classic 240, which I haven't seen here yet, although London is a little too posh for those), it was the one when I didn't have my camera out! Hehe, oh well. ;) Maybe I'll see another.

Yesterday, when we were out with the girls, going around London, we ended the day in Harrod's, and leaving, I was waiting on the sidewalk by the building while the others finished, and all these cars were blocked in the road (small, between-building road), and drivers and the Harrod's gentleman at the door were directing traffic (all the cars were very expensive, very important peoples' cars, with drivers), I notice there's a new-looking (like recent year) Rolls Royce sitting right in front of the exit, driver sitting on the left side of the car (like in the States), and right before I'd come outside, several very expensive-looking women, all decked-out in jewelry/scarves, had just gone in. The license plate was in a foreign language, and we wondered if they weren't Egyptian royalty or something. Nicole mentioned that's very possible. Also, two Bentleys were hanging out by the curb too. You know, just chillin'. :D

That's not even the half of it, just the interesting parts, but I need to get off at the moment, so I'll have to post more later.

;)

Day 6 -- Day in London (3) (mid-day)

21 AUGUST | London: Internet Cafe, V&A Museum


Well, it's 15.48 here (3.48pm) and I've got to jet off to the V&A Museum in just a minute (have to find out where it is, too), so this is just a quick note to say hi.

Hope everyone is well! :)


I wrote up long 'posts' about the last two days--didn't stay in Bath, not so long story, but too long to explain here; Edinburgh tomorrow which I'm THRILLED about :D. I'm traveling around London today by myself (although it took me nearly an hour just to get into downtown and then across town by tube), so it'll be wonderful. I'm so excited about the V&A; they have one of THE coolest sculptures hanging in their foyer that I think I've ever seen (both in pictures and real-life). Blown-glass woven together -- just gorgeous. Also, lots of wonderful costumes, etc. to look at, and the gift shop! :)

Let me know if any not in my immediate family wants me to pick them up something while I'm here! (Just jot down a comment or two. :D)

Things have been a little emotionally taxing the last few days (mostly internal), but I love this city, even if I can only take it one day at a time, and enjoy just a small portion at that. V&A for today is perfect. Here, let me find the website... V&A Museum


Well, much love to you all -- will write again probably either tomorrow or Thursday (I know of an internet cafe in Cambridge, but not necessarily in Edinburgh so it might be until then. On Friday I'll bring my notebook and write up the other days' entries, how 'bout? :D)

Cheers!
~ Anne