London Day 6 - PICS

I attended a talk at the British Museum about African artists. This was one of my favorite pieces. It's called the tree of life, and is made entirely of recycled guns!


Part of the tree of life.


Another one of my favorite pieces. It looks like something terminator vs preditor-esce.


This is the first room that you walk into at the British Museum.


Notice the amazing roof. This is the reading room, where Karl Marx frequented.


This is a pic inside of the Museum Tavern, a place where Karl Marx used to drink. It's right across the street from the British Museum.


My roommate Erin. Museum Tavern.


Colleen and Drew, two of the more awesome students in my program @ Museum Tavern.


Portobello Market on a very rainy and overcast morning. It's a famous street market much like Pike Place Market. I took this picture just as we arrived early in the morning, but by the time we left it was really busy, you could barely walk, and the dangerous umbrellas made it even more difficult to maneuver through the people.


George Orwell's house on Portobello road. The blue one in the middle.


Yum.


My roommate Erin! We stopped for coffee at a quaint litte cafe on Portobello Road.


Tower Bridge.




Side view of the Tower of London. Original stark fortress built by William the Conqueror. Fuctioned as a fortress, a prison, a royal palace. Served as a place for torture and imprisionment. Currently the home of the crown jewels of the United Kingdom.


Walking into the one square mile known as London City. The museum of London is here.


In the late 2nd century the Romans built the London Wall to keep intruders out. Only a few pieces of the old wall remain. This is one found by the London Museum.


This blue building was constructed recently in London City. In London once a building is torn down, archaeologists have 1 year to dig. I guess archaeologists were so close to uncovering early pre-Roman occupation but day 365 came around and the evidence was covered up by this ugly blue building. Good job London.


Monument built in London city to commemorate the great London fire of 1666, where nearly four fifths of the city was destroyed. I wasn't able to get a close up but there is a gold flame on top. You can walk up to the top, but it's 311 steps - f that.


One of the sides of the monument. Three sides of the monument contain inscriptions in Latin. This side illustrated the actions taken by Charles II after the fire.


Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great.


Gorgeous baptismal with a hat.


This little plaque shows that the painting of Madonna and Child by distinguished Spanish artist Alfredo Roldan once hung here in the Sanctuary.




Another picture of the Sanctuary and the Lady Chapel. From 1539 until the late 1880's the chapel was secularised, being used as a house, a printing works, where Benjamin Franklin worked. There is a medieval crypt beneath the Chapel, but it wasn't open to the public.


Leading into the Lady Chapel and Sanctuary


Ancient organ


The floors are lined with tombs. The tomb belonging to the founder, Prior Rahere, lies North of the High Altar. I don't have a picture of that one specifically. The tomb of Sir Walter & Lady Mary Mildmay also lie here.


Another Sanctuary




Beautiful piece of Victorian architecture, one of the few that bitch Thatcher didn't tear down.


London is full of parks like this where you can go on your lunch break and unwind.




This is the end of week 1. It's been a long one. My day usually starts at 7 and doesn't stop until like 8pm. I could have gotten more pictures, because we saw a lot more than I am sharing here. But I wasn't able to carry my camera at all times. More to come!!