A Nerd in London

   Reading an article on Literary Hub almost made me feel homesick for a place I've never seen before, namely Lisbon. (https://lithub.com/wandering-through-literary-lisbon-in-search-of-pessoas-disquiet/). Still, I cannot write about a place that I've barely read about and have never visited. With that in mind, I will write about a place I (platonically) fell in love with, London. I'm in awe of everything even remotely related to it, from the weather and the clean roads to its quite polite people. It is expensive from every point of view, but it is worth it. (Note: Some words here are taken directly from the short journal entries I've written during that week.)

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   I thought the first day would be chaotic, but I forgot I was dealing with the British organisation. Speaking of British, the museum of the same name had a horrifyingly long queue. It was one of the main attractions that I unfortunately missed. So I spent most of the afternoon wandering through the Russel Square Park, wondering if London might overthrow Brussels on my list of favourite capitals. The neighbourhood was quiet enough to make an introvert happy, but fortunately not quite enough to drive me insane. Everything moved at a slower pace, as though the verb “to rush” didn't exist for them. Through this and the fact that the English don't seem to have the habit of talking to strangers, I felt less exhausted than when in Rome or Athens. 

   Quickly, I got used to the very organised London Underground. Still, that doesn't mean I wasn't on edge. Nothing gets me more nervous than meeting the people I admire, albeit in wax form. At Madame Tussaud's, I felt as if I was stared at by people ranging from Barack Obama to Benedict Cumberbatch. Afterwards came the small Sherlock Holmes Museum, on 221B Baker Street. I encountered Moriarty, The Man With the Twisted Lip, and even the only person that outwitted Holmes, Irene Adler. I nearly saw myself sitting on the famous interrogation armchair, though not as a client. Likewise, I guess one needs to be both the king of swords and of cups in order to be a detective. Afterwards, the day ended with a vegan ramen (Kare Burosu Ramen) at Wagamama, where I met and talked extensively with a relative.

   The third day started and ended in a bus. The first stop was Westminster Abbey, where I was in awe of rich art and history.  Even though I lean towards atheism and am rather apathetic towards the monarchy, I couldn't help but marvel (bitter-sweet) at the centuries of hard work that led to its construction. The gothic architecture truly shines through its stained-glass windows. Then, after a long walk in Trafalgar Square and a visit to The Household Cavalry Museum, followed the lunch in Whitehall. The pulled mushroom, vegan chilli at Silver Cross left me drinking loads of lemonade and wondering if I would survive travelling to Mexico. Afterwards, I almost got lost trying to find the Fopp record shop. Once there, I bought three albums for three friends: Arctic Monkeys' "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" for a friend with a music taste as diverse as mine, Bring Me the Horizon's "Post Human: Survival Horror" for a (fellow) Linkin Park fan, and Deftones' "White Pony" for the eternal alternative admirer in the group. The afternoon was spent entirely in a double decker, learning the history from above. 

  Enormous as London is, it's rather hard to get lost. If you pay attention to the underground lines, you'll reach your destination in the blink of an eye. At least, that's how I got from Russel Square to the Tower Hill. From the bridge, the tower itself and crown jewels to the exhibition of medieval armours and weaponry and the museum of medals, the experience crowned the enchantment of the day. After a lunch at Itsu, a visit at the HMS Belfast followed. It was an intriguing experience to see the machinery that led Britannia to rule the waves. On the way back, I stopped at the Paddington station to see and take pictures of the famous bear.

   Friday was one hell of a way to spend my coming-of-age birthday since I visited four attractions. The natural history museum had an impressive collection that obviously makes every nerd happy. I haven't seen the Smithsonian (yet), but I would bet this one is its European equivalent. Then came the Royal Albert Hall, which I still cannot believe I visited. The place has such an intriguing history, both in terms of the building itself and the events that take place inside. Speaking of which, the tour took place during the rehearsals of the BBC Proms. In the auditorium, I was so engrossed in the music of that Manchester group that I almost didn't hear the cue of our friendly guide, Eve, to leave the place. I can only imagine what it is like to be there when some of the greatest names in the industry perform. After lunch, the Globe Theatre and Shakespeare's entrepreneurship surprised me in the best way possible. Yet another friendly guide, Katie, walked the group through the unique world of the place. Once again, it was during the rehearsals for the play "As You Like It", which got us a glimpse of the nuts and bolts of the theatre. When that ended, I crossed the nearby bridge and marvelled at St. Paul's Cathedral. In the end, it is needless to say that I slept soundly that night.

  Saturday morning was spent seeing roughly a quarter of the giant Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. The Japanese Garden, the glasshouses, the cacti, and the tropical trees only complete the landscape. I tried to take a picture of a bumblebee but failed miserably. After lunch, I read "The Chess Players" by Ricardo Reis before starting the hunt for souvenirs. I bought teas and teacups, magnets, and rubber bracelets for relatives and acquaintances. A cup of tea at Pret a Manger made all the senseless running worth it. The evening was spent planning the final day and getting the clothes ready to be packed.

   The last day was spent inside the Queen's Galleries. That's where I learned a lot about the art and fashion of the regency era. English portraiture was becoming less formal and more casual. Most people dressed the same, regardless of their social status or income. A way to distinguish the noble was to look for awards or expensive fabrics. In addition the knowledge provided, this collection reminded me that art can also be about symbolism and the story of the masterpiece. It's neither posh nor arrogant to enjoy it, as I used to believe. On my way back, I caught a glimpse of the guard change ritual. Again, my apathy towards both the monarchy and the pompous showed itself in my disinterested figure. Once at the hotel, the rest of that lovely Sunday was spent packing for the day of departure. 

   That one was chaotic. I missed the flight in morning, had to buy a new ticket and had to wait until 19.00 for the departure. In addition to that, the road from Bucharest to Craiova was quite tiring. Basically, I slept about 3 hours and when I tried to go back to it, I couldn't because of the bloody heat. 

   All in all, did London surpass Brussels? Definitely, I think it's head and shoulders above it. I love everything about this town and I might as well return either here or to yet another British city. Anyway, I'm going to wrap it up here with the sonnet I promised. Now, back to the tea! 🍵

Rhetoric

A knot in the throat blocks one's though;

A tongue that bleeds will not be in favour

Of the words that to exist had fought.

But it's all too much of a labour

 

For a mind that always sought 

To savour the winter's flavour

As tranquility it has not 

And disquiet is its only saviour

Apollo's light hid Artemis' mystery;

"Just a cup of tea?" came the Socratic question.

But staring at his feet may only bring misery

And an anaesthetic sensation.

It was a demon he had to dance with

One for whom rejections or mistakes were a mere myth.