Olympic Park and the Weather

This past weekend was another adventure in our new town.  We decided to go to see a movie (Ender's Game) so we traveled up north of where we live to the Stratford Picture House to see the movie.  If you have not seen it, it is a decent movie; the book is a very good read.  Next to the theater was not one, but two malls.  We went through one to buy some stamps to send letters back home. 

If you want a post card, e-mail us your address. 

The other mall was 3 floors of madness.  Lots of people and lots of shops.  We went into a cheap department store and Emily picked up some leggings because all the girls wear leggings (under skirts, under shorts, even just on their own!)

This large mall was built up because it was right next to the Olympic complex.  We walked down the road and saw some of the buildings where the 2012 Olympics took place.  See the pictures below.

 Olympic Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit.  This part of the park is under construction until April/May 2014.

 The indoor cycling track.  They have a wall built because they only have about 10% of the park open to the public while the rest is converted to public space by next summer.

Another view of Olympic stadium. 

On Sunday we got to talk to the Stover family (Jean, Jeff, Amanda, Britt, and even Grandma Stover).  It was nice to catch up with the whole family. 

Sunday evening into Monday morning was the big storm.  Although it did not affect us very much, we still saw what it did.  Fences and trees got knocked down and the Tube (subway) and trains were virtually shut down.  Emily had one class canceled because the speaker could not get to London. 

Monday's weather was crazy.  It rained before we woke up (it was a loud wind and rain so it woke us up).  By the time our alarm went off and we got out of bed it was sunny.  At about Noon it rained.  Then at 3pm it was sunny.  Again around 6pm it rained, and by 7pm I could see stars and clear sky.  All in a day in the weather of London.

Cardiff

When Brandon approached me a few weeks ago and said, "Would you like to go to Cardiff for an ethnomusicology conference?"  I said, "Yes, as long as we can go to the Dr. Who Experience!" So we planned a trip to Cardiff, Wales.

But let me backtrack, last weekend Brandon asked me if we could go to a geocaching event, and the way he talked me into that one was by telling me that the Tardis was nearby.  So...I've been a total Dr. Who fangirl this week!

The Tardis in London

 Back to Cardiff...we took the train from London Paddington (which is just about the complete opposite side of London from us and was an hour bus ride just to get to the station).  Upon arriving in Cardiff we took a few minutes to find our bus to get to our Air B&B homestay (Air B&B is a website where people rent out their extra rooms and apartments).  Once on the bus we had no idea what stop to get off, since the buses there do not announce where they are...so we went one stop to far and had to backtrack.  We did find the place, thankfully, and dropped off our bags to head to the Cardiff Bay. A spin-off show of Dr. Who, called Torchwood, is filmed in Cardiff and according to the show, the Torchwood headquarters is located at the Bay. So we were pleasantly surprised to find a Ianto Shrine and Memorial at the fictional location of the Torchwood visitor entrance. (Ianto is a well-loved character of the show...)

Entrance to Torchwood, where there is a Ianto Shrine and Memorial

 

The Millennium Centre at Cardiff Bay, a giant performing arts theatre

Following a short walk through the bay area we found the Dr. Who Experience!  The first part of the exhibit is an interactive walk through "experience" including video filmed by Matt Smith (the current Doctor) in which we helped free the doctor from a slew of his enemies (weeping angels and Daleks included).  The second part is a display of authentic costumes and props used in the show.

Costumes of the ninth and tenth doctors

In the Tardis of the ninth and tenth doctors

Evolution of the Dalek

Jack and Rose (she is still my favorite companion!)

Amy and Rory

 Following our Experience, we went on a nice walking tour of the Bay Area, which was provided free of charge by the Ethno conference.  We learned a lot about the rich coal history that made Cardiff the town it is today as well as we got to see where the Welsh government happens.  Wales is a part of the UK, but is allowed to make their own laws and have a governing body just like states in the US.

Cardiff Bay

The conference was the next day at Cardiff University.  Once again we were confused by the bus system and got off at the wrong stop, but eventually made it just in time for a cup of tea before the first session.  We attended many interesting (some boring) paper presentations on "Music in the Atlantic Rim," and ended the day at a dynamic performance by an African ballet and drum ensemble called Ballet Nimba.

The final day of our trip included exploring the city centre and Cardiff Castle (a fort built about 1050AD on top of a roman fort from about 50AD... you could still see some of the old Roman wall).  At this point we gave up on the bus system and just walked the whole day!

The following are all pictures from Cardiff Castle.

At the top of the Castle Keep looking out over the city

Our trip home was also interesting, our train was delayed by 30 minutes due to lightning striking some track signals in our path causing a back of trains ahead of us.  Thankfully it was only 30 minutes, because they were originally predicting two hours!  Back at Paddington station we once again had to take the hour long bus journey home.  As we walked outside we could see out bus coming so we literally ran waving our arms to catch it at the stop before it took off, only to get stuck in some construction traffic one block later...oh London bus routes!  But we are now home and have some wonderful memories of our first visit to Wales!

Hwyl am nawr!  (Welsh for "Bye for now!")

Borough Market, Tate Modern and The Rose Theatre

Brandon and I with St. Paul's Cathedral (to the right of B's ear) and the Thames

My last post was about our recent pub adventures, but do not worry we have not spend all of our time at the pub.  We spent this past Saturday in Bankside checking out the Borough market, which is an open air market where people sell cheese, meat, sweets, fruits, veggies and all kinds of international food. It happens every Friday and Saturday near the London Bridge station and it was really fun.  I hope to go back sometime with some shopping bags to get some tasty food to prepare at home!

Borough Market (I cannot take credit for this pic, just got it online...)

We also ventured into the Tate Modern, and Brandon and I both decided that modern art is just not our thing.  One of the "artworks" on display was literally a mirror attached to a piece of canvas...um yeah, I have one of those in my bathroom, how is this considered "art?"

Close to the Tate Modern is the Globe Theatre.  We did not venture in, or see a show, but it is on my list of things to eventually do!

Replica of the Globe Theatre

But I think the coolest part of our day was stumbling upon The Rose Theatre, who was having a free open day.  It was the first theater built south of the Thames in 1587, and it was one of the theaters Shakespeare used, as it was built a few years before the more well known Globe Theatre.  Pieces of the original structure were found and excavated in 1989, but then the dig was stopped because the exposure to sunlight and air was causing the wood pieces to crack and decay.  So they artificially buried it and basically just left it.  Fast forward to 2012, a group of volunteers began trying to raise money to re-open the dig site, preserve the original structure, re-build a replica and eventually re-open it as a theatre.  You can check out more info on this website: http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/ 
The history and story was really interesting and we hope to see their project succeed!

Also in this area is the Millennium Bridge - it's the one that gets destroyed by the Death Eaters in the Harry Potter movie...

St. Paul's and the Millennium Bridge

The New Cross House

We have been in London now for about three weeks and we are finding our way around quite well.  We have made several friends and classes are in full swing.

One recent phenomenon of our new life is how, at least three times a week, we end up going to the same pub...it's kinda like on How I Met Your Mother, or Friends when they are seen hanging out at the same bar/cafe every night and you wonder, "Who actually does that??"  Well we have become those people...and the pub is New Cross House, which is situated on the same block as Goldsmith's campus.  They have a nice little garden area in the back which we have been taking advantage of while the weather is still pleasant.  It is also known on campus as the "pub that you bring your parents to," while the pub across the street (The New Cross Inn) is the "get crazy and party pub" (which we have not ventured into yet...).  But I think the most interesting thing about this phenomenon is that we are not always with the same group of people.  Our first night on campus we went out with some Goldsmiths staff (including the campus vicar and one of the music lecturers), on my birthday with a group of friends, a few times with the Christian Union (yes even the Christians meet at the pub!) and once following our first day of Ethnomusiology class with other classmates.  It is just kinda the place to hang out if you are a postgrad student.  The best part is that someone usually offers to buy the group a round of drinks, then you all sit and chat the evening away, knowing that eventually you will offer a round of drinks as well.  Hopefully we will continue to make memories at the New Cross House throughout the year.

The New Cross House, with a Goldsmiths building in the background

 

 

Check back soon to hear about our recent weekend exploration of Central London!

School Has Started and our Flat

Last Saturday we went with our new friend Bre to Buckingham Palace since they are now closed (closed now until next summer to let the Queen get back to work). It was very lavish and grand.  Sorry we don't have any pictures, they were not allowed inside.  Instead you get a picture we took list time from the outside. 

School has started.  Emily has classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday while Brandon has classes on Tuesday and Thursday.  We are both involved in extra curricular ensembles which meet in the afternoons/evenings as well.  We are even taking a class together!  Contemporary Ethnomusicology

We have gone out and met some people from different majors and joined clubs such as the table top game club, the christian union, and the music society. 

Pictures of our flat are here!