On Friday, we had a tour of the Globe Theater. It was one of the things that I had been looking most forward to and it didn’t disappoint me. The building is architecturally beautiful and the craftsmanship is just top notch. Walking into the space, it really did feel like walking back into time. We are in a very busy part of London but it was quiet and serene in the theater. The knowledgeable tour guide had a great sense of humor which made the very detailed tour a lot of fun.

We had some free time after the tour, so some of us went to the Tate Modern Gallery for lunch…nothing like just popping into a lovely museum for a warm meal. After walking down the Thames to the National Theater to buy a few souvenirs, we began a walking tour of London based on William Shakespeare’s London. What I enjoyed most about this tour was that at almost every stop we read a piece of one of the plays that was connected to what the tour guide had talked about. Nothing like reading some Shakespeare while walking around London!

After the tour, we, again, had free time on our hands. This is where I have to say I was almost proudest of the students. Each pairing set off in different directions to finish up what we wanted to do in London. Some saw family, some went shopping, some did more sightseeing. What really made me proud was that there was no fear in anyone. This same group of student who had come to London a week earlier a bit nervous and timid were zipping around on the Tube/Underground like they owned the place! What a difference a week made! We saw a production of The Tempest that night in the Globe. A very magical experience sitting outside watching amazing actors recite lovely lines of poetry! What was a lot of fun was watching the interaction between the actors and the Groundlings (the people who stood for 3 hours watching the play!). The actors not only talked to them but spit water over the crowd, fell into the crowd, moved through the crowd and basically made them part of the performance…very much like it would have been in Shakespeare’s day. One last night in London and we had to say goodbye to new friends and a city that we all enjoyed immensely! I am so happy that we all have shared this experience! To all of my fellow London travelers—until we meet again in this fair city and always remember to “mind the gap!”

For weeks I have been hearing the song “Good Life” on the radio, which starts off with the lyrics: “Woke up in London yesterday, found myself in the city near Piccidilly…”  Well, today that finally came true and I couldn’t be happier about it.  The day started off with a simple breakfast at the hotel, and off at 9 for a bus tour around London.  The day’s weather started off lovely, mild with blue skies.  We saw all the highlights you would expect to see in London: Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace (along with a changing of the guard) Tower of London, the list goes on and on.  After a lunch break near Coventry Gardens, we were off on our Charles Dickens walking tour.  The rain rolled in as the walking started, but it didn’t dampen the beauty of London’s historic buildings.  After a Fish & Chips dinner along the Themes River, we were able to disperse to spend the evening as we wished.

As for me, I am determined to enjoy every moment of London and absorb as much as I can.  London is everything I expected it to be, modern, internation and cosmopolitan, yet it still manages to surprise me.  It is like New York, if New York was clean everywhere.  London also isn’t a 24 hour city like I expected it to be.  The tubes stop running after midnight.  Also, I was surprised at the number of shops that were closed on Saturdays and Sundays, or had limited hours.

To me, our shared American/British history helps make London a very comfortable place to visit.  I don’t feel like a stranger in a strange land, I feel comfortable, even if things are a bit unfamiliar.  I know I have only been here a few days, but I already know I will be back after this trip is over.

Today begins our travels. There have been many texts, e-mails, phone calls from anxious students this week mostly about the unknown. “Where will I sit?”, “How will I know what to do?”, “Do I need this?”. I have answered each with a smile and patience….it is scary to do something you have never done before! Two of our members have never flown before—ever. Nothing like a long over-seas flight to get you started. I am excited to get going and hope that everyone is open to all the experiences waiting for us in London. The theater there is amazing and we are scheduled to see some really wonderful performances—one in the Globe theater which I am very excited about. My job is just beginning but I am really looking forward to sharing this experience with the students. Happy travels to all of us!