I arrived at Lilian Penson Hall on Sunday, an international graduate student dorm one block south of Paddington Station (where Mr. and Mrs. Brown found the Teddy from Darkest Peru with the Marmalade fetish) and two blocks north of Hyde Park. The accommodations are more ghetto than Jester (I know Travis, I didn’t think it was possible either), but it’s warm and ‘cheap’, which is more than you can hope for in London. The view is quite nice (above photo) and you can see one of the tiny community gardens that exist in between blocks. And check out the picture of Hyde Park below. It’s the biggest urban green space I’ve every seen, and I’m sure I’ll be enjoying a lot of quiet time there.
Monday we caught the tube to Barbican station, where Queen Mary’s Charterhouse Square campus can be found. You can see the guardhouse to my college below. Orientation lasted most of the day, with professors describing their course offerings and expectations for the term. I was hoping for a Professor Snape (I love that guy), but alas, everyone was extremely nice and accommodating. Shucks.
Today QM organized a coach trip to Windsor Castle outside of London, one of the official residences of the Queen. The royal standard wasn’t raised over the castle, so the Queen must have been elsewhere today. You can see some exterior shots below, but I’m afraid the ‘no photo’ policy was strictly enforced indoors. All over the castle, and St. George’s chapel, you’ll find emblems of the Order of the Garter, the oldest British Order of Chivalry, started by Edward III in 1348. The motto of this order is “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” The obscure phrase may mean “evil is as evil thinks” or perhaps “shame on him who thinks this evil” – whatever it means, I think we can all agree that grown men wearing diamond-encrusted garters is pretty silly.
St. George’s chapel is the final resting place of ten British monarchs, and home to some of the most amazing woodcarving I’ve ever seen. Henry VIII, husband to VI wives, was buried here with his second wife Anne Boleyn… wasn’t she executed by Henry for infidelity? I guess their daughter Elizabeth had something to do with the mutual interment. Classes don’t start until next week, so a group of us are planning a trip to Scotland. As usual, I’ll keep you posted. Peace out.
2 comments:
howdy Matt.
You are an excellent photographer, i would like to point that out. look forwards to pictures and stories fro' Scotland.
Peace.
Matt, your journal is great to read, especially at work, when I should be doing... work. Don't forget to check out the London curry houses, and bring me back a package of chicken tikka masala chips if you ever come across any :-)
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