Sightseeing and Enjoying Freedom

The past week went be very quickly but happened to be the first week that I was able to do some site seeing…

On Tuesday evening, Belton and I went to the last of four musicals that we had signed up to see… Jersey Boys!  While our colleagues could not stop raving about the show, we found it a little boring.  The music was spectacular with songs that we knew like Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Let’s Hang On, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.  However, the story was one that has been told many times before about the rise and fall of a musical sensation.  We walked out and immediately agreed that Legally Blonde was by far the best musical so far.

Thursday evening we tried out a wine bar in the back alley of a street near our work.  At first, I thought it was a little dodgy, but it soon filled up with soooo many people!  The wine was quite delicious and the bar itself was packed with people all ordering bottles and bottles of wine.  However, I was good, because one of my coworkers was planning on taking me to the Supper Club on Friday night.  On Friday, we stopped by at a neighborhood pub before going to Supper Club, and ordered some fantastic cocktails.  In the States we refer to cocktails as anything that isn’t beer or wine… However, cocktails are very fruity and are more of a work of art here.  The bartenders were making complicated drinks using at least 5 ingredients in each.  They would even take a straw and dip it in the drink to make sure that it was made right or start all over.  No wonder the price is astronomical!  Supper Club was fun and posh, but what I wouldn’t have given to hear some good ‘ole fashion bar songs instead of the constant thumping of House / Techno.

Saturday was very laid back, but Sunday I was determined to be productive and do a little London siteseeing.  I first went to church at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was absolutely beautiful!  There was even a choir made up of young boys from 6-10 years old, and then older men from 30 years old and above.  The young boys had voices of little angels that echoed in the glorious archways of the cathedral.  I then went to Buckingham Palace to do some sightseeing with Belton and his cousin.  At this point, Belton informed me that there was a US newsflash, warning all Americans traveling in Europe to avoid all tourist sites.  So as I am standing in front of Buckingham Palace, I am reading about the terrorist threat against Americans traveling in Europe… interesting… 

Sunday was the first day that I think I really understood the idea of ‘Terror’.   It is an interesting feeling when trying to decide whether to stay away from potential danger or to continue living your life as planned.  Even if you aren’t directly affected by some horrid attack, you still are affected just because it can cause you to live in fear and not enjoy your freedom.  Either way, terrorists win because your life is negatively affected by their actions or inactions.   For this reason, we continued our journey.  We kept ourselves on “orange” alert, and continued our sightseeing across London.  “As Canadians,” we then walked to Big Ben and Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, and the British National Gallery.  Needless to say, we returned home safely after enjoying a beautiful rainy day of sightseeing in London.