Inside the Globe Theatre. This is where I watched "Romeo and Juliet". I actually stood close to the corner at the far end of the stage in this picture.
The stage at the Globe. They were taking down the "Romeo and Juliet" stage set to prepare for "As You Like It".
Some of the costumes used in productions in the Globe's museum.
We all have a little Shakespeare in us:
"On Quoting Shakespeare
If you cannot understand my argument, and declare ``It's Greek to me'', you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger; if your wish is farther to the thought; if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise -why, be that as it may, the more fool you , for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! O Lord! Tut tut! For goodness' sake! What the dickens! But me no buts! - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare.
Bernard Levin "
The costume worn in The Globe's production of "Hamlet".
"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances..." quote from "As You Like It."
One of the posters for "Romeo and Juliet".
The Globe Theatre, and our tour guide; Sean. He broke out into song and dance after this picture was taken. Yes, I got it on video. It is at the end of this post.
A cute little restaurant.
This is where they used to chain a bear up to a stake and have a pack of dogs attack it and place bets on who would win the fight. The queen would often go watch this barbaric "sport". I will spare you all the gruesome details about the sport, but hence the "Bear Gardens" street name.
A wall with pictures of some of Shakespeare's characters portrayed on it.
The site of the Rose Theatre. They filmed parts of the movie "Shakespeare In Love" here. It's one of my favorite movies so I was very excited. :)
The original site of The Globe Theatre before it burned down due to a cannon being fired during one of the plays and catching the thatched roof on fire. This was the same year Shakespeare retired.
The slightly disturbing soft serve ice cream trucks.
The Anchor. This is one of the oldest pubs in England and this area was one that Shakespeare would have known. This is also where the ending scene in one of the "Mission Impossible" movies was filmed. Tom Cruise has a drink in The Anchor.
Johnson's Tea House had something to do with the Webster Dictionary, but I forgot the significance.
This is where you were hung if you were convicted of a crime or if you were a prostitute of an unruly woman toward your husband. Haha.
A replica of the Golden Hinde ship. You can have kids birthday parties on here.
The cathedral where Shakespeare's brother Edmund is buried.
A sign in one of the marketplaces in London. The market was used to shoot scenes from movies like "Bridget Jones' Diary" and the third Harry Potter.
Some of the cooler parts of London that I hadn't gotten to see until this walk.
The George, another one of the oldest pubs in London. This is an area Shakespeare would have known as well as Jane Austen. She has this particular spot described in one of her novels.
This is another view of the cathedral where Edmund Shakespeare is buried.
It just wouldn't be England without one of these.
The London Dungeon. I'm not sure what this is, but it's somewhere in Jack the Ripper territory I think.
Saint Olive on the side of a building. This also had nothing to do with Shakespeare, but I liked it.
The history of the London Bridge...before it fell down the first time.
The momument dedicated to the vitims and destruction caused by the London fires in 1666.
Parts of the original London Bridge are in Arizona after an American bought them and had all 200 tons shipped by boat to the United States. He recreated a bridge out of the stones, but the bridge ended up falling down as well. Hence to "London Bridge is Falling Down" song, and not Fergie's rendition, I mean the original. For those of you who don't know what Fergie song I am talking about (or who "Fergie" is) you aren't missing out.
Some details on The Momument .
Our Shakespeare London Walks tour guide doing a song and dance about the weather. He was awesome.
Hi darlings-
This post, as so many before, had most of the information in the picture captions. I thoroughly enjoyed this walk through London. I got to see the small parts of London that the busy, posh area of Kensington can't provide. We got to see hidden pubs and alleys that are so rich with London history. The tour guide, as all have been, was very knowladgable and enthusiastic. The amount of information these London Walks tour guides have never ceases to amaze me. I wish I had enough time to sit down and have a cup of coffee with each of them. There stories are enthralling. I leave for a daytrip to Bath, England tomorrow morning and then I will most likely be attending a matinee showing of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" at the Open Air Theatre. I absolutely live and breath Shakespeare after taking my Shakespeare course here with Dr. Tucker. I feel like I have gained a lifetime of knowledge on his works and have found my thoughts coming in a very Shakespearean language/manner. Dr. Tucker has opend up another world with his incite into Shakespeare's words and the minute detail of meaning behind them. Anyone who is interested, I would be happy to sit down and have a long Shakespearean talk with you and share some of the vast amount of knowledge Dr. Tucker provided me with. It really brings Shakespeare's works to life in the most intriguing way.
On another note, I have already begun to get things ready for my departure back to the States. I got my departure documents under my door yesterday and have been filling out evaluations of the program as well as flight information forms. I will be flying out of London on Saturday, 27 June at 11:15 AM. I will fly into Dublin, Ireland and land at about 12:30 PM to meet up with my Grandpa Tom and cousin Brooke to begin a week long holiday in Ireland and on the Isle of Mann. I am immencely excited for some green Irish country side and firey Irish accents. I do miss home though and look forward to being back on American soil in 2 1/2 weeks.
I will leave you all with a Shakespeare sonnet (of course). It is "Sonnet No. 29" and one that I am trying to commit to memory to conjure up whenever I'm bored, stressed, prompted to recited random poetry, etc. We had a workshop in class today with British actress Jane Wymaker and she suggested we learn a poem and have one ready in our heads for any moment. This is a brilliant notion, and this is the one I am trying to commit to memory:
Sonnet No. 29
When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And troubled deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate:
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
I hope all is well at home and that everyone has a splendid weekend. I miss and love each of you.
Always,
Mattie.
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