Blog Post 9: National Portrait Gallery, a Picture of Tragedy

When I visited the National Portrait Gallery in London, looking for an artwork to write about, nothing caught my eyes at first. While many of the paintings were very beautiful, and I could see their masterful creation, the nobles and knights just blended together as I walked through the museum. That was, until I walked …

Crown Jewels, Powerful Fools, & Chronicled Cruel(ties)

WOOHOO! LONDON!!!!!! YEEEESSES!Now that I’ve gotten the unprofessional, but justified, giddiness out of the way – Okay, yeah, London has been pretty rad.Over our first week in the city, we have trekked to many-an interesting spot, seeing an array of markets, theatres, and pieces of architecture and history. This culminated in our visit to a …

Ilaria’s Pub: Hamlet Hail to the Thief

Hamlet: All Hail to the King has easily become one of my favorite shows that I’ve seen on this trip. The tragic storytelling portrayed through contemporary dance set alongside the emotive music from the rock band, Radiohead’s 6th album was explosive. The complexities of the new King, Claudius’s corruption, Gertrude’s emotional entrapment, Ophelia’s despair, and …

Fantastic Food, Marvelous Markets (I told y’all I love alliteration)

The markets of London are like nothing I have ever encountered before. Within one square mile, there are more cultures represented than there are within 50 miles of my home town. From Egyptian jewelry, to Indian fashion, to Palestinian pottery, to Jamaican cuisine, one can find almost every sector of the world showcased in their …

Ilaria’s Pub: Westminster Abbey

Strolling through the gorgeous and historic church, Westminster abbey was a glorious sight to see. While making our way through the vast interior, I came across a few burials and monuments dedicated to people whom are worth writing and learning about. Between the graves of celebrated scientists, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, the ashes of …

Blog Post 8: Westminster Abbey, the Resting Place of Kings and Actors

Our visit to Westminster Abbey was fascinating. It would have been worth it just to see Britain’s oldest door, but the abbey held so much more. One of those things was the people, specifically the many historical figures interred in the abbey. I walked by the coffins of so many monarchs, but it wasn’t just …

Attempting To Eat Gluten Free in London (Spoiler Alert: My Tummy Hurts)

Listen up everybody. I LOVE FOOD. I LOVE TO EAT!!!!!! So, of course, one thing I started looking at when planning to go back to London was all the food I should eat at the markets we were going to visit. Unfortunately…I have gluten intolerance. And the Brits LOVE frying food (seriously, why is everything …