Sunday, 15 July 2007
Class Trip to the British Library
Thursday, July 12, was a terrific day because our class had a fantastic guided tour of the British Library! (The photo at left shows several of my classmates in the lobby on a unique bench that is a sculpture of a book!) We divided into two groups and my group's guide was a darling young German woman who has worked at the library for a year. (Her English was superb. Just one time she couldn't remember the verb ''comply,'' as in ''to comply with copyright''!) She explained the magnificant building officially opened in 1998. (The library is located next to St. Pancras Station, which peeks out from the upper right of the photo with me in front of the library.) It is one of the ''world's greatest libraries ... along with the U.S. Library of Congress, the National Library in Paris, and the State Library in Moscow.'' The library collection has more than 200 million items (the LOC has 250 million) and it exists for ''everyone who wants to do research -- for academic, personal, or commercial purposes.'' Registering for a Reader Pass gives free access to the 11 Reading Rooms.
WIDE RANGE OF AMAZING EXHIBITS
Our guide wanted us to see the Foyle Visitor and Learning Center inside the new Centre for Conservation, which opened in May. But unfortunately, it was closed for ''installations'' on Thursday. We did get to tour Sir John Ritblat Gallery's ''Treasures of the British Library.'' It has the incredible ''Turning the Pages'' interactive display system developed by the library and Microsoft. By just touching the screen, you can virtually turn the pages of 15 important and treasured books, including the original Alice in Wonderland and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci! And of course our German guide made a point of showing us the library's copy of The Gutenberg Bible.
I made a beeline for the permanent philatelic section downstairs. As all my longtime Kiwi friends know, I particuarly enjoy New Zealand stamps. (Alas, I don't get too many anymore because of email!) The Pearson Gallery features temporary exhibitions and it currently has ''Sacred: Discover What We Share.'' (''The world's greatest collection of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy books.) I loved seeing a piece of the Dead Sea Scroll, which apparently is the first time it has been exhibited in the United Kingdom.
WIDE RANGE OF AMAZING EXHIBITS
Our guide wanted us to see the Foyle Visitor and Learning Center inside the new Centre for Conservation, which opened in May. But unfortunately, it was closed for ''installations'' on Thursday. We did get to tour Sir John Ritblat Gallery's ''Treasures of the British Library.'' It has the incredible ''Turning the Pages'' interactive display system developed by the library and Microsoft. By just touching the screen, you can virtually turn the pages of 15 important and treasured books, including the original Alice in Wonderland and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci! And of course our German guide made a point of showing us the library's copy of The Gutenberg Bible.
I made a beeline for the permanent philatelic section downstairs. As all my longtime Kiwi friends know, I particuarly enjoy New Zealand stamps. (Alas, I don't get too many anymore because of email!) The Pearson Gallery features temporary exhibitions and it currently has ''Sacred: Discover What We Share.'' (''The world's greatest collection of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy books.) I loved seeing a piece of the Dead Sea Scroll, which apparently is the first time it has been exhibited in the United Kingdom.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Another London Alive! on Wednesday, July 11
LONDON DEAD AND ALIVE
Wednesday afternoon's agenda was to pick another London Alive! program, and I chose Dr. Andy Wiest's ''Death and and Mayhem in Westminster.'' It featured a walking tour around Southwark, Westminster, the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, the Royal Horse Guards, St. James's Park, and Trafalgar Square.
We were regaled with stirring and/or sordid stories behind many of the statues, monuments, and buildings, such as one of my favorites -- the bronze statue, above right, of Queen Boudica (formerly known as Boadicea) by Westminster Bridge and Parliament. We also discovered this amazing ''tribute,'' above left, to the Tour de France in St. James's Park!
LITTLE BIT OF LINNAEUS
(The morning of Wednesday, July 11, had been set aside for research time, and I am getting background information on my main project, which is the Linnean Society Library. I plan to visit the library next week in Burlington House in Piccadilly. This is an exciting time for Linnean fans like me, because his 300th birthday was celebrated around the world this past May 23. Starting last Sunday, and continuing through September, a man dresses as the character of Carl von Linnaeus every weekend at the Natural History Museum. I hope to see him this Saturday!)
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Tuesday Trip to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon
A TASTE OF OXFORD
On Tuesday, July 10 (sorry to miss your birthday, Norm!) our class and the undergraduate theater class boarded a fancy motor coach a little after 7 a.m. and traveled to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. We just had a few hours in Oxford but I am so happy to finally be able to say I have been to the City of Dreaming Spires! Yeah!!!! (Luckily, our class is going there again next week to have a tour of the Bodleian Library.)
Several of the ''mature'' students -- Nancy, Edie, Mary, Kathy, and I -- had tea and scones at the Oxford Buttery and then walked around. Next week, I want to check out The Museum of the History of Science and also the Ashmolean Museum, with an exhibit on ''Britain at the Beach.'' We spent quite a bit of time in Blackwell's bookshop, which opened in 1879 and is Oxford's biggest. (Edie and Kathy are shown in the photo above on Broad Street in front of the bookshop.)
BUSY TIME IN STRATFORD
Tuesday afternoon and evening, we had a jam-packed itinerary in Stratford-upon-Avon. I hadn't been there since I was 18 and went on a University of New Hampshire trip to England during the month of January 1975. (Uh-oh, now I have dated myself that I am eligible to join AARP!) Things are quite different compared to the '70s when you could drive right up to the front of Shakespeare's Birthplace. Now the road is a wonderful pedestrian zone, or as I like to say, a ''walking street.''
Our same group of ''mature'' students had a triple-bill ticket to see Shakespeare's Birthplace, New Place/Nash's House (''where the Shakespeare story ended''), and Hall's Croft (the home of Shakespeare's daughter, Susanna, and her husband, Dr. John Hall). The non-profit Shakespeare Birthplace Trust operates the properties. We also toured Holy Trinity Church to see the graves of Shakespeare and family members. It is also a charitable trust. (The photo top right shows my classmates on the ''new walking street'' in front of Shakespeare's Birthplace.)
A VERY SPECIAL LIBRARY
Best of all, the five of us had the good fortune of going to The Shakespeare Centre Library, which is near the Visitor Centre and Shakespeare's Birthplace. It is operated by the non-profit Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. We were treated so kindly by an assistant and also by head librarian Sylvia Morris. They explained that the Reading Room is open to the public but the collections are in strong rooms in the basement. According to a library handout, ''the Royal Shakespeare Company's production and administrative archives form a major part'' of the collection. Appointments can be made to have a tour of the collections. We all picked up several pamphlets detailing how to use the library in person or online. (I took the photo top left of the library's Reading Room.)
DINNER AT THE DIRTY DUCK
Well, we almost didn't find the legendary Dirty Duck pub and restaurant, which had been recommended to us by Prof. Welsh and Miss Wright, and is conveniently located across the street from the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre. Why the trouble? Because its original name, The Black Swan, was on the side of the sign facing us as we walked by!!! (The other side says Dirty Duck.) Once we were finally ensconced inside, we had a nice meal and good time continuing to get to know one another better.
MURDEROUS MACBETH
Wow! What a powerfully memorable production of Macbeth we EXPERIENCED at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre!!!!! It is directed by Conall Morrison and I am relieved that as I entered the theater, I saw warning signs saying: ''Please note this production of Macbeth contains some graphic scenes of a violent and sexual nature.'' That gave me a clue that it would be an unusually visceral interpretation of Macbeth -- and it was!!
On Tuesday, July 10 (sorry to miss your birthday, Norm!) our class and the undergraduate theater class boarded a fancy motor coach a little after 7 a.m. and traveled to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. We just had a few hours in Oxford but I am so happy to finally be able to say I have been to the City of Dreaming Spires! Yeah!!!! (Luckily, our class is going there again next week to have a tour of the Bodleian Library.)
Several of the ''mature'' students -- Nancy, Edie, Mary, Kathy, and I -- had tea and scones at the Oxford Buttery and then walked around. Next week, I want to check out The Museum of the History of Science and also the Ashmolean Museum, with an exhibit on ''Britain at the Beach.'' We spent quite a bit of time in Blackwell's bookshop, which opened in 1879 and is Oxford's biggest. (Edie and Kathy are shown in the photo above on Broad Street in front of the bookshop.)
BUSY TIME IN STRATFORD
Tuesday afternoon and evening, we had a jam-packed itinerary in Stratford-upon-Avon. I hadn't been there since I was 18 and went on a University of New Hampshire trip to England during the month of January 1975. (Uh-oh, now I have dated myself that I am eligible to join AARP!) Things are quite different compared to the '70s when you could drive right up to the front of Shakespeare's Birthplace. Now the road is a wonderful pedestrian zone, or as I like to say, a ''walking street.''
Our same group of ''mature'' students had a triple-bill ticket to see Shakespeare's Birthplace, New Place/Nash's House (''where the Shakespeare story ended''), and Hall's Croft (the home of Shakespeare's daughter, Susanna, and her husband, Dr. John Hall). The non-profit Shakespeare Birthplace Trust operates the properties. We also toured Holy Trinity Church to see the graves of Shakespeare and family members. It is also a charitable trust. (The photo top right shows my classmates on the ''new walking street'' in front of Shakespeare's Birthplace.)
A VERY SPECIAL LIBRARY
Best of all, the five of us had the good fortune of going to The Shakespeare Centre Library, which is near the Visitor Centre and Shakespeare's Birthplace. It is operated by the non-profit Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. We were treated so kindly by an assistant and also by head librarian Sylvia Morris. They explained that the Reading Room is open to the public but the collections are in strong rooms in the basement. According to a library handout, ''the Royal Shakespeare Company's production and administrative archives form a major part'' of the collection. Appointments can be made to have a tour of the collections. We all picked up several pamphlets detailing how to use the library in person or online. (I took the photo top left of the library's Reading Room.)
DINNER AT THE DIRTY DUCK
Well, we almost didn't find the legendary Dirty Duck pub and restaurant, which had been recommended to us by Prof. Welsh and Miss Wright, and is conveniently located across the street from the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre. Why the trouble? Because its original name, The Black Swan, was on the side of the sign facing us as we walked by!!! (The other side says Dirty Duck.) Once we were finally ensconced inside, we had a nice meal and good time continuing to get to know one another better.
MURDEROUS MACBETH
Wow! What a powerfully memorable production of Macbeth we EXPERIENCED at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre!!!!! It is directed by Conall Morrison and I am relieved that as I entered the theater, I saw warning signs saying: ''Please note this production of Macbeth contains some graphic scenes of a violent and sexual nature.'' That gave me a clue that it would be an unusually visceral interpretation of Macbeth -- and it was!!
Monday, 9 July 2007
Academics and London Alive!
This morning we had a class meeting to go over the itinerary. Best of all, I started this blog!
Then I took part in London Alive! during the afternoon, which are a series of professor-led trips around London for the entire group. I joined the group that took a breath-taking boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich. We didn't have time to stay long in Greenwich, however, because we had to get back (by train and tube) for our King's College welcoming dinner. (Fortunately, our class will be going to Greenwich again for an entire day.)
The welcoming dinner took place in the overwhelmingly beautiful King's College Chapel at the Strand. Several colleagues noted that the Rev. Ditchfield reminds them of Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series! (The photo above shows colleague Mike Key and me in our dorm courtyard before the welcoming dinner.)
Then I took part in London Alive! during the afternoon, which are a series of professor-led trips around London for the entire group. I joined the group that took a breath-taking boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich. We didn't have time to stay long in Greenwich, however, because we had to get back (by train and tube) for our King's College welcoming dinner. (Fortunately, our class will be going to Greenwich again for an entire day.)
The welcoming dinner took place in the overwhelmingly beautiful King's College Chapel at the Strand. Several colleagues noted that the Rev. Ditchfield reminds them of Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series! (The photo above shows colleague Mike Key and me in our dorm courtyard before the welcoming dinner.)
What a Weekend!
SUNDAY IN THE CITY
Spectators were lined up on Waterloo Bridge waiting for the Tour de France as I and dozens of the 200 students in the entire program walked with several professors to St. Paul's Cathedral for the morning service. It featured St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and the City of London Sinfonia, celebrating the centenary of the birth of organist-composer Jean Langlais. Afterward, I walked with a few other grad students through the empty City (financial section) to the impressive Guildhall. (This photo shows me in front of the Guildhall.)
We had a big-group orientation on Sunday afternoon until about 5 p.m. I then fast-walked to the Imperial War Museum and had nearly an hour to see exhibits. After that, I took the tube to Sloane Square and walked down the King's Road to Oakley Street, then along the Thames all the way back to Waterloo, which took nearly five hours! (I paid for that little adventure with a few blisters -- but apparently I am not alone!)
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS -- 07/07/07!!!
Great to arrive in surprisingly sunny London and feel the excitement of so many things happening -- Wimbledon finals, the start of the Tour de France (for the first time in London!), and a Live Earth concert. The dorms and computer lab at King's College Waterloo campus are perfectly suitable for our needs. Professors Dr. Teresa Welsh and Miss Melissa Wright, and my 16 graduate student colleagues and I went for a late afternoon orientation walk around our neighborhood (the South Bank). Then Nancy, Mike, and I walked on to the Globe Theatre, London Bridge, and London Bridge tube.
LONDON CALLING!
The start of the London Libby adventure! On Friday, July 6, 2007, I flew from Fort Myers, Florida, to Newark, and then to Heathrow overnight. I actually slept a little bit on the plane, which is most amazing for me! (Many of the passengers were students on this University of Southern Mississippi British Studies Summer Program.)
Spectators were lined up on Waterloo Bridge waiting for the Tour de France as I and dozens of the 200 students in the entire program walked with several professors to St. Paul's Cathedral for the morning service. It featured St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and the City of London Sinfonia, celebrating the centenary of the birth of organist-composer Jean Langlais. Afterward, I walked with a few other grad students through the empty City (financial section) to the impressive Guildhall. (This photo shows me in front of the Guildhall.)
We had a big-group orientation on Sunday afternoon until about 5 p.m. I then fast-walked to the Imperial War Museum and had nearly an hour to see exhibits. After that, I took the tube to Sloane Square and walked down the King's Road to Oakley Street, then along the Thames all the way back to Waterloo, which took nearly five hours! (I paid for that little adventure with a few blisters -- but apparently I am not alone!)
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS -- 07/07/07!!!
Great to arrive in surprisingly sunny London and feel the excitement of so many things happening -- Wimbledon finals, the start of the Tour de France (for the first time in London!), and a Live Earth concert. The dorms and computer lab at King's College Waterloo campus are perfectly suitable for our needs. Professors Dr. Teresa Welsh and Miss Melissa Wright, and my 16 graduate student colleagues and I went for a late afternoon orientation walk around our neighborhood (the South Bank). Then Nancy, Mike, and I walked on to the Globe Theatre, London Bridge, and London Bridge tube.
LONDON CALLING!
The start of the London Libby adventure! On Friday, July 6, 2007, I flew from Fort Myers, Florida, to Newark, and then to Heathrow overnight. I actually slept a little bit on the plane, which is most amazing for me! (Many of the passengers were students on this University of Southern Mississippi British Studies Summer Program.)
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