Wednesday, May 15th: Westminster and The Globe

Hello lovely's! Today we had a wonderful day, exploring the finer sides of England. After a quick breakfast at Regent's College, we met Professor Wolfe at the Baker Street Tube Station and went on our merry way! 

The first thing we saw was the world famous Westminster Abbey. The Church was built by Edward the Confessor, and is home to many a fascinating sights. There is a giant crypt that holds the tomb of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as well as many other members of the royal family. The Church was also recently the house of the wedding of Kate Middelton and Prince William. Walking through the Abbey, you can easily get a feeling for how important the place to British history. At every turn, and almost every step, there was a grave or dedication to an important person in history. While the Abbey automatically demanded quiet and respect due to its status as a church, it also left its vistors with a sense of quiet awe due to its dramatic architecture and stone carvings. (Sadly, no photos were allowed inside, so enjoy these lovely exterior shots!)

After we saw the Westminster Abbey, we took a tube to the Globe Theater! After a quick lunch, we got the chance to walk through the Museum and see the Shakespeare play The Tempest. The Globe Theater was originally built by William  Shakespeare's company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men,  in the 1500's, but unfortunately the theater burnt down only fourteen years after its opening. For hundreds of years, only a small plaque marked the place where the globe stood, until 1997, when a new Globe Theater was constructed, thanks to an American by the name of Sam Wanamaker. The Museum connected to the Globe Theater helps to celebrate the history of the Globe, as well as many other awesome aspects of the shows performed at the Globe. In the museum, we got to see the costumes, as well as different photos of all of the plays preformed at the globe. Seeing the museum exhibit before watching the play The Tempest all helped the class gain a new appreciation for the play, and the hard work and effort that was put into the performance.

We could feel the excitement in the air as we took our seats to watch The Tempest. The theater was packed and sitting among fellow Shakespeare enthusiasts, we could hardly wait to see the play. It was excellent, the standout actors being Colin Morgan (Ariel) and Jessie Buckley (Miranda). The costumes in the play were absolutely beautiful, and the special effects stunning. The play ran for about three hours, but there was nary a moment that left the audience anything less then enthralled. Seeing The Tempest at the Globe Theater was one of the best experiences for the class, as it gave us the perfect chance to see culture play out before our eyes.

After watching The Tempest, the class made one last stop before heading back to Regent's College. We took a tube to the Covent Gardens, a massive outdoor market place. After exploring the market place for a little while, the class sat down for a beautiful pizza dinner. It was a perfect way to end our jam packed and culturally beautiful day!

Top Sights (Click for More Info!)

1. Westminster Abbey

2. Globe Theater

3. The Tempest

4. Covent Gardens