London

To London!

 

Benny boy

The classic trademarks - 

 

The markets, oh how I loved them.

Betcha can't guess this beauty?

A play was a must while in London so we treated our "student" selves to none other than...

You bet!

Love. Love. Loved.

 Buckingham Palace

 HYDE PARK

Bird Woman Kacey

Crumpets and Tea at Vanessa's!

In London we stayed with sweet Vanessa and her children. I've mentioned so many times how the people I've met along this journey are the ones that have made it possible and taught me about the kind of life I'd like to live. Vanessa and her family are prime example. They were beyond generous to give up their own bed & bedroom to house 3 travelers for 3 nights, unbelievably kind family. Thank you, thank you, thank you, you'll forever hold a spot in my heart. Lots of love!!!

Portobello Road 

(Never-ending market street featuring antiques/food/music/etc)

 

And finally one of my all time favorites of the trip, the

Tate Museum of Modern Art

This museum was unlike anything I've seen with so many varying forms of modern art within it's walls. One favorite, Light Music, by Lis Rhodes, was SO entertaining. Basically I got to play between two flashing lights that projected onto opposite walls creating all the viewers' shadows. Talk about live version of hand-shadow pac-man or sweet body contortions of statue poses. I could've been entertained for hours...

Check out the link to see more!

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern-tanks/display/lis-rhodes-light-music

A second favorite was a movement piece conducted by about 30 volunteers.

Yes, I'm going to copy and paste this description but only because - well I'm lazy. Here's a good summation.

 Tate Modern has unveiled the first live commission in The Unilever Series - These associations, created by Anglo-German artist Tino Sehgal. Tino Sehgal has risen to prominence for his innovative works which consist purely of live encounters between people, including work at the 2005 Venice Biennale and solo shows at the Guggenheim and London’s ICA. Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall is inhabited by an assembly of participants whose choreographed actions use movement, sound, and conversation. The Turbine Hall is occupied by the physical and vocal energy of the participants and visitors. 

Basically there was this big open room that seemed like it was just a transition room between different wings of the building BUT if you stuck around long enough to notice what was going on around, you noticed a little something extra. About 30 or so people were involved in a synchronized piece in which the moves changed at least every 10 minutes or so. The group went from walking extremely abnormally slow in one big mass from one end of the football field-sized room, then to walking in a circle, then to power walking from end to end etc. Throughout the minutes, occasional single persons would break off from the group and begin a story-telling to a group of viewers. We experienced this when a woman walked over and just began talking in what seemed like conversational form but she didn't really leave room for actual conversation. She told a story that displayed a time when she felt like she was the black sheep of the group (Without actually spelling it out so clearly). The viewers were the black sheep of the group in this exhibit, unaware of the exactly purpose and meaning of what the people were doing.

Bohemian Prague

The City of 1,000 Spires
September 17th-19th

September 18th, 2012

I know I'm always obsessed with each new city, but I'm really really obsessed here. There's this perfect vibe that I could soak up for days and days  - Bohemia. When we first got in last night & were walking through the streets to our hostel I felt like I was walking up to my orphanage in the movie "Annie" itself. The doors were huge, the streets dark, the huge cement buildings water-streaked, and our cold, bare hostel room couldn't have been any more fitting. I was entirely surprised with the scene by day - transformed into Renaissance/Bohemian central. I am loving the feel here and couldn't compare it to any city we've seen so far. I should probably go put on my hoop earrings, head wrap, leather bracelets and flowy earth-toned skirt to fit in. Shopping?

The Prague Astronomical Clock has been here since 1410 and still ticking! 

 

The street lamps were a huge addition to the bohemian style of the city. I loved these.

The beauties being beautiful in front of the Powder Gate

The view atop Charles Bridge

Looking toward the Prague Castle complex

And from atop the Prague Castle hill...

These colors were outstanding. Pictures do little justice to the red roofs and bright cyan/turquoise rounded cathedral tops

-Brand and Lauren met us as they were beginning their month-long travels. It was SO fun to have them along!

The palace guards - these fellas have got talent 

St. Vitus Cathedral

• The biggest and most important church in the country, founded in 1344

"Lesser Town" bridge tower

"Old town" bridge tower

The Lennon Wall

Kels adding her name to the wall

"All our dreams will come true if we have the courage to pursue"

This wall was something I had been looking forward to seeing from day 1 of Europe travels. John Lennon fans would be ashamed because I'm not the type of die-hard fan that so many are, I was just so excited to take in this display of color, emotional lyrics, and some good Lennon lovin. It was initially just a normal wall, but has been continually added to since the 1980's with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of Beatles' song lyrics. 

When the sun began to go down, the colors were an even more vibrant hue

And then it was magical

SUCH a fan of this place, I hope to return to you, Prague

Sorry I couldn't flip the video!