Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Surrey with a Fringe on Top

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Location: Surrey, UK
Weather: Partly Cloudy


This weekend I explored beyond the bounds of London, gaining the ever so English experience of country life, by visiting market town, farm and village. First I visited the town of Guilford in the North Downs, to see its lively high street, hill top fortress, and lovely views. (And buying some delicious English strawberries.)









Later, I took a hike along the Wey river, one of the tributaries to the Thames. I had already walked along a lively path where the two rivers meet, along the shore at Weybridge, populated by walkers with strollers, runners, and fishers. Now I followed the tow-path upstream, to a quieter area passing a horse ranch, river boats, a priory, and an old a mill, as well as the less picturesque golf course.







Back in London I also enjoyed a walk through Chelsea, with its ornate Victorian row houses, which by the way cost about $1 million dollars to buy a one bedroom flat, or $650 a week to let a studio! (Housing costs in London went up 25% this year alone.) I followed the joggers across the river to Battersea Park where I nearly fainted from exhaustion, but dearly wished I had brought my running shoes and Ipod or tennis racket, so I could join in. That's all for now. Cheers!

Bank Holiday


Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Location: Islington, London, UK
Weather: Sunny


The sun came out, and so did all of London to celebrate one of the last weekends of summer. It was a Bank Holiday Monday, so a three day weekend, and the first sunny one since I arrived. On the Southbank, Londoners and tourists alike swarmed the parks and public spaces, and even the temporary beach at low tide to take advantage of the sun.



I started the weekend with a visit to Kew Gardens, famous for some of the first and most amazing Green Houses, i.e. Palm House below. They also had an amazing Minka House imported from Japan, that somehow in my wonderment I forgot to take a photo of. :(









On Monday, I went to a dance weekend at the Watch This Space, and open air performance space outside the National Theater. In the continued celebrations of India Now! (the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Indian independence) they had a whole day of classical Indian dance performances, Bangra music, and Bollywood dance lessons. I ended up partnered with a 70-year old lady (playing the male part too!) but I had a great time. And I now know you can Samba to Bangra music, and true to the hybrid nature of cultural events here, I wasn’t the only one (one of the Bollywood performers seemed to be Brazilian.) Well, I hope the weather stays good for more urban adventures! Cheers!