Westminster Abbey was an absolute surreal experience. I left the hostel early enough that I had the church to myself. The importance of churches in Europe is so strange to an American. Churches back home usually are industrial-looking buildings, with some cheesy-looking stained glass windows. Coming to Europe, it seems like religion is on a whole other level… It is amazing what humans have built in the name of God.
I guess that’s enough of the “deep” stuff. I actually got a little lost and ended up wandering into an off limits part of the Abbey. I did get to meet the resident Westminster cat who showed absolutely no interest in me. In fact, I think the damn cat snubbed me! British snob! I paid my respects to the Bronte sisters and my home-boy Shakespeare and made my way out just as the tourists started to pour in.
I really wanted to go to the British Library, I read that the religious text exhibit couldn’t be missed. Seeing as how I was on a bit of a religious kick today, I thought a visit would be fitting.
I got off the tube at the King Cross Station stop and thought it would be worth the time to seek out platform 9 ¾. I just assumed that I would end up with a picture of me smashing into a wall between platforms 9 and 10, but it turns out that there is actually a sign marking the spot and half a luggage cart stuck though the brick wall. It was a picture perfect photo-op.
After that slight detour, I finally made my way to the library. I am so glad that I did because it was so amazing! I couldn’t believe that more people don’t come and visit, but I guess my fascination with books might be somewhat odd. The library contains pages from Michelangelo’s sketchbook and some of his manuscripts, old Biblical and Koran texts. But the best part (IMHO) was the Beatles display, which contained the restaurant placemat that “A Hard Day’s Night” was written on.
I had made plans to attend a walking tour that night but a bought of sickness came over me, so I ended up spending my last night in London in bed.
I guess that’s enough of the “deep” stuff. I actually got a little lost and ended up wandering into an off limits part of the Abbey. I did get to meet the resident Westminster cat who showed absolutely no interest in me. In fact, I think the damn cat snubbed me! British snob! I paid my respects to the Bronte sisters and my home-boy Shakespeare and made my way out just as the tourists started to pour in.
I really wanted to go to the British Library, I read that the religious text exhibit couldn’t be missed. Seeing as how I was on a bit of a religious kick today, I thought a visit would be fitting.
I got off the tube at the King Cross Station stop and thought it would be worth the time to seek out platform 9 ¾. I just assumed that I would end up with a picture of me smashing into a wall between platforms 9 and 10, but it turns out that there is actually a sign marking the spot and half a luggage cart stuck though the brick wall. It was a picture perfect photo-op.
After that slight detour, I finally made my way to the library. I am so glad that I did because it was so amazing! I couldn’t believe that more people don’t come and visit, but I guess my fascination with books might be somewhat odd. The library contains pages from Michelangelo’s sketchbook and some of his manuscripts, old Biblical and Koran texts. But the best part (IMHO) was the Beatles display, which contained the restaurant placemat that “A Hard Day’s Night” was written on.
I had made plans to attend a walking tour that night but a bought of sickness came over me, so I ended up spending my last night in London in bed.
Photos
Westminster Abbey in all her glory... surrounded by tourists.
The beautiful London sky with Big Ben tucked in on the left and Westminster Abbey on the right.
Westminster Abbey from the side, do you see me?
The snobby British cat
Me, trying to avoid Hannah because she kept crossing herself. I tried to explain that Westminster is not a Catholic church but she insisted.
Yep, it really exists....
Screw college... I'm going to Hogwarts!
The statue of Isaac Newton, measuring the universe, outside the British Library
We debated and came to the decision that the universe is "this big"
