One objective for our time here in London is to become better observers and analysts; therefore, I thought it was a good idea to observe the citizens of London on a common form of transportation. I decided to take the Circle line for a considerable amount of time in order to fully observe a large amount of people. While the citizens were similar to Americans in many ways, there were some difference I noticed of the people.
The most apparent difference was the vast range of nationalities on the underground. In just the first few minutes of my trip, I overheard at least five different languages, some of which I did not recognize. Everyone also seemed very comfortable with each other and did not seem to notice their differences. If someone began speaking Italian on a bus in my home town, many people would stare and attempt to listen in on their conversation. However, it was viewed as commonplace for this to occur, and it was very refreshing to be in the presence of it.
Another striking difference I noticed was the clothing of both men and women. There was a wide range of people from young to old, but the women tended to dress much more colorful and vibrant than the women in the States. I found that they wore many patterns and tried funky combinations of clothing, which would be viewed as obscure back home. I also noticed that the men dressed much more professional in London than they do in America. Most of the men were wearing dress shoes and shirts, and I did not see anyone wearing sweatpants! I find this odd because America has such a laid back culture that is set on comfort, and the people here seem more concerned about how they look in public.
One last difference I noticed was the large amount of luggage I saw on just one tube ride. People were constantly coming in and out with luggage, and I believe this describes a lot about the culture. It seems that they travel more frequently than Americans do, and it is an important part of their life to do so. All kinds of families and people were going off to different stations and airports in a rush to go enjoy some vacation time. While London is a big tourist spot, I felt that most of the travelers were Londoners themselves. Overhearing their conversations about places such as Germany, Italy, and Ireland made me excited to join them and begin my travels around Europe!!
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens exists to showcase many plants of the world to the public, but more importantly, to work for the conservation and restoration of plants around the world. Kew also aims to educate the public about the important relationship between plants and our environment. Princess Augusta founded the gardens, and it was initially used by generations of royalty. William and Mary enlarged the gardens, and evidence of this can still be seen today as his symbol of the orange is located throughout the gardens. A wide variety of plants accumulated overtime as it was continuously expanded by royals such as George III.
The gardens were first used for royal events and leisure, but it opened to the public in 1840. The purposes of the Royal Botanical gardens have changed over time, and now the organization is very focused on plant research, conservation, and restoration. The importance of preserving our environment can not be stressed enough, and Kew Gardens is a leader in this most necessary goal. Today Kew is promoting small growing and preserving global diversity by ensuring the survival of the world’s rarest plants through GIS and micropropagation. The current goals for biodiversity and its effect on conservation were not fully established centuries ago, but the same purpose of educating the public still exists from the 19th century.
Plants were initially gathered by explorers under the orders of the Queen and/or King. The explorers were sent on missions to gather fine goods from distance lands, and they were also told to bring back native species to enlarge the collection of exotic plants. It may have originally been due to a fascination of royalty with plants and collections, but it has grown to show the diversity of plants all around the world. Kew Gardens now has a staff of over 700, along with many partners around the world, who collect, research, and preserve the plants. The Millennium Seed Bank was created to collect the rarest plant species around the world and will soon hold 10% of the world’s wild species*. This is imperative because many plant species are being destroyed, and researchers are saving the plants by saving the seeds.
The Palm House was completed in 1848, and it holds a variety of palm species from the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. It is extremely significant because the world relies heavily on palms, and the Palm House creates a habitat suitable for many threatened species. The center of the building was made to accommodate the tallest palms, and therefore, it has a collection of species from various places. There were many signs located in the soil and on the walls which described the human and environmental dependence on certain species. For example, I found it very interesting that the Madagascar periwinkle was used to fight cancer. Furthermore, the Victorian style architecture of glass and iron was absolutely beautiful and functional at the same time.
The Temperate House is an even larger glass house which contains plant species from the temperate regions of the world. It is also partitioned into geographical areas, which do not have extreme variation in temperature. This allows for increased diversity, and this house holds some of the rarest species in the world. Many endangered plants are being grown and will later be reintroduced to their native lands.
To conclude my journey through Kew, I visited the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It was created in honor of Princess Augusta, the founder, and opened by Princess Diana. The outside architecture is composed of angled glass roofs, and the building is situated into the ground. Upon researching the conservatory, I found this was an intended detail of the design in order to maximize solar energy. The building was divided into ten different climatic zones, but they flowed together very nicely. There was also a temporary exhibit in the lower level of the building which allowed you to learn about plants and their smells. It was a beautiful, unique building that allowed me to get a close look at plants from all around the world, but it also fit into the general architectural theme of Kew Gardens.
I found this trip to be helpful and fun in many ways. I love learning about different species and the ecological significance. Plants are the basis for all life, and more focus needs to be put upon them today. Most of the funding for Kew comes in the form of admissions, grants, gifts, and donations. People tend limit their thoughts and funds to scientific research on humans and animals, but plants research should be equally encouraged. They provide the foundation for all life and supply endless benefits such as food and medicine.
* http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm
The gardens were first used for royal events and leisure, but it opened to the public in 1840. The purposes of the Royal Botanical gardens have changed over time, and now the organization is very focused on plant research, conservation, and restoration. The importance of preserving our environment can not be stressed enough, and Kew Gardens is a leader in this most necessary goal. Today Kew is promoting small growing and preserving global diversity by ensuring the survival of the world’s rarest plants through GIS and micropropagation. The current goals for biodiversity and its effect on conservation were not fully established centuries ago, but the same purpose of educating the public still exists from the 19th century.
Plants were initially gathered by explorers under the orders of the Queen and/or King. The explorers were sent on missions to gather fine goods from distance lands, and they were also told to bring back native species to enlarge the collection of exotic plants. It may have originally been due to a fascination of royalty with plants and collections, but it has grown to show the diversity of plants all around the world. Kew Gardens now has a staff of over 700, along with many partners around the world, who collect, research, and preserve the plants. The Millennium Seed Bank was created to collect the rarest plant species around the world and will soon hold 10% of the world’s wild species*. This is imperative because many plant species are being destroyed, and researchers are saving the plants by saving the seeds.
The Palm House was completed in 1848, and it holds a variety of palm species from the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. It is extremely significant because the world relies heavily on palms, and the Palm House creates a habitat suitable for many threatened species. The center of the building was made to accommodate the tallest palms, and therefore, it has a collection of species from various places. There were many signs located in the soil and on the walls which described the human and environmental dependence on certain species. For example, I found it very interesting that the Madagascar periwinkle was used to fight cancer. Furthermore, the Victorian style architecture of glass and iron was absolutely beautiful and functional at the same time.
The Temperate House is an even larger glass house which contains plant species from the temperate regions of the world. It is also partitioned into geographical areas, which do not have extreme variation in temperature. This allows for increased diversity, and this house holds some of the rarest species in the world. Many endangered plants are being grown and will later be reintroduced to their native lands.
To conclude my journey through Kew, I visited the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It was created in honor of Princess Augusta, the founder, and opened by Princess Diana. The outside architecture is composed of angled glass roofs, and the building is situated into the ground. Upon researching the conservatory, I found this was an intended detail of the design in order to maximize solar energy. The building was divided into ten different climatic zones, but they flowed together very nicely. There was also a temporary exhibit in the lower level of the building which allowed you to learn about plants and their smells. It was a beautiful, unique building that allowed me to get a close look at plants from all around the world, but it also fit into the general architectural theme of Kew Gardens.
I found this trip to be helpful and fun in many ways. I love learning about different species and the ecological significance. Plants are the basis for all life, and more focus needs to be put upon them today. Most of the funding for Kew comes in the form of admissions, grants, gifts, and donations. People tend limit their thoughts and funds to scientific research on humans and animals, but plants research should be equally encouraged. They provide the foundation for all life and supply endless benefits such as food and medicine.
* http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Museum of London
Regardless of the fire evacuation and bad weather, I found the Museum of London to be fascinating. The Roman visit was extremely detailed and full of great artifacts. I especially like the miniature recreations of the civic centre and the waters edge. I was amazed at the great detail involved that showed the various tasks the people carried out on a daily basis. For example, one section featured a group of men who were constructing a building on high scaffolding. This made me contemplate the great difficulties involved in construction of that time period. The ships also looked large and complex. I wondered if they were built in Londinium or elsewhere in the world.
The numerous exhibits showed how life was completely different for the Romans. Replicas of living rooms and dinner rooms were erected, which showed how much simpler they lived. Common tasks such as preparing a meal or transporting goods would have taken a considerable more amount of time. Although their lifestyle was different, it was very clear that they were still concerned with decor and beauty. The original mosaic floors were breathtaking and very elaborate, and I was amazed to see that they even had heating underneath the floor!
Being a biology major, I was particularly interested in the Roman horse skeleton. The exhibit stated that the Exmour pony is a modern day descendant of a roman horse, which made me think about how the horse had evolved overtime. I am very interested in evolution and would like to understand more about how this specific species was genetically altered since the Roman times. Furthermore, I was fascinated by the Roman baths but wondered how clean they were and if diseases could be spread through their use. Natural spring water was held in storage tanks and the waste water was expelled out into the Thames. However, the water could be an excellent place for bacteria and viruses to grow. I also wondered how the bathing was performed. Were people given their own separate rooms or did they bath together?
Other small artifacts were very interesting such as the locks and keys. Even with the large time gap between the present day generations and the Roman's, there was still a common concern for safety of people and belongings. There were intricate locks and keys, and the owner would usually wear the key around his neck. The entertainment artifacts were also very interesting and unusual. There was a bikini from a Roman acrobat. The Londinium Roman culture is so old that I thought it was much more primitive than it actually was. Clearly they were interested in entertainment, and they even had acrobats and theatre!
The numerous exhibits showed how life was completely different for the Romans. Replicas of living rooms and dinner rooms were erected, which showed how much simpler they lived. Common tasks such as preparing a meal or transporting goods would have taken a considerable more amount of time. Although their lifestyle was different, it was very clear that they were still concerned with decor and beauty. The original mosaic floors were breathtaking and very elaborate, and I was amazed to see that they even had heating underneath the floor!
Being a biology major, I was particularly interested in the Roman horse skeleton. The exhibit stated that the Exmour pony is a modern day descendant of a roman horse, which made me think about how the horse had evolved overtime. I am very interested in evolution and would like to understand more about how this specific species was genetically altered since the Roman times. Furthermore, I was fascinated by the Roman baths but wondered how clean they were and if diseases could be spread through their use. Natural spring water was held in storage tanks and the waste water was expelled out into the Thames. However, the water could be an excellent place for bacteria and viruses to grow. I also wondered how the bathing was performed. Were people given their own separate rooms or did they bath together?
Other small artifacts were very interesting such as the locks and keys. Even with the large time gap between the present day generations and the Roman's, there was still a common concern for safety of people and belongings. There were intricate locks and keys, and the owner would usually wear the key around his neck. The entertainment artifacts were also very interesting and unusual. There was a bikini from a Roman acrobat. The Londinium Roman culture is so old that I thought it was much more primitive than it actually was. Clearly they were interested in entertainment, and they even had acrobats and theatre!
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
London Hunt Assignment
Part One
The trains at King’s Cross will take you to many cities throughout England and Scotland. Some examples are Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Cambridge. The trains at Waterloo also take you throughout the UK. Some places on the departure list were Alton, Strawberry Hill, Portsmouth Harbor, and Poole. There was also a rail line, Eurostar, which had international trains.
The architecture at King’s Cross was old fashion with lots of bricks and big rounded arches at the platforms. There were also windows to allow in light and the design allowed for air to flow freely. Outside looked a bit more modern with two large window arches and a clock on top of the station. Waterloo station had similar architecture with red and white steel beams, red bricks, and large arched windows. The inside had a feeling of an outside market with townhouses and food shows, but it was all encased in a glass ceiling to allow light to shine through.
Around King’s Cross was extremely busy with lots of buses, people, and taxis. There were lots of ethnic and fast food restaurants as well. The surrounding neighborhood of Waterloo was also very busy. There were lots of buses, restaurants, markets, and shops. A few of the restaurants were The Wellington, Thai Silk, and McDonalds. I heard many European languages spoken at both stations such as French and German.
I did see a lot of evidence of privatization in the train stations. Waterloo trains are all owned by South West. This was visible from their bright décor of red, yellow, orange, and blue. King’s Cross also had lines that were privatized. I found it interesting that you were not allowed on the platform in Waterloo without a ticket, but there were no such regulations put in place at King’s Cross.
Part Two
1. I visited two small parks, Postman’s and Bloomsbury Square Garden. At Postman’s Park, the patrons here could be seen sitting on the benches relaxing or reading the stories on the wall of heroic people who lost their lives to save others. At Bloomsbury Square Garden, people could be seen walking the paths or having quiet conversations.
2. There are sections of open grass for play or a picnic, pathways with benches for leisurely walking, and fountains to admire.
3. The activities do not seem to match the intended use. Few people were in both parks when I visited them, and most seem to be using them as short cuts rather than for leisure. However, there were some people relaxing on the benches and taking a break from their hectic London life.
4. I visited both parks in the middle of the day, which may explain why I did not see a lot of activity. After work there may be more use of the grass by children and families. Most people do not have time during their work day to relax and meditate in a park.
Part Three
Tate Modern à I was unaware what the Tate looked like before visiting it on my walk. As I approached it from the South Bank, I thought it was just a factory. However, I soon recognized the name and became excited to see the exhibits inside. There was a huge open space in the middle of the museum with escalators taking people up and down. The artwork was unlike any I have ever seen before. The few exhibits I was able to see were conveying a strong message to society, and I can not wait until I have more time to head back and discover all that it has to offer.
Tower Bridge à While pictures of the Tower Bridge are breathtaking, they do not compare to the actual experience of walking across it. However, I was surprised to see that it was only two lanes wide. I expected a much larger roadway because few bridges in US cities are only one lane in each direction. I did not hear numerous languages here as I did at the other sites. It seemed that people were mostly using it to get from one place to another instead of crossing it as a tourist.
Westminister Abbey à I was amazed by the sheer size of Westminster Abbey upon my visit. It is a cathedral that definitely commands a presence and makes you wonder how it was built so long ago without modern day technology. There were endless amounts of tourists at this site, and I heard lots of languages, many of which I did not recognize.
St. Paul’s à This cathedral was clearly a major tourist site because there were lots of people taking pictures, and I heard many languages spoken. The Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and contains a large dome that came be seen from a far distance. It is currently being cleaned and improved so it was difficult to see parts of its beauty. There is currently a two week concert series with contemporary classical music with evening prayer.
Part Four
a) Some headlines are Shock toll of British injured in Afghan war, Scrap these ‘19th century’ GCSEs, Brown: plans ready for snap election, and Britons fear rise of the yob.
b) I did not notice any major differences among papers like the Guardian and The Observer. Clearly, papers like the Financial Times are more business related, but all the papers cover local and national events. I did realize that the UK papers appeared to be a bit more liberal than some papers in the US.
c) Both US and UK papers cover international topics, but there are some minute differences observed. The sports section features different sports (rugby, football, polo) than US sports (football, basketball, hockey). In addition, there are many more articles about theatre and opera than in my local US papers. There were also articles on the royal family, which would most likely appear in the entertainment section than as a main article.
d) Flats are priced according to their location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities available. A two bedroom flat in West London can run anywhere from ₤200 to ₤1000 a month. I was unable to find this information in the papers so I used www.uk.yahoo.com, which provided a massive amount of listings. A studio flat in Clerkenwell is listed as ₤1083 a month. This price seems very high to me, but I have never lived in a city, and this may be normal for such an area. Additionally, I have also noticed many real estate agents throughout London with pictures of flats posted in the windows.
e) I looked at the Observer online to find jobs. I found it interesting that there were many jobs available in marketing, PR, and media. The salary for jobs seemed to be comparable to that of the US, if not higher. I looked up secretarial jobs and found that they made between ₤21000 to ₤35000, which is similar to the US standards.
f) I found ads for banks, radio, and magazines. I also found ads for televisions, computers, printers, and new cars as low as ₤5,860.
2. After watching the tellie for an hour or so, I noticed that soap opera style shows are very popular. There seems to be a type for teenagers and adults. Big Brother was also a very popular show; however, I found it to be monotonous and boring. I also watched a show called Holly Oaks that was similar to MTV reality shows. There were also a lot of radio talk shows, which you do not typically find on American television.
Part Five
We took a one and a half mile walk down the South Bank, which turned into the best five hours I have had in London yet. We started at the Westminister tube station, walked along the Thames, crossed the Millennium Bridge, visited St. Paul’s and finished by crossing back over the Tower Bridge. There was a festival for grandparents along the river that consisted of stands, ethnic foods, live music, and short plays.
Part Six
I feel that London is a world capital with so much to offer in so many areas. There are endless opportunities to explore different cultures, music, science, and religions. For the most part, people are extremely friendly and helpful when I find myself lost or confused about how something works.
London seems very prosperous from my first week here. Evidence of this can be seen in the clean streets, productive transit system, and well maintained businesses. There is also a huge amount of construction taking place. While there may be some abandoned shops or buildings, I have yet to see any. Most cities change from affluent to poverty areas very quickly, but I have not noticed that here. I do see graffiti from time to time, but that is to be expected in any city.
I think England has done an excellent job with preserving the past while reinventing itself for the future. The streets have kept an old fashion British feel with the small pubs, cafes, and shops. Many areas are blocked off and can only be reached by foot or bike on cobblestone pathways. There are also endless historical sites which have been beautifully preserved and tie in with the modern city. For example, the remains of the Roman wall can be viewed right next to new modern buildings. Both bring necessary elements to the city and are vital for London’s continued growth as a world capital.
I most definitely believe that the National Geographic description of London by Simon Worrall is more accurate. London has done an excellent job of preserving its past while staying up to date with the latest advancements. The government seems to be in tune with the needs of the city.
The trains at King’s Cross will take you to many cities throughout England and Scotland. Some examples are Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Cambridge. The trains at Waterloo also take you throughout the UK. Some places on the departure list were Alton, Strawberry Hill, Portsmouth Harbor, and Poole. There was also a rail line, Eurostar, which had international trains.
The architecture at King’s Cross was old fashion with lots of bricks and big rounded arches at the platforms. There were also windows to allow in light and the design allowed for air to flow freely. Outside looked a bit more modern with two large window arches and a clock on top of the station. Waterloo station had similar architecture with red and white steel beams, red bricks, and large arched windows. The inside had a feeling of an outside market with townhouses and food shows, but it was all encased in a glass ceiling to allow light to shine through.
Around King’s Cross was extremely busy with lots of buses, people, and taxis. There were lots of ethnic and fast food restaurants as well. The surrounding neighborhood of Waterloo was also very busy. There were lots of buses, restaurants, markets, and shops. A few of the restaurants were The Wellington, Thai Silk, and McDonalds. I heard many European languages spoken at both stations such as French and German.
I did see a lot of evidence of privatization in the train stations. Waterloo trains are all owned by South West. This was visible from their bright décor of red, yellow, orange, and blue. King’s Cross also had lines that were privatized. I found it interesting that you were not allowed on the platform in Waterloo without a ticket, but there were no such regulations put in place at King’s Cross.
Part Two
1. I visited two small parks, Postman’s and Bloomsbury Square Garden. At Postman’s Park, the patrons here could be seen sitting on the benches relaxing or reading the stories on the wall of heroic people who lost their lives to save others. At Bloomsbury Square Garden, people could be seen walking the paths or having quiet conversations.
2. There are sections of open grass for play or a picnic, pathways with benches for leisurely walking, and fountains to admire.
3. The activities do not seem to match the intended use. Few people were in both parks when I visited them, and most seem to be using them as short cuts rather than for leisure. However, there were some people relaxing on the benches and taking a break from their hectic London life.
4. I visited both parks in the middle of the day, which may explain why I did not see a lot of activity. After work there may be more use of the grass by children and families. Most people do not have time during their work day to relax and meditate in a park.
Part Three
Tate Modern à I was unaware what the Tate looked like before visiting it on my walk. As I approached it from the South Bank, I thought it was just a factory. However, I soon recognized the name and became excited to see the exhibits inside. There was a huge open space in the middle of the museum with escalators taking people up and down. The artwork was unlike any I have ever seen before. The few exhibits I was able to see were conveying a strong message to society, and I can not wait until I have more time to head back and discover all that it has to offer.
Tower Bridge à While pictures of the Tower Bridge are breathtaking, they do not compare to the actual experience of walking across it. However, I was surprised to see that it was only two lanes wide. I expected a much larger roadway because few bridges in US cities are only one lane in each direction. I did not hear numerous languages here as I did at the other sites. It seemed that people were mostly using it to get from one place to another instead of crossing it as a tourist.
Westminister Abbey à I was amazed by the sheer size of Westminster Abbey upon my visit. It is a cathedral that definitely commands a presence and makes you wonder how it was built so long ago without modern day technology. There were endless amounts of tourists at this site, and I heard lots of languages, many of which I did not recognize.
St. Paul’s à This cathedral was clearly a major tourist site because there were lots of people taking pictures, and I heard many languages spoken. The Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and contains a large dome that came be seen from a far distance. It is currently being cleaned and improved so it was difficult to see parts of its beauty. There is currently a two week concert series with contemporary classical music with evening prayer.
Part Four
a) Some headlines are Shock toll of British injured in Afghan war, Scrap these ‘19th century’ GCSEs, Brown: plans ready for snap election, and Britons fear rise of the yob.
b) I did not notice any major differences among papers like the Guardian and The Observer. Clearly, papers like the Financial Times are more business related, but all the papers cover local and national events. I did realize that the UK papers appeared to be a bit more liberal than some papers in the US.
c) Both US and UK papers cover international topics, but there are some minute differences observed. The sports section features different sports (rugby, football, polo) than US sports (football, basketball, hockey). In addition, there are many more articles about theatre and opera than in my local US papers. There were also articles on the royal family, which would most likely appear in the entertainment section than as a main article.
d) Flats are priced according to their location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities available. A two bedroom flat in West London can run anywhere from ₤200 to ₤1000 a month. I was unable to find this information in the papers so I used www.uk.yahoo.com, which provided a massive amount of listings. A studio flat in Clerkenwell is listed as ₤1083 a month. This price seems very high to me, but I have never lived in a city, and this may be normal for such an area. Additionally, I have also noticed many real estate agents throughout London with pictures of flats posted in the windows.
e) I looked at the Observer online to find jobs. I found it interesting that there were many jobs available in marketing, PR, and media. The salary for jobs seemed to be comparable to that of the US, if not higher. I looked up secretarial jobs and found that they made between ₤21000 to ₤35000, which is similar to the US standards.
f) I found ads for banks, radio, and magazines. I also found ads for televisions, computers, printers, and new cars as low as ₤5,860.
2. After watching the tellie for an hour or so, I noticed that soap opera style shows are very popular. There seems to be a type for teenagers and adults. Big Brother was also a very popular show; however, I found it to be monotonous and boring. I also watched a show called Holly Oaks that was similar to MTV reality shows. There were also a lot of radio talk shows, which you do not typically find on American television.
Part Five
We took a one and a half mile walk down the South Bank, which turned into the best five hours I have had in London yet. We started at the Westminister tube station, walked along the Thames, crossed the Millennium Bridge, visited St. Paul’s and finished by crossing back over the Tower Bridge. There was a festival for grandparents along the river that consisted of stands, ethnic foods, live music, and short plays.
Part Six
I feel that London is a world capital with so much to offer in so many areas. There are endless opportunities to explore different cultures, music, science, and religions. For the most part, people are extremely friendly and helpful when I find myself lost or confused about how something works.
London seems very prosperous from my first week here. Evidence of this can be seen in the clean streets, productive transit system, and well maintained businesses. There is also a huge amount of construction taking place. While there may be some abandoned shops or buildings, I have yet to see any. Most cities change from affluent to poverty areas very quickly, but I have not noticed that here. I do see graffiti from time to time, but that is to be expected in any city.
I think England has done an excellent job with preserving the past while reinventing itself for the future. The streets have kept an old fashion British feel with the small pubs, cafes, and shops. Many areas are blocked off and can only be reached by foot or bike on cobblestone pathways. There are also endless historical sites which have been beautifully preserved and tie in with the modern city. For example, the remains of the Roman wall can be viewed right next to new modern buildings. Both bring necessary elements to the city and are vital for London’s continued growth as a world capital.
I most definitely believe that the National Geographic description of London by Simon Worrall is more accurate. London has done an excellent job of preserving its past while staying up to date with the latest advancements. The government seems to be in tune with the needs of the city.
Parliament
The Palace of Westminster was like no other government building in which I have ever been. The fact that parts of the building originated from the 1000’s is simply amazing because we do not have national history anywhere near that old in the United States. The tour guide explained the different divisions of Parliament, which include the Royalty, House of Lords, and House of Commons. It was fascinating to hear the numerous traditions till carried out today such as the Black Rod and the system of voting.
The entire building was covered from ceiling to floor with extravagant art and architecture. From the moment you enter, there are statues, stain-glass windows, rich fabrics, and lots of gold! Grand portraits of royalty lined the walls of most room. In the robing room, there are large portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dressed in their best clothes with jewels and a beautiful landscape behind them. The Prince’s Chamber outside of the House of Lord’s also contains pictures of Kings and Queens. Many buildings of Parliament stood on the same grounds, but architects Barry and Pugin designed the building standing today in the perpendicular gothic style after the fire of 1834. However, the Westminster Hall survived this fire and was built in the 1000’s with the hammer beamed roof built in the 1300’s.
The House of Lords was very extravagant with gold foil, red colours, and wood panelling. It is very visible to see today’s modern world mixed with traditions of the past. The royal throne that previous kings and queens used is still in place with its fantastic gold and worn fabric; however, microphones and speakers are situated throughout the room to allow for clear conversation and debates. I found it very interesting that red symbolizes the House of Lords and royalty because it is an expensive dye.
On the other hand, green represents the House of Commons because it is a very cheap dye made from plants. Furthermore, the House of Commons is much more plain than the House of Lords, but still beautiful in many ways. There are green leather couches and wood panelling throughout the small room with the Speaker seated in the middle. The seats cannot be reserved unless one attends prayers and puts a small green card behind a seat prior to a session. The tour guide also explained that the red ‘sword’ lines across the floor are not allowed to be crossed by members during a debate. The House of Commons could have been remodelled after the bombings, which destroyed it in WW2, but it was kept in its original form in order to preserve the intimate setting. This has caused the physical style of voting to remain from previous centuries because there is not enough room to do it any other way. “Yes” and “No” chambers are located on either side of the House, and members have exactly eight minutes to be inside the doors after the bell is rung.
Although many traditions remain throughout Parliament, there are many changes that have taken place over the years to allow greater democratic participation. The House of Lords is composed of elected officials that are appointed by the Prime Minister or Queen’s advisors. They primarily revise bills from the House of Commons, although one third are created directly from the House of Lords. Their power is changing under the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and there is a movement to make it an elected chamber like the House of Commons. There is also a tradition still in place today where people can go the counter in the Central lobby and ask for a green piece of paper to make an appointment with their representative. People are also allowed to sit in on the House of Lords and the House of Commons if there is available space.
The role of the State as an institution has changed dramatically over United Kingdom’s history. Royalty used to be the supreme power, and there was a belief that they ruled by divine right. After the English Civil War, the royalty’s power was diminished and the House of Commons had most of the power. The monarchy was restored with time but with far less power. Today the monarchy follows the traditions, but has very little actual power. There is a movement within the House of Commons, particularly with the Labour Party, to make the House of Lords an elected body and give more power to the people.
The entire building was covered from ceiling to floor with extravagant art and architecture. From the moment you enter, there are statues, stain-glass windows, rich fabrics, and lots of gold! Grand portraits of royalty lined the walls of most room. In the robing room, there are large portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dressed in their best clothes with jewels and a beautiful landscape behind them. The Prince’s Chamber outside of the House of Lord’s also contains pictures of Kings and Queens. Many buildings of Parliament stood on the same grounds, but architects Barry and Pugin designed the building standing today in the perpendicular gothic style after the fire of 1834. However, the Westminster Hall survived this fire and was built in the 1000’s with the hammer beamed roof built in the 1300’s.
The House of Lords was very extravagant with gold foil, red colours, and wood panelling. It is very visible to see today’s modern world mixed with traditions of the past. The royal throne that previous kings and queens used is still in place with its fantastic gold and worn fabric; however, microphones and speakers are situated throughout the room to allow for clear conversation and debates. I found it very interesting that red symbolizes the House of Lords and royalty because it is an expensive dye.
On the other hand, green represents the House of Commons because it is a very cheap dye made from plants. Furthermore, the House of Commons is much more plain than the House of Lords, but still beautiful in many ways. There are green leather couches and wood panelling throughout the small room with the Speaker seated in the middle. The seats cannot be reserved unless one attends prayers and puts a small green card behind a seat prior to a session. The tour guide also explained that the red ‘sword’ lines across the floor are not allowed to be crossed by members during a debate. The House of Commons could have been remodelled after the bombings, which destroyed it in WW2, but it was kept in its original form in order to preserve the intimate setting. This has caused the physical style of voting to remain from previous centuries because there is not enough room to do it any other way. “Yes” and “No” chambers are located on either side of the House, and members have exactly eight minutes to be inside the doors after the bell is rung.
Although many traditions remain throughout Parliament, there are many changes that have taken place over the years to allow greater democratic participation. The House of Lords is composed of elected officials that are appointed by the Prime Minister or Queen’s advisors. They primarily revise bills from the House of Commons, although one third are created directly from the House of Lords. Their power is changing under the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and there is a movement to make it an elected chamber like the House of Commons. There is also a tradition still in place today where people can go the counter in the Central lobby and ask for a green piece of paper to make an appointment with their representative. People are also allowed to sit in on the House of Lords and the House of Commons if there is available space.
The role of the State as an institution has changed dramatically over United Kingdom’s history. Royalty used to be the supreme power, and there was a belief that they ruled by divine right. After the English Civil War, the royalty’s power was diminished and the House of Commons had most of the power. The monarchy was restored with time but with far less power. Today the monarchy follows the traditions, but has very little actual power. There is a movement within the House of Commons, particularly with the Labour Party, to make the House of Lords an elected body and give more power to the people.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Food Shopping
As Friday night approached, everyone in the flat began to realize that food shopping could no longer be put off and must be tackled. I was fearful of beginning the journey because I honestly had no clue where I was going or what to expect. Earlier in the day we saw a Sainsbury Local on Tottenham Court Road, so we attempted to make it back to the store. This was accomplished surprisingly well, but that was about all that went well for the adventure.
Upon entering the store, I was astonished by the amount of people crowded into such a small place. I looked around and saw very little selection. This seemed a bit odd because I am used to 100 cereal choices instead of 10. Everyone else knew perfectly well what they were looking and were only buying one or two items. I felt out of place searching for items and lugging around baskets of food due to the lack of carts. Once my flatmates and I divided up all of the necessary items, we headed towards the cashier. I was shocked that there were no conveyor belts to load the food, but instead had to hand every item individually to the man. We double bagged our items and headed into the rush hour traffic.
We all quickly became depressed when we realized that Tottenham Court Road was one way in this certain section, and we had no clue which direction to go in order to get a bus back to the flat. After much conversing, we headed down a road that looked somewhat familiar. Needless to say, nothing in London is familiar having only been there for two days, and we were quickly lost. One hour and about five bus rides later, we arrived on Farringdon Road thoroughly frustrated and annoyed with the situation and one another. On the walk back from the bus stop, however, we did manage to cool off and find a food store much closer to our flats. The experience definitely proved that a city is difficult to navigate at first, but it can be understood and fully appreciated with a little time and energy!
Upon entering the store, I was astonished by the amount of people crowded into such a small place. I looked around and saw very little selection. This seemed a bit odd because I am used to 100 cereal choices instead of 10. Everyone else knew perfectly well what they were looking and were only buying one or two items. I felt out of place searching for items and lugging around baskets of food due to the lack of carts. Once my flatmates and I divided up all of the necessary items, we headed towards the cashier. I was shocked that there were no conveyor belts to load the food, but instead had to hand every item individually to the man. We double bagged our items and headed into the rush hour traffic.
We all quickly became depressed when we realized that Tottenham Court Road was one way in this certain section, and we had no clue which direction to go in order to get a bus back to the flat. After much conversing, we headed down a road that looked somewhat familiar. Needless to say, nothing in London is familiar having only been there for two days, and we were quickly lost. One hour and about five bus rides later, we arrived on Farringdon Road thoroughly frustrated and annoyed with the situation and one another. On the walk back from the bus stop, however, we did manage to cool off and find a food store much closer to our flats. The experience definitely proved that a city is difficult to navigate at first, but it can be understood and fully appreciated with a little time and energy!
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