A couple weeks ago we had a great Friday planned in the city. A couple weeks before the day, we found out a couple friends would be in London that same day and wanted to meet up. It was meant to be!
We picked Lissa and Margie up from their hotel, had a great time visiting on the long tube ride to the other side of the city, and delivered them safely to their tour of the Tower of London. Who would have thought when both our families moved away from Indiana, one of our meet-up spots would be in London?! Love it!
Then we were off to deliver Emma to an educational workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. She was so excited and was pleased to see there was actually another person she knew attending! Thank goodness for homeschooling networks!
The younger kids and I camped out in front of the Globe Theatre to enjoy some lollies from the ice cream van. It was great to relax from our ‘deliveries’ and enjoy the scenery.
Kids in front of Millennium Bridge
As we were finishing up our treat, we spied Emma across the way completely enthralled in what her tour guide was saying.
She ended up having a grand time getting a tour of the theatre (she said she already knew everything from our first visit there) and getting to do theatre games with the group.
In case you were worried that Emma got all the cultural experience that day, never fear. The other kids and I made sure to immerse ourselves in the culture as well.
We spent a lot of time just staring at the “Invisible Man” and trying to figure out his ‘trick’.
Then Hannah decided he was just too good and deserved a little bit of coinage. Of course, if you reward them with money, they will always reward you with a picture.
Too bad he didn’t know it was only 6 pence they threw in!
We gazed at the Millennium Bridge as we walked by . . . since we practically had to run over it to get Emma to the Globe in time.
We wandered into the Tate Modern Museum and scoped out some exhibits. We were only able to explore one wing of one floor before the kids were done looking at canvasses painted in one color with a touch of a different color thrown in. Caleb told me they all looked like they were done by kids. I don’t think they had much taste for the modern art.
They did, however, enjoy the educational computers in the foyer. They learned all about Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol without physically seeing their work.
To wrap up our truly cultural day in London, Chris came and met us for a late lunch. He got an earful of what everyone had learned during the day as he guided us to a popular lunch joint – Tortilla (very similar to Chipotle in the states).
What a day! We were culturally, emotionally, and physically full!
What a great day! The kids’ impressions of modern art reminded me of Matt at the Newark Museum a few years back. There was a canvas that was practically empty. He asked if there were paints around so the kids could finish it! I agree with Caleb; some modern art escapes me!
I never really care for the modern art stuff, either. I can see why they didn’t enjoy it too much. But I sure could go for a lolly! Beautiful pictures.
Becca, have you read “The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise: A Novel” by Julia Stuart? I think you would like it, considering it is all about some people that live in the Tower of London, the modern day Tower. It was really interesting, and I’d love to be able to see the Tower now.
I think you have to have art experience and education to understand and appreciate some modern art… And some truly is incomprehensible. But I’m so glad they learned about Jackson Pollock!! He is my favorite. I absolutely love him.