Tag: Wow

Tower Bridge, Markets, Indian Food, & Bollywood-Style Shakespeare

Tower Bridge, Markets, Indian Food, & Bollywood-Style Shakespeare

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

If the title didn't give it away already, I've had a fairly intensive and interesting day!

It began this morning with an informative tour of the Tower Bridge area. We explored the areas we had talked about in class, and it was easier to see how crime would have flourished in this area early on in London's history… The boats, morning fog, shipyards, narrow and winding streets, the flurrying populace, and the ever-present River Thames would have made this a criminal's paradise. On a related note, We also walked through Jack the Ripper's stomping grounds and sat in the courtyard where his last victim was found. Slightly creepy, but it was also historically thrilling to be sitting in the exact spot where history happened, walking the same stones as people in the 1800s did.

Post-tour, I hit the gym again and then went home to make a lunch of yogurt with a super wrap: pan-fried salmon filet with a few chorizo slivers, a touch of Brie, and half a bag of spinach (heat-wilted in the pan). It didn't last long.

In the afternoon, we toured a set of market areas (Petticoat Lane, Spittlefields, Bricklane) I've come to know and love for my Cultures of Empire class. It was really interesting to hear and see the layers of history that lay under the structures of today. This was especially interesting in the Petticoat Lane and Bricklane areas, where the early structures and markets were created by the Jewish population in London and today is dominated by African & Asian vendors and Indian, Bengali, and Muslim populations respectively. It is always interesting to consider what all of the areas will look like in fifty-plus years as the city continues to layer histories and cultures over time.

After the tour, I went to an Indian restaurant called Sweet and Spicy, which came highly recommended as a place for locals who want authentic food without fuss. It was amazing, definitely some of the best Indian food I've ever had, and was quite reasonable price-wise as well. I got a samosa, Sikh kebab, cauliflower curry, and two puris for under five pounds. I also snagged a medium chicken curry and a naan for an additional few pounds. I left the restaurant full and happy, with the soul-filling feeling only Indian food can deliver.

As if that wasn't enough for one day, I also made my way down to see a production of Much Ado About Nothing by the Royal Shakespeare Company. It was Bollywood-style, which was a phenomenal treat and matched my dinner quite well. It had the actors in full Indian costume and featured a few dance numbers. All in all, a wonderful show that was the perfect way to top off the evening.

 

Pictures below, per usual. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool Day 2 Part II: Beatlemania!

Liverpool Day 2 Part II: Beatlemania!

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

After all of the morning activities were finished, I finally got to visit the Beatles Museum!

 

For those who don't know, I'm a bit of a Beatles fanatic, so this was pretty much a dream come true. I was already excited because we were in Liverpool for the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles' debut single, Love Me Do. I knew we were on the right track when we saw a Beatles cover band playing one of my favorite songs, I Feel Fine, in a packed courtyard. We proceeded along the path and waited for about twenty minutes to get into the museum. (The wait wasn't bad though! With a steady background of Beatles hits in the background, and with an ecstatic anticipation of getting to see early Beatles artifacts, I was doing awesome.)

Once we were finally in, we walked through the entire museum. It was set up in chronological order, so it felt like we were dropped into a different scene in the band's lifetime with each room. My favorite section was the reconstruction of The Cavern, the club where the Beatles got their start and played at 292 times over their careers. It felt almost sacred, and the collection of iconic instruments on stage were practically treated as relics.

The museum also showed a good deal of insight into the individual members psyches and growth over the years. A wall of quotes showed the range of depth of thought the Beatles gave the world; there were snarky jests, but also deeply insightful philosophies on life and love.

 

A few pieces made me stop and be filled instantly with emotion, and they were both pieces related to the late John Lennon. The first was a pair of his iconic round-rimmed glasses, laid simply and timelessly on piece of dark blue cloth. The second was a recreation of the White Room from his apartment shared with Yoko, complete with the white piano from Imagine. The lyrics to Imagine were inscribed on the wall, and seemed to speak through time to everyone who visited… “I hope someday you join us/ And the world will be as one.”

 

So, enjoy these pictures and video… With Love from Me to You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Yellow Submarine

 

 

Liverpool Day 2 Part I

Liverpool Day 2 Part I

by ericmistry ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Today we awoke in our hostel, had a quick and light breakfast, and then walked to the Liverpool Docks to see the Maritime Museum. A retired history professor from Liverpool, Mike Boyle, met us and gave an interesting and very detailed account of Liverpool's connection to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. This lecture included incredible facts, such as nearly 50% of the slaves transported to America were taken on Liverpool-based ships.

This lecture gave great background to the permanent floor of exhibits on the history of slavery and African culture, which was partially organized by Professor Boyle. The exhibits featured artifacts spanning the centuries from slaving contracts, to manacles, to traditional African clothing, to displays on food and music. It was an immersive experience and felt like we were traveling through time.

After the Maritime Museum, we were free to wander the city for a bit. I snapped some fun shots of the Liverpool Docks and surrounding buildings and snagged a small lunch at a combination Chinese Restaurant/English Diner. After the small bit of exploration, we hopped back of the bus for a small tour of important Liverpool sights. It was surprising to see that so many streets (including the famous Penny Lane) were named after slave-trade profiteers.

After the tour, I went to the Beatles Museum. Curious? Read the next post, Liverpool Day 2 Part II!

 

Exhibit From the Slavery Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today, for my Cultures of Empire Class, we visited Westminster Abbey. It was an amazing experience. The architecture is so grand and impressive, and I spent a great deal of time in awe that this building was built without modern technology. The soaring ceilings and unbelievable stained glass were out of this world.

We went all around the building, touring the memorials and examining the various graves and statues for imperialistic flair. I saw some famous authors’ memorials in Poet’s Corner, including Kipling’s and Dickens’. (Sadly, no photography was allowed in many sections of the church) I am consistently pleasantly surprised by the little things that remind me that London is such an old and important city, and standing above a memorial to Charles Dickens is just one of those things!

Family and Chinatown Lunch

Family and Chinatown Lunch

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

Today was another fun day! I woke up, caught the tube to my Aunt Ruksh's hotel, picked her up, and we made our way to my cousin Alyssa's apartment. She is studying to be a pastry specialist at the Cordon Bleu. (Which sounds absolutely incredible!) She has a wonderful apartment in Notting Hill, which is just a short tube ride away. It will be so much fun to be able to visit often, as usually we are separated by a few oceans! (She being from Mumbai, and me being from Iowa.)

 

In any case, after enjoying Alyssa's apartment a little, we made our way down to the Chinatown area for a lovely lunch with Hufriz, one of Ruksh's and (Uncle) Doj's friends. We ate at a lovely and amazing Chinese restaurant known as Joy King Lau. It was so delicious. We shared some delectable dim sum, superb hot and sour soup, and some stupendous stir-fry dishes with roast duck and pork.

 

It was so enjoyable to get to eat with my family. It felt so nice and relaxed and so much fun. Ruksh and Doj always take such good care of me. I'm looking forward to hanging out with Alyssa in London and enjoying the adventures to come!

(L->R) Hufriz, Me, Aunt Ruksh, Alyssa, Uncle Doj

 

Hot and Sour Soup

Chinatown

 

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens

by ericmistry ♥ 6 Comments

This morning, we adventured to Kew Gardens, a botanical reserve on the due of London. We took at short walking tour with Professor Guenther, then proceeded to explore and relax for the remainder of the afternoon within the park until we decided to go home. I ventured all around, snapping shots of various flora, some birds, and some amazing scenery that included greenhouses and follies. (small English pleasure structures that served as relaxation spots for the English)

Some highlights form the trip Included an amazing tour around the gardens and the amazing walkway nearby that rose over 40 feet above the ground! I also got to see a phenomenal set of artworks by Robert Nash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Drawing Studies At the British Museum

Amazing Drawing Studies At the British Museum

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

Today for art history class, we climbed all the way up to the fourth floor of the British Museum to enter the Print and Drawing Study Room. It houses some amazing materials, and you need to register to enter. After some brief signing-in and rules explanation (including no cameras, which saddened me greatly…) we were ushered into the large room.

 

It was a large room filled with volumes and large folios. Immense wooden desks with easels lay ready for the invaluable drawings and other works to be placed upon them for closer examination. The smell of old ink and paper, better than the best library, permeated the air. The quiet, still air lent an atmosphere of near-reverence to the room. It was almost as if one could feel the weight of the historical treasures that surrounded us.

 

Our course today focused on the evolution of commission drawings. We started with early works, including some stock drawings by Benozzo Gozzoli, which were designed to be placed cookie-cutter-style into commission drawings, creating a fairly standardized picture. The pieces at the end, by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were much more fluid and sketchlike, allowing the artist to craft a scene creatively, rather than dropping in stock pieces.

 

It was incredible and surreal to be mere inches from works from the Renaissance masters. This class has been an incredible experience so far. Not only do we get to see magificent works by famous artists all the time, but I am also learning so much about what to look for in art. I am learning so much new information about everything, and I am loving it!

Image

Gozzoli (c. 1450)

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da Vinci, (c.1470)

ImageMichelangelo (c. 1508-1512)

Reference drawing for Sistine Chapel's Creation of Man

 

 

London Adventuring!

London Adventuring!

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

Today was an adventure-filled day!

After class, Grace and I decided to make the most of her last day and see lots of London.

The highlights?

We ate some awesome Indian food, explored a bit of the Tate Modern Art Museum, and climbed the over 300 steps to the top of the Monument to the Great Fire.

We ate Lamb Kalia (lamb and potatoes), Chicken tikka, Stuffed paratha, Papadum, and more at a small restaurant on Bricklane. It was amazing and so delicious! We also picked up some little desserts from a local Indian bakery, and they were another amazing taste of home.

After filling our bellies full of scrumptious food, we proceeded to the Tate Modern to explore a few exhibits. The building was massive and so impressive. It's amazing to see how much art is available to see free in this city. I love just being able to walk ten minutes and see some world-class art for free.

Post-post-modern art experience, we decided to go traditional touristy and climb to the top of the Monument. Over 300 steps later up a spiral staircase, we emerged onto the observation deck and were greeted to an amazing 360 degree view of London. It was absolutely gorgeous and totally worth the arduous climb.

We finally made it home, where I made Parmesan Chicken and some Caprese Salad. Dinner was enjoyed by all. Pictures below, per usual!

 

 

 

 

 

It's a Long Way Up…

…And Down

 

 

 

 

 

Bounding about Brussels

Bounding about Brussels

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

We left Bruges early this morning, arriving in Brussels just around lunchtime. After a quick tour of the city square, we were left free to wander for about two hours. Between a wonderful lunch featuring the best hot chocolate in the world, and the wonderful wandering around the markets and shops surrounding the main square, we were doing quite well. We then visited another amazing museum as a group.

 

Post-museum, we ventured home to London. It was so wonderful to finally be back in the flat. It's funny how homelike this flat has become. I also enjoyed many Skype chats, including ones with Emily (with grandparents and parents and PUG!!!!), Ben and Chris.

 

Brussels was beautiful, so enjoy some pictures below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Bruges (Day 2)

Beautiful Bruges (Day 2)

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today was a wonderful day, per usual. I started with an early morning run around the city and finished in the town square as a market began. I bought some rotisserie chicken and some great seeded bread, and enjoyed the fresh bread melding with the hot chicken as the sun came up over the city. I then made my way back to the hostel and enjoyed some breakfast and tea with my fellow Grinnell-In-Londoners.

 

Post-breakfast, we walked around the city on a walking tour, led by Professor Nuttel, which brought us to the Groeninge Museum. The museum had a fantastic collection of paintings, especially a few spectacular pieces by Jan Van Eyck, a famous painter who worked in Bruges. We analyzed the paintings and enjoyed the incredible opportunity to see them literally inches from our faces.

 

We then went on to tour a few more places, including a fantastic church with a statue by Michaelanglo! After the museums and churches were all visited, we were free to explore the city. I went chocolate shopping and also picked up a few postcards. It was another wonderful day in Bruges, and I am excited for our trip to Brussels tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures.

 

View From The Room

 

 

A Piece by Jan Van Eyck

Painting Analysis

 

Pastry Analysis

 

The Bellfry

The Michelangelo Piece