Medieval England – There and Back Again

The Beauty of the Tube

When you think of the city of London, what immediately comes to mind? Big Ben? London Bridge? Taylor Swift’s song “London Boy?” All good answers, but not what I would think of now. Throughout my first experience in London, I was able to learn about the history of this beautiful city, see wonderful pieces of art, and form amazing friendships that I will always cherish.

The Tower of London was one place I was initially excited to see prior to this tour. Dr. Gathagan provided a mini-lecture on The Chapel of St John the Evangelist, where we got to see and learn about the beautiful architecture that made up the chapel. We got to witness the changing of the guards outside the tower, which was much less interesting than I had anticipated but still entertaining. My favorite part, however, was getting to see the Crown Jewels. There, a collection of royal ceremonial objects from the past eight hundred years were displayed for us to see. The mystique and beauty of the diamonds on the crown, the jewelry that was exhibited, and the silverware and plates and tea cups were fascinating to see. There is so much royal history behind these beautiful objects, and there is nothing else like it. Do not try to take pictures when you are in this part of the tower (trust me I tried.)

On the second to last full day of our trip, we got to see a production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre, which was a theatre built by Shakespeare’s playing company. The set of the theatre alone was amazing to see, as sitting and observing the stage transported you to a time when Shakespeare’s plays were the most popular source of entertainment. As a fan of Shakespeare’s work and a love for the theatre, being in this setting was truly magical. The show itself was also incredible, making this my absolute favorite part of the trip. A piece of advice, especially for the English majors: make sure to save enough money when you go to the Globe because their gift shop is spectacular.

Another piece of advice to the future students who attend this trip: please practice your navigational skills ahead of time. Our group had a tendency to get lost in every city, and many of us were not familiar with the underground railway system, which is a must when you are traveling around London. To reference the title of this blog post, I end my message with the beauty of the tube. To travel around the city of London, the tube is your best friend. It brings you to all of these historical, beautiful, and entertaining places at wicked speed, and as you exit the tunnel and are exposed to a brand new setting.

Along with this, figuring out which trains we needed to take and which stop we needed to get off was a bonding experience for sure. Sure, we took the wrong train more than once. No one seemed to mind though, as we all were comfortable with each other and knew we would eventually find our way. By the last two days of the trip, most of us if not all were able to navigate through the tube ourselves, something we can all say we learned on this trip. I will never forget the friendships I made (and strengthened) throughout this trip, and it was an experience I will never forget.

Grace Tampori

An Exploration of London’s Theater Scene

London was not a city of good first impressions. Try dragging your luggage with 13 other people onto the tube and you’ll see what I mean. Then, try almost getting hit by a car, twice in the same street. That’ll give you an even better sense of how I was feeling when we first arrived. Having fallen in love with York and Cambridge, I wasn’t sure what to make of London. I wasn’t familiar with large cities, and I certainly wasn’t happy about abandoning the lovely cottagecore vibes of our past excursions to traipse through busy, albeit clean, city streets. London was our final four days in England, however, so I did my best to get on better terms with it.

London had one thing that put us on truly agreeable terms: theater. I had the opportunity to visit three different theaters while I was in London and see some incredible (and incredibly unique) shows. Our first was the 47th, shown at the Old Vic, a dark political comedy about the next American election. The story itself was great; written in iambic pentameter, the writers were witty enough to make fun of our political atrocities without resorting to poking at a certain someone’s intelligence. The politics, however, were mostly a British fantasy and thoroughly British humor, making it a bit too realistic in places as an American in the audience. The best part, however, was at the end when we were walking back to the tube, and I did a complete verbal literary analysis, of which poor Dr. Bender was subjected to listen.

The next play was Much Ado About Nothing, performed at none other than the Globe itself. After a rousing tour of the facilities, in which we were kicked out of the theater and politely informed that Shakespeare was written in Old English, we were set free for a solid half hour before the show. I discovered the cousin to grilled cheese, the cheese pocket pie, and ate a decadent cookie before returning to the theater, this time with a warm welcome, for the show to begin. As all good Shakespeare companies do, they’d updated the historical setting a bit. The soldiers were now WWII era (I think? Apologies to Dr. Gathagan if I am mistaken), and Leanato was now Leanata. Which, frankly, I think was much better, and really complicated the scene were everyone paints Hero with a scarlet letter. It’s one thing for your father to be upset with you for supposedly cheating, but it’s another thing for your mother to throw you under the bus. Of course, all’s well that ends well, and they all lived happily ever after.

Just after seeing Much Ado, Dr. Bender and I quickly went off like the cool kids we are to a much smaller blackbox theater, The Southwark Playhouse, to see an indie musical, LIFT. Running at just 90 minutes, this play was the shortest but also my favorite, and a perfect introduction to Pride Month. With music vibes similar to Jonathan Larson’s Tick Tick… Boom! and Superbia, and a story reminiscent of Rent (also by Larson), the show takes place over 54 seconds in one man’s imagination as he works through the breakup of a lifetime. He uses these other people around him to imagine different lives, different paths, and different ways of life, ultimately coming to better understand his own. Many of the characters he imagines are queer, explicitly so sexuality-wise and implicitly in the ways of gender, but with such nuance and tenderness that it feels like he knows them personally. Every story is unique and realistic, and there could easily be a play about each and every character. At the end of 54 seconds, it seemed our man had really found his way. I think this show is my favorite, not only because I love musicals and all things gay, but also because it felt the most down to Earth. It felt real.

While I can’t say London has completely stolen my heart, I found little pockets of joy and amusement throughout the city’s theaters. I discovered the beauties of modern London while on a trip to learn about the medieval. Really, I got the best of both worlds.

~Andi Bruce

Discovering York On the Ouse Cruise

I’ve spent a lot of my life traveling and moving from place to place, and consequently I spend a lot of time thinking where I’d like to settle down. I am destined to live in the same place, I just know it. I want a house and a yard and a community to call my own. This was not what I was thinking about when I traveled to England, but usually you find what you’re looking for when you stop looking. I found my little spot in York on the Ouse Cruise.

The river Ouse winds it’s way through the city, overlooked on the ends by beautiful trees and nature paths, and welcomed in the middle by a dock and little port warehouses. I’d already fallen in love with the city center; its cobblestone streets, little shops, and copious amounts of ghost tours made the place feel alive yet cozy. Not to mention the York Minster in all its dazzling architectural beauty. There was an overwhelming sense of life and grace within these city walls; it was both breathtakingly historical and somehow completely modern and chic as well.

It was on this little boat cruise around the Ouse that really cemented my love for York, however. In just an hour, we were able to see the parts of York a tourist would never reach. Groups of houses dotted the riverside and stretched out beyond. Citizens of York walked along the paths and crossed the Blue Bridge, so named because… well, you can figure it out. One man even waved to us as he swam in the Ouse. I loved this river, and this view, and this life I could imagine living here. I never wanted to leave.

Of course, all great things must come to an end, and our journey continued. It is my life goal to return to York though, whether as a student or a scholar, and revisit this grand city. Perhaps I’ll go to a service at the York Minster, or go kayaking on the Ouse. I’ll explore outside the city and get to know this place from the ground. And perhaps I’ll just stay for good.

~Andi Bruce

A Love Letter to London

London is and probably always will be my favorite city. The feeling you get walking around London is unlike anything else. You never run out of things to do, and this city is filled with excitement and vibrancy. I was really looking forward to our time in London and knew that it would be the perfect way to conclude our time in England.

It is impossible to see everything in London, but I think that we definitely made the most of our time there. The bus tour of London allowed us to see many parts of the city in a short amount of time and we got to learn a little bit of the city’s history, which I really enjoyed. The Tower of London was one of the highlights of this trip for me. I have always heard about it, but I’ve never seen it for myself. Spending the afternoon there was truly an amazing experience. I was blown away by the architecture and the history.

Out of all the cathedrals that we saw, Westminster Abbey was my favorite. I was in awe. The stained glass, the vastness of the cathedral, and the longevity of the structure left me completely amazed. Seeing something like Westminster Abbey for yourself is an unforgettable experience. My favorite part of Westminster Abbey was the Poet’s Corner. I took a class about British literature last semester and seeing the graves of people we had read like Percey Shelley, and John Keats was surreal. These are writers whom I have read and love, so this was such a special experience for me.

Another one of my favorite parts of our time in London was going on the London Eye. Being able to see London from that view was amazing. Looking over the city and taking that time to really soak it in is something I’ll never forget. London has so many iconic monuments, and being able to see them all on the London Eye is unreal. Although it is a very touristy attraction, it is definitely worth doing.

One thing that I love about London is that there are so many free things to do. I went to the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern, which were both incredible. These two galleries have such impressive collections, and I was able to see some of my favorite pieces of artwork. While London itself is very fast-paced and busy, walking around these quiet art galleries is a very restorative experience. I loved spending a few hours just walking around and enjoying the art.

I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to conclude your time in London than to see a play at The Globe. This was definitely what I was looking forward to the most while visiting London. We saw the play Much Ado About Nothing, and I loved it. I was not sure what to expect because I have read the play, but I didn’t know how they were going to interpret it. I thought they did an incredible job. It was hilarious and entertaining. Watching something like that is an unforgettable experience, and I’m so thankful that I was able to see it. I really valued having the tour of The Globe before the play because it really made you think about how many people have sat right where you are throughout history, and that was a surreal thing to think about it. I loved our afternoon at The Globe, and I’ll always remember it.

I love London and was so sad to leave. The time we spent there was short but so memorable and enjoyable. I’m beyond grateful for the experiences I had and the memories that I made. London will always be special to me and even more so now after this trip.

Cambridge Continued

The first time I visited Cambridge was during my sophomore year of college. I studied abroad there for a semester, and it quickly became one of my favorite cities. The day that we spent in Cambridge was nostalgic, exciting, and comforting. I didn’t know how it would feel to be back there again, but it felt so familiar. Walking around the streets of Cambridge was something I had done so many times before, but this time, I was experiencing the city in a new way.

When I went abroad for the first time, I had months to explore Cambridge, and everything became very routine while I was living there. This time though, we only had one day. The walking tour of Cambridge taught me a lot about the city that I never knew. Learning about the history of Cambridge and the stories that I would never have known otherwise only made me love Cambridge more. It was the place I was most looking forward to visiting, and it did not disappoint. Cambridge is the kind of city that feels exactly like what you expect when you think about England: the cobblestone streets, the beautiful architecture, the quaint side streets filled with little shops. The pace of Cambridge is much slower than somewhere like London. It’s the kind of city where you can take your time, and that’s one thing that I really love about Cambridge.

Learning about Cambridge University was extremely interesting. There was so much that I didn’t know, and hearing about the rich history of the university was beyond impressive. My favorite part of our day in Cambridge, and perhaps my favorite part of the whole trip, was punting. I had done it once before when I was studying abroad, but the second time was just as amazing as the first. The weather was perfect. It was sunny and cool with a slight breeze. After three days that were packed with so much being able to spend that time on the River Cam was exactly what I needed. I was able to spend that time soaking in my surroundings and appreciating the experience. Punting on the River Cam is something that you can do over and over again, and it never loses its charm. Cambridge University is picturesque and one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Although this wasn’t my first time visiting Cambridge, I was still just as blown away by this city. What made our day in Cambridge so special for me was that it allowed me time to slow down and really take in what was around me. I wanted to cherish every moment there and really make the most of it. I’m sure I will return to Cambridge one day, and after the day we spent there, I want to go back even more than I did before. Cambridge is the kind of city that is so easy to fall in love with. It is charming and scenic and definitely worth visiting.

Cambridge was one of my favorite parts of our time in England. Despite having lived there, it was still exciting and impressive. I know this was the first year that Cambridge was on the trip, but I think it really adds to the experience, and it is worth spending at least a day there.

Live. Love. London.

Big Ben, the London Eye, the London Bridge. All things that I knew I would be seeing in London; all things that I was still amazed at. We had spent a big chunk of the trip navigating London and for good reason. You could never run out of things to do while in this city. This city is one that a New York City lover would thrive in. As much as I love the vibes of small towns, I love the hurried pace that London brought.

Before getting into the things that we did for the academics, riding the London Eye is something that you should do once in your life. Yes, it is an insanely touristy thing to do. But, you are a tourist! Do it! All of the students went on together and we had a blast sitting in our cart just looking at the skyline. Sure, it’s just a huge Ferris wheel, but this is one that is worthwhile doing if you want the full experience of being a tourist in London. Same with Big Ben. Take a moment to admire it, even if you see it as a giant tower with a clock on it. It’s famous for a reason, so let yourself become immersed in it and understand why its beauty means something to people. You never know when you are going to be able to actually see it in person again.

Like the York Minster, the Westminster Abbey caught me breathless. This cathedral was nothing like I had expected it to be. Although it is startling to know that we were walking upon the graves of thousands of people, looking down and seeing names like Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin was astonishing. Don’t get me started on the literature memorial section that had statues and plaques for William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and many, many other writers. Other than them, knowing that I was standing in a place that so many people have stood before, those who are held in high regards, is still something that I have not fully processed.

Speaking of things that I have not fully processed, as an English major, a big dream of many is to go to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and see a play. One of my major dreams has come true. We saw the play, Much Ado About Nothing, and while this play was one that I considered one of my favorites, it has a guaranteed spot in my heart. Reading a play is one thing, but seeing it performed in the place that Shakespeare himself intended could bring an English major to tears. Even if you are not someone who has taken a liking to Shakespeare, or even plays in general, this could be an experience that will change your mind. The small differences between the written play and it being acted out did not go unnoticed, and just made me love it even more. Leonato’s character was changed to Leonata, creating story lines that were not created in the original, and brought an extra spice that Leonato’s original character was lacking, in my opinion. Not to go on too much about this event, even though I could probably go on all day, sitting in the seats of a theater that I know thousands have sat in before for the same reason that I was made me feel connected to every single person that was in the Globe with me, and even with the people that were there before and after me.

London was another city that exceeded expectations. Even though it did remind me of New York City, I tried to keep in mind that it wasn’t and that I was in fact in an entirely different country. Every city around the world has something special that makes it unique in its own way, so it is very important to seek out what makes it special, rather than what makes it just like everything else. It could be because I was lucky enough to meet amazing people on this trip that made every city enjoyable, but being in London was an experience I know I will never be able to replicate. I would relive this amazing experience over again if I could, but I’m proud to say I did not let a minute go to waste.

– Shannan Raynor <3

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