"Remember, remember the 5th of November,
the gunpowder treason and plot,
I can think of no reason why the gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot."
- Elrond Halfelven, King of Rivendel
The 5th of November (also known as Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night) is a British holiday commemorating an unsuccessful attempt by Jesuit radicals to blow up a protestant controlled Parliament along with King James the 2nd. It is celebrated with bonfires, effigies, and the wearing of masks in the likeness of one of the thrawrted bombers, Guy Fawkes.
Woke up at 5 am again. Fell asleep again around 9 and slept until 11. Jet lag is a harsh mistress.
Des and I rode a bus to The Tower of London. Famed for having been built a long time ago, having housed a lot of soon-to-be-dead people, and featuring a hammy performance by Basil Rathbone. The oldest sections were built nearly a thousand years ago, and apparently most of the people coming to visit it were in their 30s while it was being built...because they're so old...did you...did that make sense?
"We want to see a beheading!"
Scattered all about the lawn were metal poppies as a further war memorial. The poppies were meant to be taken down this weekend, but apparently public demand...demanded that they stay up longer, so they will. I know of at least one critic of this decision. A little British boy was insistently asking his mum (mom), "But when are they going to be taken dooooooooown?"
That's right kid, take a bull-dozer to the whole lot!
After that, we rode another bus up to Chelsea...the ritzy neighborhood in the city that invented ritz. They also invented calling people out for being so slow...
If a grandmum becomes confused and starts grazing in the middle of the street, just honk your horn. That should spook her into galloping home.
While walking, I found a two-pence coin sitting on the sidewalk. I picked it up only to hear a shout from down the street. One window cleaner was shouting to his buddy: "Oy! He's taking your money!"
I assume he was joking. Two pence is worth about an american nickle.
In any case, finders keepers, so I just kept walking.
Gosh, I hope he was joking...and isn't some sort of master assassin.
We then rode a bus to the London Theatre (theater) district...no, not to partake in London's rich theatrical heritage. That just happens to be where the comic book shoppe (shop) Forbidden Planet is located! It was at this point in the day that Des decided to go her own way. The idea of a room full of sweaty nerds didn't seem to appeal to her...odd.
To those of us who've made our peace with body odor...Forbidden Planet was the greatest! Cool statuettes, nerd-based clothes, and comics, comics, comics!
Watch out, Batman! Flaming Harry Potter is right behind you!...Or did the fiery burst of the Batmobile's jets light Harry Potter on fire?...Either way. Awesome.
Probably because it was the 5th of November, they had a V for Vendetta display, complete with overpriced Guy Fawkes masks.
"Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
the selfie with no intention to buy..."
I then found my way to an awesome used book store, with some cool books starting as low as 50 pence (~70 cents)! I got some British classics (William Blake and G.K. Chesterton) as well as a super cool Tim Burton book!
After that, I met up again with Des near the Parliament building. I heard that there'd be a lot of activity down there for the 5th. What we found instead were three policemen on every corner, security cameras set up everywhere you can possibly imagine, public parks preemptively fenced off, and large signs proclaiming, "No Activity. No bonfires. No playing of loud music." Viva la revolucion? (In London's defense, the cameras are always there...always watching...wait, did I say "in London's defense"? I meant to say, "to the great shame of any Londoner who's read 1984").
Turns out that a parade would later pass through that area and they didn't want any other activity (political or otherwise) disrupting it. I did, however, see one woman casually wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and another fellow who'd obviously shaved his beard to better match Mr. Fawke's goatee.
In any case, Des and I fled the scene and met up with her husband Alec for Fish n' Chips (I know, cliched) at a local pub (I know, cliched). There was football (soccer) on the TV (I know, cliched) and Des and Alec each had a pint of beer (...do I really need to keep doing this?). The food was delicious.
Then we went back to the flat and drifted off to sleep to the sound of fireworks.
"Penny for the guy?"
This is mom under a mome de plume:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful chronicle of a London day...well done!