Photo by : Rules of London
As a “student ambassador” for London Universities International Partnership ( LUIP), I have been invited to an assortment of activities around London for the year. Our first venture was an exploration around London as a part of a “scavenger hunt” lead by Insider London . Our goal was to find key buildings, discover facts, take lots of photos, visit historic areas, and learn the ins and outs of the tube while having fun. We broke up into two teams of twelve and the pictures below outline some of my experiences.
Palace of Westminister aka Houses of Parliment aka Big Ben aka Clock Tower aka Elizabeth Tower
So obviously our attempt was to make it look like he was pushing the tower. After careful review, I can officially say, we were close but not quite there.
This is a police station. No really! This police station. It is also known as a “Police Box” and is described as the smallest police station in the UK, some even suggest the world. Such small stations were established in both the US and the UK after the invention of the telephone. These stations were a way of connecting police in more remote areas to the main police stations. For more info check out this website : http://www.policeboxes.com/pboxhist.htm
The next three pictures were taken on the infamous Brick Lane. As you see below, the street sign here is also written in Bengali. Brick lane has a great reputation for great Indian restaurants and some of the best curry dishes. Historically, Brick lane was a transitory area with a variety of migrants settling here once they arrived to London. However, the Bangladeshi community has remained in this area throughout recent years and the area continues to represent this through its restaurants, places of worship and array of business establishments. I hope to visit again in the near future.
To learn more : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_Lane
The “Shard”
As the tallest structure in the European Union and the second tallest in the UK, this icon of London has become the prime location to get a bird’s eye view of the city. It stands at 1,016 feet tall. While this is a classified skyscraper, it till falls short of the newly constructed World Trade Center in New York which stands at 1,776 feet. I’ve yet to go inside, but as soon as I do, you’ll know all about it.
For more info:
http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/#about-the-view
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_United_States
The Rain
How could I possibly tell you about my fabulous day in the city without sharing how incredibly hard it rained? As you can see, I was prepared ! This photo was taken on the millennium bridge which suspends over the River Thames.
Guy Fawkes Day
Observed annually on November 5th, Guy Fawkes Day, also known as bond fire night is celebrated throughout the country. This tradition is a celebration of the day that King James I escaped imminent threat upon his life as initiated by Guy Fawkes. There was a plot to blow up the House of Lords using great amounts of gunpowder. However, the plot was foiled and Fawkes was hung. In celebration of Fawkes’s death and the Kings escape from death, communities around the country have celebrated through bonfire since the 1600’s. Today it is also celebrated throughout the UK using fireworks. While November 5th is the recognized date, celebration is felt through the week as families light their own personal fireworks.
For more history on Guy Fawkes day see : http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/gunpowder_robinson_01.shtml
Regent Street Lights
My day ended on Regent Street, a bustling shopping hub. Upon exiting the tube station, the street was packed with people standing shoulder to shoulder. However, my experience was more like elbow to my shoulder! Nonetheless, I had fun with one of my fellow Fulbright colleagues as we waited for the Regent Street lights to turn on. This lighting stands as the official symbol of the Christmas holiday season.
More information see : http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/regent-street-christmas-lights-feature-event-4175.html
Learning English : My Fulbright year in England 