War and Remembrance...

Not one to let the opportunity of a "free weekend" in London slip by, I was definitely able to make the most of the time...

Attending the BBC Proms on Friday evening was a great, nearly spur-of-the-moment experience. I wasn't sure if it would even be possible given the class schedules and the rapid sellout of some of the performances I was interested in. Thankfully my flatmates had also expressed interest in attending the Proms as well, so we were able to quickly coordinate our schedules and find a good concert that was not yet sold out. It was great to finally see (and "hear") Royal Albert Hall and enjoy the uniquely casual atmosphere of the Proms, which isn't necessarily what one expects when attending a classical music concert. But, it's a wonderful summer tradition that has been part of the British cultural scene for 115 years.

Re-living a childhood memory came on Saturday afternoon, when I finally rode an original Routemaster double-decker bus for the first time in 32 years. Not many other memories from traveling with my parents in London in 1978 have remained, but I could never forget the Routemasters, especially after bringing home an original Lego version of the bus as a souvenir all those many years ago. Though withdrawn from regular service since December 2005, the Routemasters still operate on two short "heritage routes" through Central London, and still draw the attention of both tourists and Londoners alike.

Saturday evening was back to the theatre to see 'Love Never Dies', Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Despite some earlier adventures while trying to tracking down reasonably-priced seats from various discount ticket sellers, it was a very kind woman working at the Adelphi Theatre box office who ultimately gave us the best price and seats you could ask for: front row center, literally right behind the conductor and just below the stage. The show itself was amazing, with the same level of incredible staging and beautiful music that made the original so popular. My classmates and I were certainly fortunate to have been able to see it here in London!

Sunday afternoon was the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum. I went through the museum rather quickly, but made sure I at least visited every exhibit while I was there. Their collection is both extensive and impressive, and having seen plenty of U.S.-focused museums both back in the States and in Europe, it was an interesting change to see a museum truly centered on Great Britain's history of war, and its effect not just on the soldiers, but the civilians as well. It was both a very insightful and sobering experience, and certainly a great way to cap off the weekend!