The Prince and the Pauper

Yesterday's British Life and Culture was very busy. There were three big sites to visit: The Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, and Parliament.

Up first was Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. It is not the original building as it burned down many years ago. The building currently standing was built about 1/4 mile down the river, but it was done in the same way as the first. We were given a tour and explanation how theater was very different from what we know today. Plays were rarely performed more than a few times and actors were only given a few days to learn their part of a script. Their lines and the three words preceding (a cue) were given to them on rolled up paper (a role). We then walked to where the original Globe stood. It is only a sign and a marking on the ground.

We made a quick stop at Borough Market for lunch and then headed to Tate Modern. It in a building that used to be a power station. It is huge on the outside and sits right next to the River Thames at the Millennium Bridge. I went in expecting to see a few small galleries a la MOCA in LA. To my surprise practically the entire building is open to the public. I browsed through most of the collections but will have to make a second trip to see the good stuff again.

Our final stop on our jam-packed day was Parliament. After going through security and getting a picture badge (which they take without telling you), we walked in Westminster Hall. It is amazing to see the building up-close with such intricate details. We were given a tour of the building where we followed the path the Queen takes when she comes to open Parliament each year. We walked through each of the houses, Lords and Commons. The House of Lords is mainly ceremonial. They cannot create laws but they can amend ones created by the House of Commons. So they are still influential but don't have the same authority they used to. We then saw the House of Commons where the real work happens. Each hose has its own color, Lords are red and Commons are green.



It is amazing to be in a place where decisions about the creation of America happened: Benjamin Franklin, the Stamp Act, and the delivery of the Declaration of Independence just to name a few.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler