more museums and charades!

On Wednesday I had brit lit again, we started reading Daisy Miller by Henry James , and I love it so far. And I don’t know why. I should have majored in English I think, this art history thing isn’t really panning out. But enough of that. I came back , ate a quick dinner and then met the parents at their hotel (which is quite nice). I like doormen as well. My house will have a dumbwaiter and a doorman, even if it is me.

We then walked to the Victoria and Albert museum which is a few blocks away, passing the Natural History museum whose front yard has been turned into tents for london fashion week. We paid the extra bit of money to see the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit. Now there is one interesting man. He was incredibly smart, I had no idea he did so much. I knew to an extent that he was interested in math and proportions and anatomy, but did not realize he had done so much with it. The drawings were fascinating, such skill, but so scattered in his own organized way. It is mind boggling. I have a new respect for him now; not that I didn’t respect him before…but I mainly respected him as Leonardo the ninja turtle…I mean painter.

Only certain areas of the museum are open late, so we saw only a few galleries. We looked at many silver objects (ooooh shiny!), and I took the time to make a stamp with this little area that is definitely for small children. I enjoyed myself. We also saw this room full of stained glass. It was fantastic. I watched a video on how they make it and it is quite complicated but intriguing. I think I am going to start up a hobby as a stained glass maker, i am sure it is a cheap little weekend activity. It is actually really cool to see the steps they go through, with making the original design, cutting the glass with a diamond cutter, staining it (sometimes it is already stained before cut), painting it, fitting it into the lead, cementing over it to make it waterproof, then scratching off the extra cement. So cool. You have to see it.

On the way back, we got some tea at this nice little coffee house down the street from the hotel, called, coincidentally, Coffee House. We took it back up to the hotel where we had that and some chocolate croissants. Mother insisted my dad walk me back to the tubes, which mind you, was literally around the corner. I don’t think she quite grasps the fact that I live here now…and walk many places alone, and go on the tubes alone. But she will never stop worrying so it is ok. I read my henry james book on the tubes, the trip is much more pleasant when you can read rather then be cramped in with a billion commuters in rush hour. Came home with every intention of showering ,writing my papers a bit, then sleeping; however, I saw a friend in the hallway who told me to come play charades with them down the hall. So I did. Good decision. Free chocolate and free fun. That’s what life is about.