24 September 2015

CAMBRIDGE, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, AND POT LUCK DINNER!


Well this is the second installment of the 2015 London Blog.  It has been a hectic couple of weeks so I finally found time to write one.  

CAMBRIDGE:

On our first Friday we went to Cambridge.  A fantastic university town with a lot of history.  When we arrived, we passed by one of the many punting boat docks.  Later in the day some of the students did go punting.  Most of the boats are operated by college students.  You can find them throughout the city hawking their boats for a tour.  Punting on the Cam River is lots of fun and very informative.  






Andrew watching the punting boats go by...
                           


Our tour guide, Rosalind, was a terrific guide. She took us to various parts of the city, explained the University system, and the history of Cambridge.



A hangman used to travel to the city to hang people.  This is where he lived.  Notice the sign hanging (no pun intended) outside his door. 



Here is the Grasshopper clock that was a gift to the City by an alum.  There are blue LED lights that show the time.  The grasshoppers legs move the gold cylinder every second.





Kings College



King's College Chapel that was first built by Henry VII and completed by Henry VIII.


One can see the Tutor coat of arms.  Also the Rose which is a symbol from the War of the Roses.  A sign of the Tutor Kings. You will also find this symbol on the Gate at Canterbury.


The magnificent fan ceiling in the King's Chapel.



Some of the stained glass that survived Cromwell's destruction!


A Rubens painting that was donated to the Chapel.  In order for it to fit in they had to lower the floor so that the top of the painting would not block the stained glass window.

Some of the graffiti that Cromwell's men put on the wall when they were living in the Chapel.  It is a horse with a plume on its head.  It was discovered when they were removing the paneling from the walls.



One of the most famous landmarks in Cambridge is The Eagle Pub.  During the Second World War it was a hangout for both British Air Force (RAF) and the American Air Force.  It is also where the discovery of DNA was announced.  The same with other scientific discoveries.  Isaac Newton's tree (or a relative of the actual tree) is still here in Cambridge in the same spot the original was in.  Cambridge boasts the largest number of Nobel recipients.



It is written in the lease of the pub that this upstairs window must remain open all the time.  A young girl was killed in a fire in this room and could not get out.  So her ghost needs the window open to get out of the room!  One time a worker shut it and a fire immediately broke out in the kitchen!!!

The ceiling in one room of the pub is covered with graffiti from the soldiers.  Most of it is done with cigarettes or lighters.  The whole ceiling is covered.  Pretty cool!


 It is mostly of their units or squadrons.


Most of us had lunch at The Eagle.  Lisa Ann had a hamburger.


Many had fish and chips!


Being Greek, I, of course, had the lamb shank...



One of the best places in Cambridge is the Fudge store where they give out free samples.  I bought 4 kinds of fudge for everyone for the bus ride home.


 Andrew and Cindy giggling while waiting for the bus!  We don't want to know what this was all about.



THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG:


For the Theatre in London class we went to see The Play That Goes Wrong.  This was for the unit on Farce, British Music Hall, and Pantomime.  We went on a Sunday matinee. Then we went to rehearsal.  The play is hysterical!  I think the advertising is brilliant.  Take a look!!!



Andrew having his pre-show coffee, per usual.










Part of the pre-show is some of the cast, technician, stage manager, actors, etc running around inside and outside on the sidewalk looking for Winston, a dog that is supposed to be in the play but ran off.  At one point they were in the audience looking for Winston and decided maybe someone would have to wear a dog suit and play the part.  We told them Jack would do it, so they made him audition by barking!  This was Jack's first West End audition!  We then told them it was his birthday, which it wasn't, and they had the whole audience sing "Happy Birthday" to him!  He loved every minute of it!!!! And we had a good laugh.  Here is a picture of the set.  This group will also be doing The Panto that Goes Wrong: Peter Pan.  I can just imagine!




POT LUCK DINNER...

Broadmead; The student flats where the dinner occurred.  Seeing that we did not have rehearsal last week on Tuesday, Andrew suggested we do a pot luck dinner!  And we did!


Kaylynne did the decorations.  Here are some of them.







Some of the cooks:  Kenny making Goulash
                             


Ally and Kaylynne making a salad.


Lisa Ann making brownies, yum!  Colleen also made burnt smore brownies but they were good!


Hungry people waiting with anticipation!!!!



The Food!!!




Cindy's rice!!!



Beef Goulash and Greek Chicken


My Greek Chicken!  Came out awesome if I do say so myself!


Andrew's pasta and cheese.  Jake made tortellini with tomato sauce.


Bailey's zucchini and cheese bake.


Brownies and Salad...

A good time was had by all...


Stay tune for the next blog coming this week to see what else we have been up to these past four weeks...If you want to follow us subscribe and remember our show in Wimbledon, Some American's Abroad, is Oct 14 -17 at 7:30 pm




THAT'S ALL FOLK!!!!

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