Week 4: Growing up as a Writer

Day 1: British Library

This week's featured novel was Ian McEwan's Atonement. This novel is based around the life of a girl growing up around the time of the second World War. The plot is centered around her and her troubled family relationship ending in a surprising way. Our first stop being the British Library we were able to see ancient documents and historic writings with our own eyes. Those featured were religious texts along with the Magna Carta. 

Day 2: Imperial War Museum 

Our second stop was my favorite of the week, the Imperial War Museum. A former psychiatric hospital, this building stands out from the rest with its new purpose featuring two large anti aircraft guns out front.  

Also out front is a piece of the Berlin Wall. This week's theme about writing speaks through this image as some Berliners wanted to portray their message of change in this powerful way. 

This is one of the more unfortunate sights to see, a bomb used to devastate towns and cities. This was an English bomb that would have been dropped throughout German as the Allies closed in on the Nazi's. However, innocent civilians were part of the casualties of war from weapons like this. Documents and letters from families depict the terrifying thought of being hit with one of these. 

Day 3: Nightingale Museum 

Our final stop was the Nightingale Museum, dedicated to the woman above, Florence Nightingale. She is credited with a huge part of professionalizing nursing and was also an incredible writer. 

Florence served as a nurse during the war in Crimea. During that time she was know as "the lady with the lamp" for her tireless walking up and down the corridors of her hospital checking on soldiers throughout the night. Eventually she establishes a nursing school that was strict but just what the time period needed to start advancing healthcare.   

During the latter years of her life, Florence fell ill and became confined to her bed. There she went on to write well over 6,000 letters and hundreds of books. Florence was far ahead of her time and I am inspired by her life's work and lasting legacy. Like Florence, we can all come of age as a writer. It all depends on when we are ready to make that transition.

Week 3: Growing up as a Traveler

Day 1: Soane Museum

Architect John Soane knew what it was like to be a traveler and go on the grand tour. However, his drawings and possessions he brought back had been lost forever. Since then, John began collecting priceless artifacts from all across the eastern hemisphere until his death. 

 He also purchased vast amounts of paintings. These combined with floors of jam-packed ancient art, John was able to bring the grand tour to his students so that they too could get a taste of what it is like to be a world traveler. 

Day 2: The National Gallery

Canaletto's A Regatta on the Grand Canal.  Canaletto's work was featured a lot this week because of his ability to portray Venice's beauty to his English audience. The reason why we saw so much of his work is because Canaletto's work helped prepare those who were about to embark on the tour as well as give a taste to those back in England who were less fortunate.

Canaletto's Venice: The Gran Canal with St. Simeone Piccolo. This picture above depicts a more quiet side of Venice while still being focused on the Grand Canal. This was a view that only England's most respected and wealthy would have seen in person. 

Day 3: Tate Britain 

JMW Turner's Rome from the Vatican. Raffaelle, Accompanied by La Fornarina, Preparing his Pictures for the Decoration of the Loggia. We returned to the Tate in search of JMW Turner's collection. He too participated on the grand tour and wanted to show his viewers back home what exactly it is like being in a place so beautiful. This scene above from the Vatican mashes time periods together in tribute to the great artist Raffaelle.  

JMW Turner's St. Benedetto, Looking towards Fusina. What many consider a leading member of the impressionist movement, Turner too captures the beauty of Venice in his own way.

This past week we read A Room With A View, a novel about changing views of society and also gaining an appreciation for your new surroundings. As I continue to walk the streets and move around London, I am noticing my ability to find beauty in not the touristy parts but the older and lesser know parts of London. Like the main character in the novel Lucy, I too am shedding my  title of a tourist and growing up and becoming a traveler. 

Week 2: Coming of Age as a Thinker and Skeptic

Day 1: Oxford 

Above is the bell tower at Oxford's Christ Church College designed by the iconic Christopher Wren. 

 Here is the Great Hall where the pictures of some of Oxford's best and brightest graduates hang including Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin.  

This is the famous "rabbit hole" that was the gateway to adventure for Alice in Oxford's own, Lewis Carroll's Alice Adventure in Wonderland. 

Day 2: Eltham Palace

 This is Eltham Palace which is located just outside of London. 

The palace is comprised of both Medieval and Baroque style architecture which promotes personal values and religious beliefs.  

The palace received extensive damage during  World War II, but luckily was not completely devastated by the bombings. 

Day 3: Hampton Court Palace

Upon entry to the palace, the statues of the animals and crests of the royal families that have occupied the estate remind you just how important this place is.  

King William III's apartment staircase display his religious beliefs and power  he had in a piece of artwork starting at ground level going all the way to the middle of the ceiling. 

King Henry's personal apartment displays his dislike for the Catholic Church with this violent piece of artwork in which the Pope himself is being stoned. 

Throughout the week we learned to grow as a thinker and a skeptic. I learned that with good decision making and a bit of guidance, we are all able to make it to the center of the maze in our crazy yet beautiful world. 

Week 1 Visits

Day 1: The Foundling Museum 

 Hogarth's Gin Alley.

The three greatest causes for foundlings: alcohol, sex, and violence.

A mother's final gift.

Day 2: The Geffrye Museum 

Loneliness, the life of a governess.

A typical governess' room.

Day 3: Tate Britain

A wife caught in adultery. 

Yearning for escape. 

The Awakening Conscience.