London days 1 and 2! (AKA: I still don't understand Modern Art.)

Erika and I met up at the JFK airport on Wednesday and flew out of JFK at 6:40pm. Neither of us were able to get much sleep on the plane but we got some much needed energy as we landed at London Heathrow, went through customs, and then met Anastasia Khrypach just outside. She took us to her brother Mikhail's flat where we will be staying until we meet up with the Contiki group. They are so gracious to host us for the whole time and we're really grateful to stay here with them!

We knew that jet lag would hit us as soon as we stopped moving so we first hit the grocery store and bank with Anastasia and then we took the train in from Raynes Park (where the flat is) to Waterloo Station on the Southbank. From there, we walked to Westminster Abbey. I geeked out (appropriately) about the many poets and scientists buried there and we enjoyed a really nice guided audio tour (narrated by the British BAMF known as Jeremy Irons.)

After finishing the tour we trudged, in the London rain, to the National Gallery. The rain is bitter cold. It's June. What gives, London? Art was not the best idea to fight jet lag. We faded fast (after seeing the Canaletto room... which houses the greatest works of art in the city. No apologies to Van Gogh or Picasso.) Erika was surprised to find her friend Anuja from Cincinnati in the Canaletto gallery, too. Further proof that it's the best place to be. We'll definitely be meeting up with her again soon... and maybe Michelle (Phanny... but don't say that in England. You can Google it if you want to know why.)

We took in a seemingly endless swath of paintings and galleries before finally giving up and heading to Pret a Manger for some caloric energy - Apple Soda and Ice Tea (with no "nasties"... allegedly.) Then we took the Picadilly Line (I've missed you) to Hatton Cross and met Vladimir, Anastasia and Mikhail's father, and his wife. They took us to their home in Shepperton and gave us a DELICIOUS and WAY TOO FILLING home meal. We loved spending time with them (and I loved showing Erika off) but as the night wore on (to 9 and 10pm) our jet lag took over. Vladimir drove us home and then we both fell asleep almost instantly. I've never actually slept for 11 hours without interruption but it's really, really nice. I highly recommend it.

This morning, we got up and I fixed us some breakfast (ENGLISH muffins + Porridge = Britain's finest.) Then we took the train back to Waterloo and hiked down the South Bank (as I geeked out about the 1951 Festival of Britain, which was held right there!) We crossed an unnamed bridge and found the massive St. Paul's Cathedral. We took another quality audio tour and went all the way through the Cathedral Floor (unfortunately without the soothing and precise baritone of Jeremy Irons.) Then we ascended the 538 steps to the very top of St. Paul's and enjoyed remarkable 360 degree views of London, from Westminster to Greenwich and back.

We descended (much easier than ascending) and then went even further down to the crypt. After paying our respects we left St. Paul's, crossed the Voldemort-destroyed Millennium Bridge, and entered the Tate Modern Gallery. I wanted to show Erika some of the very rare good modern art that I'd remembered from visiting two years ago. Unfortunately it was gone, replaced by some really ridiculous and unnecessarily abstract stuff. Our favorite pieces were a mirror on a canvas (like an actual medicine-cabinet mirror... on a canvas... ART! YAY! http://q103albany.com/snl-shows-that-m-i-a-cant-top-madonna-when-it-comes-to-shock-video/,) a thin white octagon (not symmetrical and pasted to the wall... it was literally paper cutouts. Once we realized it was there, it was "ever present." And, last but not least, the big storage unit filled with stuff that was left behind after the garage sale. Seriously, Erika and I were amazed not by the creativity of the artists but of the museum curators who have to explain some of these pieces. Our actual favorite pieces were a collection of satirical illustrations and magazine covers drawn by John Heartfield to protest the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany.

After leaving the Tate Modern and breathing in some common-people air, we went to dinner at a small restaurant on the Southbank. After some delicious British food (I know, oxymoron) we headed to the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre to see the NT's production of "Antigone." The company set the production in a 1940s war bunker and Christopher Ecclestone (of Dr. Who fame... be jealous, Rennie) played Creon. While I'm not the biggest fan of the story, the company did a fantastic job and the set was magnificent. The show was also very meticulously directed. As a bonus, we got to see Alfie Enoch... or Dean Thomas from the Harry Potter films. (Stay jealous, Rennie.) Jamie Ballard, who played Tiresias, definitely stole the show even though his character was only on stage for a few minutes!

When the show ended we headed back to Waterloo Station and were lucky to immediately hop on a train heading to Raynes Park. After a short 20 minute ride we were at our station and then walked back to Mikhail's flat. Now we're fighting off a bit more jet lag and back online for the first time in a few days.

Check back soon! We wish everyone the best!

-Simon & Erika