So we've been hearing all trip that the place to go out for locals is Shoreditch. Last night we decided to check it out. I don't need to go into the details, the memory will just make me frustrated and anxious, but we ended up wandering around this neighborhood for hours, trying to find somewhere to go, getting lost, waiting in lines, figuring out maps... it was terrible. By the time 1:00 rolled around we were waiting in line for a bar and just decided to forget it, it wasn't worth it. Plus we knew it would be a fiasco getting home... which it was. Four bus stops, three buses, a long walk and almost two hours later, we made it back to our beloved Manson Place, where I never wanted to leave again. We had spent a grand total of about 45 minutes actually inside a bar and it was 3:30 before we were asleep.
This was a problem, because I had plans this morning to go to the Henley Royal Regatta, which I was very excited about. I got up after 4 hours of sleep, put on my long dress (it must be below the knee to get in... love it), made my way to Paddington station and was ten minutes early to meet Nicole and her boyfriend. After a half hour, though, the train we were supposed to take had left, the one after it had left, and still no sign of them. I was starting to feel very sorry for myself that I was alone in this enormous train station and no cell phone or anything to get ahold of anybody, and then I thought: well, that's okay, I can always go see Much Ado. So I left, hopped the Tube to the London Bridge, and headed over to the Globe feeling really confused about what had just happened but actually pretty okay about the whole thing.
I got coffee and wrote in my journal and embraced the idea of being alone in London, for the first time since I've been here, really. My parade was rained on by the ticket seller, though, who informed me that seats were all sold out for today. I wasn't terribly devastated--I should have known a Saturday matinee in July would sell out quickly--but also wasn't nearly ready to leave yet. So I perused the gift shop, finally buying DVD copies of Romeo & Juliet and Love's Labour's Lost from the 2009 season. Who knows if they'll be any good, but I thought it'd be nice to bring home a piece of the Globe. Also R&J is one of my favorite shows (the other is Hamlet). Also the guy who played Claudio is in both of them. Triple win.
I wrote in my journal again and still couldn't bring myself to leave, so I investigated the sign that said "Exhibition and Tour". I'd already taken the tour with everyone else, so I just paid 5 pounds to check out the exhibition. It was interesting; exactly what I wanted to do if I couldn't actually see the show. They had some costumes from previous performances and a lot of history and it was all quite good.
Finally I thought it might be time to take my leave, so I headed out and started walking towards the Tube. As I was walking, though, I saw the woman who plays Beatrice headed towards the theatre, cell phone and coffee in hand. That makes three times I've seen actors outside of the theatre. Very odd. Anyway, I thought I might sit just a bit longer and see if I could see anyone else, while also writing in my journal for the third time. They closed the gates a few moments later though and I figure it was really finally time to go.
Back at home, my roommates were all terribly relieved to see me. Apparently Nicole's bus had gotten delayed, twice, and they hadn't made it to Paddington until after I'd left. She felt so bad about leaving me that she sent the boys ahead and came all the way back home to get me, assuming I'd come home when I couldn't find them there. I felt awful when I heard that, because I actually thought as I left the station that I should probably go home and check in, but the allure of being on my own and spending time at the Globe was too strong. My other roommates practically had to force Nicole to go, she felt so bad about leaving me. So now of course I feel bad. It's bad all around. I haven't heard from her, but hopefully she met up with the boys and is having a great time. Someday I'll see the Henley, just not today.
Today officially marks the halfway point of my trip. What an amazing time.
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