This past weekend, the entire Cambridge group packed up our backpacks (with a few suitcases) and travelled to London. I loved London the last time I was in the UK, so I was really excited to go back and see what I remembered, and enjoy what was new.
While there were many things that I enjoyed seeing in London, I would have to say that my favorite thing was Westminster Palace and Parliament. When I walked into Westminster Hall, I was overwhelmed by the amount of history that was in that one room. I could imagine King Henry VIII holding a masque and everyone dancing in that room. I could imagine Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators in the Gunpowder plot being tried there. It was absolutely amazing to stand in a place where so much history had occurred.
Touring Parliament is a lot like touring places in Washington D.C. In D.C., you get to see where all of our government’s action takes place. I got a similar feeling when I was touring the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It was there that I began to realize and appreciate the similarities the American government shares with the English government. In both cases, we have two separate houses with a figurehead. No one group has too much power, and everyone keeps each other in check. It’s very cool to be in a place where you know that the greatest issues of the country are discussed and resolved.
Going to the theatre in England is one of the most exciting things to do. London especially is exciting because it was the home of William Shakespeare and other thriving playwrights of the Renaissance and later. I was thrilled that as a group, we had the opportunity to see two plays this weekend. My favorite would have to be Matilda, based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl. The sets were intricate, the music was fantastic, and the emphasis on Matilda’s brilliance and ability to read and tell stories was refreshing. I would absolutely recommend going to a play while in London.
Overall, it was a fantastic weekend, but I am definitely glad to be back in Cambridge, where it is not so busy and everything is smaller. I am looking forward to class this week as we start to get into the swing of things!
Going off to Hogwarts!
Big Ben
Cambridge Theatre where we saw Matilda
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