LONDON (IV)

London’s underground is used by hundreds of thousands people every day and we joined them the third day. As you can see in the picture, there are many lines, each one with a different colour. That allowed us to move all over the city because there are plenty of tube station entries spread over London. One of the characteristics of this network is that it is very old and the underground road tunnels can be really deep. Because of that, the use of a lift or escalators is essential if you don’t want to become exhausted after two journeys. Lifts are huge because they have to transport about fifty people at the same time (you always get fined if you press the alarm button without a good cause). Escalators are also very long, with enough space for two persons per step, and, as a collective agreement, you must place yourself at the right side to leave a go-ahead for those who want to go up faster. There are mirrors at the corners of the corridors (maybe to prevent a crash with those who walk in the opposite direction or to see if there’s somebody dangerous at night). Mind the gap is a very famous message which warns of the space between the tube and the platform, it has become one of London’s symbols (like the look right) and you can find it in many merchandising products like T-shirts, key rings or lighters.

First of all we visited some constructions near the river, we crossed the Millennium Bridge, which was designed by Norman Foster, and we stayed a few minutes near the Tate Modern, a contemporary art museum, before entering into the Globe Theatre,were we would do the only guided tour of the trip. I have to say that the reconstruction of Shakespeare's theatre is one of the best things I’ve watched in London, the place is so interesting and the explanation was better, very clear and easy to understand. Most of the building is made of wood and the thatched roof doesn’t cover the whole theatre, but sonority is very good.



After that, we had free time. We hurried up because we had time to watch the change of the guard. Then, we got on the tube to the Buckingham Palace. When we arrived, it was going to start and it was full of tourists. Some mounted police officers were controlling people in order to leave a free way for the guard. It was very difficult to see something but, suddenly, a group of guards went through the square near the palace and we started to hear music from a band. It was a strange melody, I had heard it before. But it couldn’t be possible because I had never been there and I didn’t know anything about the change of the guard. After some seconds I recognized the song, it was an adapted version of The Cup of Life, by Ricky Martin. Maybe it was a coincidence and the songs were similar or, perhaps, Ricky Martin had plagiarized it. But the following song was from the soundtrack of Rocky Balboa and it couldn’t be a chance. As it seems, the band of the guard adapts famous songs for that event. That was shocking and a bit disappointing.

We had arranged to meet near the Tower of London at lunch time and we arrived just on time. It is near the London Bridge and there is a square with some shops and takeaway restaurants. Most of people bought hot dogs, but I didn’t want to leave London without having tried fish and chips (also written fish ’n’ chips). As its name shows, it consisted of two pieces of fried fish and some chips (ketchup, mustard and other supplements were optional). I’m sorry for the picture but I was so concentrated that when I remembered to take a photo I had nearly finished it.



Then, we crossed the London Bridge to the other side of the river and we split up again. We had time to go anywhere but we had to return early to the hotel because most of people had to go to watch a musical. We had bought tickets for the musical We will rock you and The Phantom of the Opera, but I decided to stay at the hotel with some people. Then, we decided to go to Oxford Street, a place with many famous shops (like the Apple Store or one of Nokia’s flagship stores). I admit that I enjoy technological gadgets, but such a vast amount of consumerism made me sick (Without taking into account Harrods. I think I’ve become very critic after the research project). Time flew and it was time to go to the Tavistock Hotel.

We had notified the hotel in advance that we were going to eat early because we were in a rush, but they had forgotten that and the dinner wasn’t ready. We couldn’t wait and, after complaining a lot, they took us to one of their hotels, which was near ours. It was a buffet and we were able to choose one dish. Those who went to the musical had to leave and we had time to finish eating, watching how waiters picked up the half emptied dishes, sometimes full, bitterly.

While we were going back we smelt chlorine from a swimming pool that was into that hotel. It would have been fantastic to go for a swim in a heated swimming pool, but it was not possible. It was the last night. The cases had to be ready for the following day because we had to leave them in the same room than the first day.