... by dickens! ...

there is something about the time change that makes it impossible for me to get myself out of bed before 8:30 a.m. (er... closer to 9:00 a.m., if i'm totally honest), which means that my days do not really get started until at least 10:00 a.m. (and sometimes closer to 10:30 a.m.). talk about a diversion from the norm! i suppose i could blame the coffee, but why bother? 

my initial plan for today (monday) included the british library; the victoria & albert museum (v&a); and the dickens museum and walking tour. didn't make it to the library (again), which i'm blaming on the crowded subway, which seemed to slow everything down (and, more truthfully, my late start, which was further delayed by a spontaneous stop at pret a manger for an americano (i was still committed to staying off the cappuccino at this point in the day), an almond croissant (very reminiscent of my mom's danish puff, but not quite as good), and a half an hour of people watching). 

i wasn't kidding, though, when i said the subway was busy; that was a total truth. the district and central lines were still down, so all travel was coming and going out of victoria. seas and seas of people, coupled by slow moving queues, made it seem like it took at least twice as long to get from point a to point b.  you know what i noticed, though?  although people were frustrated with the crowds and slower-moving pace, people just moved along the best they could, without much to-do and no pushing (at least i wasn't pushed along by anyone). very civilized, indeed.

the v&a is massive! room after room after room of art and design from around the world and time periods - six levels, each hosting a labryinth of rooms.  i started in fashion and saw how both women's and men's fashion has evolved over the last couple of centuries, particularly in terms of style and societal influence. check out the bathing suits (and tennis dress!) from the 1920s!



i also enjoyed the glass exhibits, organized according to century.  here is a view of the railing, adjacent to cases of beautiful glass work.

not knowing how long it would take me to get from south kennsington to russell square, i took leave of the v&a around 12:30, which ended up being perfect timing, landing me at my next destination only twenty minutes earlier than i'd planned (just enough time to feed my coffee habit and have something to eat).  then it was off to the dickens museum - 48 doughty street. although dickens only lived in the house for two years, two of his daughters were born and he finished writing the pickwick papers and wrote oliver twist while residing there.  

after touring the home, i went on a guided walking tour of dickens' london - that was really neat. the tour was based on dickens' a christmas carol (which popularized the phrases "merry christmas" and "god bless us, everyone" and is the most widely adapted novel, ever!), so we visited places that are mentioned in the novel and learned how some of those same places appear in other dickens' works. in addition, we saw buildings where dickens had office space; a pub he frequented (though, he was a moderate drinker): ye olde cheshire cheese; and streets he and some of his contemporaries roamed while in london. now, i think it's time to read some more dickens ...

after the tour, i navigated my way back to the hotel (quite impressive, actually, considering the tour did not end where it began) through another busy subway.  previous notions of seeing a play were disregarded and replaced with plans to check out one of the indian restaurants in the neighborhood. done. and i was not disappointed.  after eating my fill of chicken filled samosas, spicy curry, and nan, i made my way back over to st. george's tavern and put my day to rest with a pint of london pale ale.  this is the life ... this is the life.