They must be from America, no one else is that stupid. - Alex

As for the title of this blog, I wrote it because it's funny and sadly enough, it's sorta true. Yesterday when we were waiting for our professor and her husband to meet us for supper we were standing outside of the ACCENT centre, which is where we have class and play on computers, etc. But anyway, we saw two blonde girls in sorority shirts or something playing Frisbee...not a big deal, unless you're dumb enough to do it in the street. First thought that came to my mind: Did I really leave Iowa City? Traffic in London is horrendous and there's no other way to describe it! The cars are coming from the opposite direction and they seriously don't stop for anything...Well as we were watching these broads I said my comment about leaving Iowa City aloud and my friend Alex responded with, "they must be Americans, no one else is that stupid." So, kiddies...go forth and play Frisbee in the street and support all stereotypes that Americans are stupid!

But anyway...we went to dinner last night at an Indian restaurant, it was pretty good...After that we all went home and were asleep by 930...sleep never felt so good. However, minor problem with the sleeping arrangements: I haven't slept on a bed in 6 months. How does this feel in the morning? It took me about five minutes to scoot off the bed to get up. AWESOME.

We went on a walking tour today of London...starting at 9am and not getting over until 315. My feet hurt!!! We saw briefly Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, the East End of London, and some other places. I forgot my cable for my camera otherwise I'd post what I saw and correspond them with my writings appropriately...but I'll do that tomorrow. Anyway...when we were outside Parliament, there were protesters across the street and we asked our guide what they were doing and who they were and she told us that it was Brian Haw. Brian has been sitting outside of Parliament since June 2nd, 2001- never missed a day. He originally started sitting out there because has against the economic sanctions on Iraq and the bombing from the UK and USA. After September 11, 2001, he widened his focus of being against the war and insists the USA and UK created acts of terror on Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, Brian being out there irritated Tony Blair to no end and various authority figures have tried to remove him...he took them to court saying he was exercising his right to free speech. A judge in the High Court agreed with him, and let him stay. In 2005, Parliament passed a law saying that because of terror, no one could protest within a mile of their building. They figured this would get rid of Brian. It hasn't because there has been constant battle between SOCPA and the courts. Some say the law should apply to him because it's a law, but others say it shouldn't because it was passed after he started.

The fact that Brian was going to be thrown out of the square made a lot of people angry and therefore, they have started to gather on Wednesdays to protest their right of free speech. Every person who wants to protest has to have a license...one man deals with these. A couple days before the demonstration, people come down to the police station and apply for a license and state what they will be protesting, where they will be, their name, etc, and then this one man has to do all of the paperwork associated with the licenses. He told people at one point that they could only protest for six hours and they asked how they could protest for longer...he said, if they moved the could...so now when people come in to get their licenses to protest, they get two or three and this poor guy is stuck kicking himself in the pants for ever saying anything...When they protest, they write silly things on their signs. Such as, Bananas are good, Dirty socks smell, There is too much paperwork for (insert name of one man who does all of it for licenses)! Amusing.

There is also a statue of Abraham Lincoln in the square across from Parliament. Why? They liked that he was opposed to the idea of statehood.

We also went to a place called the East End. A lot of immigrants used to (and still do, mostly Bangladeshi) live there. The Huguenots from the Reformation sought solace here, along with other outcasts of society like Jews, Italians, poor city folk. This was also Jack the Ripper's stomping ground. Much of that has been destroyed, though because of the memories. Speaking of which, there is a law that prohibits the demolishment of "listed buildings." That means they are old and to be preserved, and if anything is changed on them (even a window), Parliament should know about it. It's very interesting because one of the most recent places that was about to be demolished was saved by this law is in the East End. It was an old market with numerous identical buildings, and whatever was behind it was taken out...and a new modern building was constructed. So, you have this modern, mega-building with shiny silver and black everything right behind and almost connected to a beige-ish building from the early 19th century. It looks really stupid.

This somewhat deals with my topic for my final paper. In 1877, William Morris founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. I think I am going to write something about how that has affected the laws today, how much was destroyed, his influence, mention of it in his books, modern demolition of buildings, etc. I haven't figured out a focus point or a thesis, but I'll let you know when I find one. Apparently I can go somewhere in London to their office and read all their written materials- new and old. I'm pretty excited about researching this because it's something that I'm really interested in. Since I'm anti-tearing down really pretty pieces of history, I figure this topic suits me well.

As far as poetry goes, who ruined it with meter?

My favourite sign: Humps next 650 meters.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE DAY:
Even though the Brits drive on the wrong side of the street, they still walk on the right hand side of the sidewalk.

Only Mercedes have hood ornaments.

Have a good one guys!

k

written by  flaminko on May 23, 2007 from London, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: 'Ello Guvnah
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