wandering about...

I decided to go out and see some of the places that this city offers. It was good fun.

First of all I went to the National Portrait Gallery. I've never been there before and it was very good. The section that really got to me was the area dedicated to women travellers through the centuries. So inspiring. I wanted to clap and laugh out loud when I read some of the short texts describing these women. Fantastic women who in the face of pressures and expectations from society broke away and went out there to do their own thing. Feckin' brilliant. Man, it just makes me feel humble but inspired. There was no easy access to transport as we have now, it was most definitely a tougher time to travel especially with regards to attitudes towards women travelling on their own.

After a couple of hours there (and I still haven't seen all of it) I felt my brain had had enough so I left and walked towards Trafalgar Square. I don't know what was happening there, something to do with the Olympics I think. I only saw the massive crowds and knew that I wasn't going there. So I headed down to South Bank. I wanted to visit the Poetry Library at the Royal Festival Hall. I didn't actually make it to the Poetry Library because when I got to South Bank there was a little festival on. I wandered around for a couple of hours, listening to the music and looking at the little stalls selling all their interesting bits and pieces. I stayed for about half an hour looking at the skateboarders. Man they are brilliant. I cringed when they missed the jump and ended up slamming down onto the concrete but they appeared to be so concerned with how they appeared not once did I see any of them cry out or even acknowledge the possible injury they may have sustained. But they are fantastic to watch. So talented. I'm glad that they're finally allowed free access to that area to practice.