Let London Be

The surprise came out on a January morning,
When I opened my eyes and the window.
No birds were singing around
Just a beautiful landscape to draw.

The usual colors of the city
Black road and red brick
Have disappeared rapidly
Recovered by thick and white slick

Time has stopped his race of course,
Silence reigned everywhere
Now you should also hold your horses
Take time for a walk, anywhere.

London under white snow,
Or how not to think about tomorrow.

Indeed, the British capital, just like the big metropolises as New York or Paris, opened in the international at the end of the XXth century, notably thanks to the support to the European Union. The city shows itself cosmopolitan with more than 50 represented nationalities, speaking about approximately 300 different languages. 

Today, the city is not any more only the capital of England. It displays especially as the European capital of the multiculturalism. Monuments, museums and galleries are numerous and impose their vision of the culture on the rest of Europe. London is the home of the cultural experiments and it always has a pawn beforehand on its competitors.

But the bad point is about the unreasonable price of the real-estate. London became a particularly expensive city in which tight budgets have got their place. So, rents prices exceeded those of New York! Nevertheless, London remains a splendid city on which all the glances converge.

London in the numerous nationalities pulls you among the worldwild savours in its pubs, restaurants, biologic or exotic markets.

London holds the fact that its population includes an incredible variety of nationalities, culture and religion. Indeed, if you walk one day in the streets of London, you can enjoy counting the various nationalities of persons which you will see. It is not rare to see Indians, Italians, Spanish or still African and Turkish. The coeducation of the population makes of London a city of the most cosmopolitan of the world. 

Therefore, London has an attractive and very dynamic side. All the styles are also present. Indeed, if you go out sometimes, notably in the evening, you can notice by yourself that all the tastes colours are effectively in the nature. The Londoners, even those who were not born in London but live there recently, are very extravagant, opened and not looking of what can possibly think of the others. It is also a trump card of the city of London. So it is common to meet a punk going alongside to a business man from the City.

I have been staying in London for a month to study English. During this journey i learnt a lot. 

First i  made enormous progresses in English, in Oral and Writing expression. In fact, each week, we had to prepare a 4 minutes-speach about different of our experiences. This enabled me being more self-confident in speaking with anybody, and at the end of this month, i could be abble to speak 10 minutes about something i know well, in English. In addition, in my speaches, i utilisated, i used the idioms i learnt in another course. I had so a richer language when i spoke and i still have.

Secondly, i improved my writing expression. Because our teacher was an actress, she insisted on writing with similes, metaphors, personifications... While i     listened to this advice, my writing, more developed expressed more, and in that way, i acquiered more vocabulary. I really had finaly the impression i could become a poet in the English language.

To finish about the courses, i learnt a lot and was desapointed that it was finish the 31st of January.

Another thing i learnt with the winter session in London was how to do a blog, and particulary, how to do videos. Because i've never done that. i had to use a software to transform the videos as i wanted them to be.

I learnt also how to repare the lack of organisation of people. While i had information about the Winter Session, nobady told me that we would have to make videos. So, arriving in London, i had neither camera, nor iphone. As a result i had to ask for these tools to friends... consequently, i could not have these tools everywhen i needed. I finaly think i succeeded to do  a good job despite this lack of information.

To finish this article, i wanted to say that it was my first experience abroad without my parents and i really enjoyed it.

On Friday January the 25th, i went in the house of Parliament. I really wanted to know how the building was inside, but most important, how the legislative power was operational in the United Kingdom.

To know that, you have to pay £10 if you are a student and £15, if you are an adult. Then, when you start the visit, you are treated as you were dangerous criminals. You always have to be under the eyes of the guide. You can't  have a seat in each seat... and you can not take photographs or videos. You have really the impression to be an intruder.

Finaly, it is for the security of everybody and when you understand that, you focus your intention on the story of the guide which is history, the history of the House of Parliament. This story and history teach you a lot about all the kings and queens, notably, to nominate the more famous of them, the queens Victoria, Elisabeth I and II, King Henri VIII, Georges III and VI...

In addition, the guide talk to you quickly about the changing of the architecture of the building since he was built 900 years ago.  Since the fire of 1666 the style of the building has been neogothic. You could see stained glasses, flying buttresses...

Because i was in the House of Parliament, the guide explained to us how a law is adopted or non accepted. In fact, there are two groupes like in most of European contruies: you have the Chamber of Lords and the Chamber of deputies.  The Lords are not elected by the people, but it will maybe change. Because there is a debate between traditional experience and democratie, we do not know... 

A law proposal is first green and becomes white if the text seems to be interesting, it is read three times. When a law is adopted, the Queen has to sign it and it can't be modified 13 mounths after the signature. When deputies go to vote the law, they use a different way depending on their choice: if they vote yes, they vote in a particular room, different if they do not. As a result, the choice is not secret like in France. 

So, this was interesting but a little frustating.

As you maybe already know, London is a 40% green city. Everywhere there are parks, rivers. It is normal that animals live in these spaces as a result. And they live in a total freedom. You often see pelicans and pigeons. But you see others kind of bird and even, squirrels. there are five kinds of bird there.  

Herons They naturally eat fish, frogs and snakes, not grains and vegetable matter.

Crows Feeding can lead to a population out of step with the natural balance. When this happens, we unfortunately have to artificially control their numbers.

Pigeons Feeding pigeons allows weak and diseased birds to survive that would usually perish. This means those weaknesses and diseases could spread to the wider pigeon population, meaning more birds end up suffering as a result.

The pigeons are white, they do not seem too dirty like those in Paris.

Canada Geese and Greylag Geese Feeding  can encourage too many in an area which causes excessive fouling of footpaths and grassed areas. Numbers are managed at acceptable levels through artificial control methods.

You can have more information in the site of the Royal park: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/. 

Because i know anything about video editing, i will show you several small videos.

The first like the others take place in Hyde Park or St James Park.

About the squirrels, when you see them, they don't fear you. I think the are used to live with humans, so they come close to you and choose their food in your hands. They are very small. It is so   cute...

Sometimes, the squirrel climbes on you, and quicky go back near to a tree in which he climbes again.

When you see this population in parks, you become calm, quiet, appeased and happy to live to see and excperience this plasure which rise i guess in the summer. 

I was suprised strolling in London to see in a lot of places comemorative statues. This statues paying homage to important generals: it is the case in Trafalgare square where there is a statue of the general Nelson, riding his horse, and in the same position than Napoléon I. There are also statues for engineers, architects...

These statues are in the middle of a place, a square, or even, at the middle of the road, like a little wall with statues of women who replaced the men at work, durring world wars I and II.  

For example, in St James Park, or maybe Hyde Park, yes, rather in Hyde Park, there is a fountain to remember Lady Diana. When you see this fountain, you have the impression that the water goes both  in the two direction. When you are near to the fountain, you notice that the ground of it is shaped by mounths each one touching the other. It is magnific. Even the photograph of Diana is taken very well. Because the photograph comunicates to us that Diana is or was full of life, you are deeply and sustainably affected.

You are also interested finding out the hisory of St James park and knowing something about its architect, in a comemorative plate.

Finaly, as the architecture of all building remember you both the history of architecture and those of London, these comemoratives statues remember you the history of Britain and even sometimes, the history of the world, the role of United Kingdom in the world. As a result, you have always the history which is speaking to you. You do everytime an effort of memory. You understand that you are very small. As a result, you become lowly. 

In France, most people say that the underground of London is too complicated. It is false ! 

The trains are regular. in each line, there is a train each 2 minutes, sometimes, every minute. The underground seems to be our RER and works the same. The same yes, but better organised ! When you enter into the train, a voice tell you the direction of the train, the station in which you are and the next station. This voice tells you also for which lines you can change. The trains are very clean and lighted.

When you go out of the train, you have the direction of the line you want take up to the name of the station, in front of you. All is done to facilitate the traffic. There are even agents who help you when you are lost. 

What impressed me was two things, not in the same cathegory. First, each time there was a problem in lines, it was on the evening. As a result, people were not anxious being late. In addition, when there is no trafic, they insure a replacement service buses. Secondly, it was the depth of the station. Because of this depth, the elevators were long, realy long. 

Another thing is the corridors between two lines. In Green Park for example, from the Jubilee to the Piccadily line, it is very enormous. and there are gates to separated those are going and those are coming. Again, it is to make the traffic easier. 

In the same perspective, the corridor in Sough Kington Station, to join the Science museum that i visited, is endless. Imagine, i have been walking 12 minute very fast to see the light of the day... At a moment i was wonder if it was not a way without outcome. Finaly, i saw the end of this way out to join the Science museum.

To have a cheaper price for traveling by underground, if tou stay for a long time, don't forget buying an Oyster Card.

 Finaly, in the underground, you find advertising very cleaver about essencial subject or not. For example, this advertising into the train about children living in Syria, fleeing the war but who can not escape the winter gave me the will to help them really. Look at it by yourself... Or this advertising with the past and the future you will create...

Camden Town :

The place to be, in the day but especially in the night. During the day you can go to the market, see the number of tattoo shop, have a fish and ships on the bridge. There is a lot of people there but the ambiance is not at all like Paris when people are stressed and in the hurry. It’s like a nice place, you take your time to see all of the shop, the design of them.

Changing guard :

Cultural London, yes of course you have to wake up early, about 10 to be at 11 at Buckingham palace. Stop at the green park station, you walk in the park and can distinguish the palace at the bottom of the park. The brass band is the most impressive thing, very formal. Let’s enjoy the video !

Covent Garden :

It’s like a rich part of London. You can have a walk in the market, and do shopping. You can also find macaroons Ladurée ! Yes, if you’re annoyed by the English food, go and buy you a little sweetness, it’s very comforting and you will can take a fish and ships the next day.

Hyde Park :

What a huuuuge place my dear ! You can just do your jogging in one tour ! It’s preferable if you go there when it’s sunny, or if it’s snowing, more amazing. And if you walk slowly, without too much noise, you will can see the squirrels !

Piccadilly Circus :

Piccadilly Circus is the place where you can actually find a lot of people. At the night, all of strangers are there, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Iranian, French obviously… and they are here because all around Piccadilly Circus there are clubs, famous one, the Tiger Tiger, or the London District.

Harrods :

You know galerie Lafayette, you see le printemps, le bon marché… Harrods is all of them, but more wonderful, more huge, more beautiful. Actually you will not buy anything in that place because is very expensive, but just go in and watch.

China town :

Ok, clearly if you don’t like people who are not polite in restaurant, don’t go there. The waiters are quite rude. But actually the food is good, real Chinese food. It’s like a small place in the big city, you’re somewhere else but not in London, even the population here are Chinese.

Clubs :

Clubs in London are good, but shame of that point, they almost all closed about 3am. So I would especially speak about the fabric nightclub, near London bridge, which is closed about 7am. It’s just not a night club where you will find someone for the night, you will just enjoy the music and the night, it is a very crazy place.

I hope you will enjoy London as we had enjoyed it !

XX

It was on Friday when we decided Aurore, Perrine and me going and see this event. We had to meet at Green park station. I arrived early and waited for them. At 11.22 the show was starting and i saw neither Perrine nor Aurore, so i went alone to Buckingham Palace. I was far, very far. It was shinning and the alone place i found was in front of the sun. There were too many people. In order to sse something, you had to play with your legs which became exhausted.

Finaly, i fought to find a place in front of the gate. I still was far and saw with difficulties the red guards. I did not want to excperience that again but i had to do that i thought for a work.

When i saw Aurore at school, she told me she was there without finding me.

Because i had to do some videos, i came back another day with a friend. It was a cold day. It was even raining. We arrived at 10.30 whereas the changing of the guard is at 11.30. We was this time in front of the gate but in a wrong angle. So it was very difficult for the video i did without seeing what i was seeing. In addition, people were crushing you. You could go up to the gate by security....

Despite that, my friend manage to take a good video maybe i will be abble to show you...

What a shame that riders were not there. Because i have the impression we are in the middle age when i see them, i feel like if i was in a sorta of film like "Come back in the future". It is an indescriptible sensation.

Just to see this scene, to be crushed by the ceowed is a worth.

Did you know Jack the ripper?

I did not. I heard a lot about him, however I have never been interested by him. In addition, this was a film of horror for me and I cannot support that. As a result I did not want to have some information about this man.

Fortunately, with the school, we have had a visit on Tuesday January,  the 29th in the neighbourhood where the crimes took place in 1888. It was by night. The guide conducted us in each places in London East, closed to the Tower Hill which was interesting for his story. We knew that this neighbourhood is very poor. He told us it was in this place that animals are slaughtered to be eaten. So, even if it did not smell the rat, it did not smell good. And one of the narrow streets, in which we have been, was ancient sewers.

When Jack the ripper killed, he chose 5 women. Four of them were in their old 40s. One was 23. He operated with cold steels. He butchered these bodies. Then he took their stomach and their genitals to put them more high.

His profile was the following:

He probably was a 25 or 35-year-old man. He had a very precise knowledge in anatomy and was very strong. He maybe suffered sexual mugging when he was a child and had a missing father.

Do you know why he was named Jack?

Because the Metropolitan police, who was in charge of this case, received a mysterious letter signed Jack the ripper. Maybe it was a joke by a journalist. But the analize of the handwriting by specialists showed that the writer was dangerous...

During her investigations, the metropolitan police has arrested thousands of people. They probably arrested the guilty without finding him out.

It was a very interesting trip in the London East of 1888.