Walking in the London Rain

On this drizzly Monday morning, we went to the British Library and became official Readers. Ashley could not provide another form of permanent address, so she could not get her card. I did some catalog research and ordered 12 books that will take 48 hours to get, so I’ll be going back tomorrow in hope of their arrival. While Ashlee, Courtney, and I were at the British Library, Ashley went to the V&A and got a scone. Yes, my heart is aching for a scone at the V&A and I still have yet to get it.
The only places I have been to eat so far are: M&S, The Paper Tiger, and Prêt a Manger (just an hour ago). I still need to go to Tesco and get Muller Yogurt. M&S has a great granola and yogurt combo that is delicious, but I digress.
After the library, we met up with Mark and Ashley at the Courthauld Institute at Somerset House. This was a charming gallery with some surprisingly famous works; it was also where the Royal Academy used to have their annual student show for 200 years. A competitor/ contemporary of Robert Adam designed the building, but it still looks like a typical Neo-Classical London town house. The Courthauld had Manet’s “Follies Berger” and Renoir’s “La Loge” on the second floor. On the top floor, they had a whole room of Oskar Kokoschka and Kandinsky. They also had a Barbara Hepworth sculpture, “Spring.” I absolutely loved it!
After the Courthauld, Mark, Ashley, and I went to go to the Royal Academy’s annual show. Mark thought it would be a good idea to walk from Westminster to Piccadilly, in the pouring Rain. Honestly, it was like waking through a shower. He did not have an umbrella, so I offered to share with Ashley as she gave hers to Mark to use. In a Hollywood movie moment, we were waiting to cross the street and around the corner came a black cab through a puddle that totally soaked me. Ashley’s super cool and handy pop out map is ruined, but she thinks that after it dries out we can tape it back together. My shoes are still soggy and both Ashley and my toes are waterlogged. It was fun, even though we were/are wet all throughout the RA show. It was a good exhibit of contemporary art with nothing too offensive or objectionable. I bought the display poster as it was way cool and it will be fun to hang in the office.
We returned to Earl’s Court, found an Internet café to send quick e-mails and Ashley could print a proof of address to take to the British Library tomorrow. The pub on the corner was chuck full of people watching the Italy vs. Australia football match. People over here sure are excited about sports. Wimbledon begins today, but I bet not much tennis was played with all of this rain. Now we’re back at the hotel and are trying to plan our day tomorrow. We take it all day-by-day and see where the research takes us. We do a group thing every afternoon, which so far have been Apsley House and the Courthauld. I think tomorrow we are going to a play in the evening, but we’re not sure which one. The only plays that we really want to see are Shakespeare. There really is not the same level of plays that there were last year. We might go to a midnight showing at the Globe. We’ll see what happens (the motto of our trip) Love to you all and Cheers from London!